IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

LAND FOR MAORIS. . CO-OPERATION SUGGESTED. (To the Editor.) South of Eotorua there is a vast undeveloped land, and within a few vi of the work of afforestation diminish?* tu ' as be a lack of employment for the &«' Maoris of all ages now engaged on fttV of work. These two factors nii4t lift 5 considered and plans laid now for \h e ZV* of this problem. It is suggested that a m committee be set up with the view t *?' training of Maoris of both sexes for farm, i based upon a co-operative system of hZ' and production. It would appear tliif?? Maoris are more likely to make a su tlt\ a co-operative scheme along, these lines A tho pakeha, who is more independent ami a rule prefers to "go his own road" 'in r this would have a beneficial effect by brimri into cultivation many thousand acres of n lands which for years have grown nothinc W weeds and raised the rabbit pest to a m™ in several localities. I suggest that be worthy ol a serious attempt and wo..u benefit the Maoris as well as countribuJT the public revenue. nf.™ PARLIAMENT AND DICTATORSHIP. We were interested in reading the remart of the Mayor of Christchurch, the Rev J K Archer, on Parliamentary Government." Witt his general view that the Parliamentary 6v» tern of government is the best we entirely agree. What he meant by comparing Italy and Russia is not very clear to iis.°Heis reported as saying, "From the point of vi w of government he would ten times rather Iμ a citizen of Russia than one of Italy." As he was speaking to the toast of "Parliament," it might be inferred from his remark that Russia has a Parliamentary system and Italy has not, Of course, this is not so. Both of these countries are governed by a dictatorship. I n the caso of Russia it is pretended that the dictator, ship is one of the mass of workers. This is more humbug as the actual control ie in the hands of a few men in what is named the Central Executive Council. Mussolini is at least more honest in stating plainly that tho dictatorship in Italy rests with himself personally. The British trade union delegation of 1924 said of the Russian system "it does tend to keep the same men permanently at the top." It said, further, "the rulers of the inner ring remain in power because.of the tacit consent of a great majority of the electorate and the active support of that motive of the whole machine —the Communist party." Change tho words "Communist party" to Fascist party and it can apply to Italy.

NEW ZEALAND WELFARE LEAGUE. WRESTLING AND CHARITY. Considering the popularity of prize fighting, or perhaps I should say boxing, and wrestling contests, would it not be possible to make these events beneficial to suffering humanity in some way instead of satisfying only an unevolvcd animal craving in men, and I am sorry to have to say women, too, as I hear a few females were at Monday night's affair? Can we not utilise some of the money so made for humanitarian caiises? When I, think of all tlio women's societies I know in this city giving their thought, time and labour in getting funds together for humanitarian causes, such as hospital, St. John Ambulance, Plunfcet Society, unemployment, etc., and set , , woraeu middle aged and often old, standing on the street for hours, tired and weary, jingling a collection box in the faces of passersby and trying to smile in thanks for an unwilling threepence, while I hear at the Town Hall oil Monday night last two thousand were turned away as the hall was fu i and men pleaded for any sort of a seat, offering to pay one pound for it if only it could be granted—l ask cannot this generosity be used in some way to help alleviato suffering? A. D. HAMILTON. __ BACHELOR FLATS. Your correspondent Mrs. Kuby Watson cannot be conversant with the proposed conditions of the flats under discussion. She speaks of "lower-paid workers who cannot afford to pay high rents," "cheap housing," "girls and men in shops and offices." Can any of these afford to pay two guineas a week for a pied-a-terre alone, extra for their own light, gas, cleaning and cooking? Is this her idea of "'cheap housing"? If so, may I state for two guineas a week one can obtain exceptionally good board, with every attention and service included? After paying all these items your lower-paid worker has to eat, dress and have reasonable recreation, and I do not see where the average shop or office worker is going to finance it. There are very few single workers who can afford to pay two guineas a week for a room alone. A factor overlooked by those correspondents so anxious to attack the report submitted to the City Council is that the scheme for one sex alone' would not be opposed; if the promoters arc so sure of success, why not try this? Would the attraction be gone? Fiftythree serious business men coming home nightly to their virtuous abode would appreciate the peace and quietness of a masculine domicile without the frivolity and furbelows of tie everlasting woman. Fifty-three tittering bachelor maids could frolic and skip round the fifty-threo apartments with gladsome step. But, seriously, how is Mrs. Watson's lowerpaid worker" to finance all these items! No one wishes to discourage the lauy in her scheme of cheap housing j« the poor, but she should be sure of her facts before making public attacks. Has she ever tried to control fifty-three bachelor apartments, and what would she do if, as does often happen, one of the "bachelors ,, gives a ja" party well into the wee hours of the mornm e , including a party of eight or ten couples apieM. Would Jicr enthusiasm stand it? A LANDLADY WHO KNOWS.

EXPLOSIVE STONES. "Zibeon Warn," 10/0/29, docs not believe that stones have the energy to explode, ae,i they had, scientists would have utilised tnai foreo long ago. I am not a scientist, but; i have noticed, on several occasions, tlie exp'J: sion of stone when subjected to heat. " "Zibeon Warn" wishes to gain the same experience, let him attempt to boil his billy on we rock which I can point out to him along tins coast. A,J/, Manga wai. MOUNT ALBERT AFFAIRS. Might I add to the voice of protest in nection with the enormous increase in i rates of this borough? I am the owner (SU" ject to mortgage) of a semi-bungalow ot u> rooms off the main road. My rates in wamounted to £7 10/. The demand note w the 1929 period amounts to £15 14/4, exew sive of water rate and niglitsoil removal. W» are we heading for? BANKRUPT*. Two correspondents signing tliera "Disgusted Ratepayer," and a third, °a Up," also write in protest. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. MASON.—Lady Godiva of Coventry was the subject of a legend which has been treai by Leigh Hunt and Lord Tennyson. £« tale goes that she was the wife of Leo" > Earl of Mercia, and about 1040, in order save Coventry from the exactions ot husband she consented to ride naked tnrou D the streets.