DEFENCE LEAGUE UNIT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 3

DEFENCE LEAGUE UNIT

FORMATION AT WESTPORT DISCUSSION BY BOROUGH COUNCIL Speaking on a request from the New Zealand Defence League for support for the formation of a unit of the league at Westport because of the inadequacy of the territorial forces m the Dominion, the Mayor (Mr J. Kilkenny) at the meeting on. Wednesday night of the Westport Borough Council, said that in his opinion no action should be taken without the advice of the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). He said it might be possible that the proposal was not favoured by the Defence Department. Cr. O. L. Nahr opposed this viewpoint, and he claimed that- in view of the international situation and that the league had at its head General Sir Andrew Russell, some notice should be taken of the proposal. His motion that the request be granted if sanctioned by the Minister for Defence, was carried. The reserves committee was authorised to deal with the allocation of Victoria square to the Buller Cricket Association clubs.

Drainage of Lake Site

Cr. J. Stowell advocated the draini ing of the lake site on Victoria square which he claimed would help considerably to drain the playing ground also. The electrical department's engineer (Mr T. Weekes) reported that it would cost £l3O 13s to connect four residences on Utopia road with electric lights. The matter was referred to the electrical committee. It was decided to sell to the Nelson Education Board the council's interests in several sections, for use as school sites, for £6OO, the board to make all arrangements for their acquisition. The Town Clerk (Mr A. Taylor) was instructed to advise the Nelson Education Board that the council took strong exception to the statement of the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre that the council was holding up the erection of two new schools at Westport by not completing the sale of | properties, when actually the sections were offered to the board in 1937. • Warning to Consumers It was decided to warn electric consumers in arrears with their installation loans, that unless arrangements were made for immediate payment, ;the current would be cut off from [their residences. ' The Mayor, who had returned the day before from a tour of the Pacific Islands, presented Cr. E. R. Fox (de-puty-Mayor) with a walking stick in appreciation of the manner in which he had carried out the Mayoral duties during the last month. The Mayor said that he had promised the Administrator of Niue Island (Captain J. Bell) that he would send some used and discarded toys to the 25 children in the hospital there for Christmas, and he would appreciate the people of Westport hel]4M>g him to fulfil his promise. •

BULLER ELECTORAL ROLL INCREASED NUMBER OF VOTERS Partly through an increase in population, there are 640 more names on the Buller electoral roll now, compared with three years ago. The boundary revision has not made a great deal of difference.

Cobden and Waiuta were two fairly large residential areas, which were lost to Buller, Cobden going into Westland and Waiuta into Motueka. Buller has on the other hand gained Karamea from Motueka and other smaller districts, including Nelson Creek, Barrytown, Ikamatua, and the Inangahua Junction Public Works Department camp. The total number on the roll is 10,843.

BOWLS SEASON SUCCESSFUL INCREASED MEMBERSHIP OF WEST COAST CENTRE •' Both financially and from a playing point of view, the 1937-38 season was most successful, according to the report of the president (Mr F. D. Whibley) and the secretary (Mr F. A. Hughes), which was presented at the annual general meeting of the West Coast Bowling Centre held at Greymouth last evening. : The season was started, the report stated, with a credit balance of £35 18s 7d. and liabilities of £2 10s 9d; after making a grant of £2O to the newly-formed Karoro Club, the centre had closed the year with a Credit of £29 17s 3d and.no liabilities. Membership of clubs affiliated with the centre showed an increase of 67, the totals being: 1936-37, 179 members: 1937-38, 246 members. The February tournament, conducted this year as a combined WestportBuller tournament, was one of the most successful ever held. The entries included a large number of rinks drawn from clubs in other centres. ' The rinks competition had been won by Priddle. McLean, Olliver. and A. Young (s), of the Returned Soldiers' Association Club, Christchurch, and the pairs by,W. H. Dunlop and D. Page

tournament would be conducted by the Buller Centre, The annual West Coast Centre's champion of champions games had been, played at Hokitika, the singles being won by F. D. Whibley, of the Karoro Club, and the rinks by T. Bowes, T. King, J. Maskell, and J. Unwin (s), of the Bunanga Club. The pairs games had been unfinished. The first of the "home and home" matches for the Buchanan Cup between the West Coast and Buller Centres had been played at Westport in- 1 Hjkwember .uui hart iMuUttLiAAniuu