Moana pools courts for schools

Those clubs which held their opening day on Saturday were favoured by conditions well calculated to stimulate enthusiasm to the full, and as a consequence there were large attendances at all the courts. Among the clubs which opened were Roslyn, Caversham, St Clair, Cosy Dell, Otago, Balmacewen, University, Opoho and Moana, and the whole of these were visited either by the president of the association (Mr R.S. Black) or by some of the members of the executive who took part in the official ceremony. At the Moana courts Mr Couston, president of the Junior Lawn Tennis Association, made a brief speech, in the course of which he congratulated the club on its high standard of play during the past few seasons. He also thanked Moana for its interest in the juniors, mentioning that the courts were placed at the disposal of boys from the High School and other schools on Saturdays.

Railing against profit motive

"Although the railways have never been regarded or run as a profit-making concern," remarks Mr Coates in his Railways Statement, "there is no doubt in my opinion that the time has arrived for the finance of the department to be placed on an entirely different footing." With this end in view the Minister of Railways proposes to eliminate as far as possible the construction of uneconomic lines. Before any new lines are authorised, not only shall the Railways Department be consulted, but also the Department of Agriculture and other departments, the object being, of course, that the possibility of making a line pay shall be investigated from all points of view before the construction of it is sanctioned. A great deal depends upon the interpretation that is to be placed on the expression "uneconomic lines." As with the maintenance of the railways so with the construction of new lines, the term "uneconomic" cannot necessarily be held in the case of a State-owned service to include lines which do not show a direct profit. It is not advocating the abandonment of the policy of using the railways for developmental purposes, but the danger must always be guarded against lest the purely commercial aspect should be allowed to overshadow too largely the developmental aspect. One of the chief arguments in favour of Government control of railways as against private ownership is that the State not only aims at providing for prospective needs but takes cognisance of indirect results not measureable in financial returns accruing to the Railways Department, whilst privately owned concerns managed in the interest of shareholders must be so conducted as to return dividends. While it is in the highest degree desirable that railway finance should be placed on a sound footing, care must be taken lest the aim of promoting commercial service be pushed to the extent that the need for the encouragement of the development of the scattered areas of the dominion by the provision of communications may be disregarded. — editorial

Road alleged to cross ’Brook

A fresh development in the competition for football grounds by the two rival codes is said to consist of the alleged discovery that a road line runs through Carisbrook ground, this being shown on the plan attached to the lease from the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Property to the Otago Rugby Union. McGlashan street enters Carisbrook ground close to the main gates, and the lease to the Otago Rugby Union comprises the two areas of Carisbrook ground on either side of the road line in question. It is rumoured that the Otago Rugby League contemplates making use of this information in its efforts to obtain the lease of another ground for next season’s operations. — ODT, 2.10.1924

Compiled by Peter Dowden