Dear Sir,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 29, 25 September 1946, Page 4

Dear Sir,

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used the name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to abridge, amend or withhold any letter or letters.

ELECTION CAMPAIGN Sir, —The cat is out of the bag for Mr Fraser himself states that the election campaign is to open in Auckland, and the date of the opening of the campaign depended upon his Party being able to book the Town Hall in advance. To quote his own words, “Until this matter of the date of the opening meeting is settled, the discussion which was arranged with the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, in connection with the Election Campaign is not possible.” Though one might compliment Mr Fraser on being so candid as to state that he must get his own halls booked in advance before he discusses the matter with Mr Holland, few will compliment him on his complete lack of sportsmanship. We have evidently reached a stage in New Zealand which is supposed to be a democratic country, where the Government which prattles about democracy not only monopolises the radio and the films for political purposes but even when it comes to an- election is completely unable to play the game. On Mr Fraser’s own words his Party must stand condemned of lacking any semblance of sporting instincts or democratic principles. Yours etc., , FAIR PLAY.

HUTS AND BACHES Sir, —With the appearance of a statement by the Building Controller and the article “Huts and Baches” dealing with temporary living accommodation, it seems that the authorities are up against this form of temporary housing whether constructed with or without a permit. If the Borough Council is not satisfied at the efforts of private enterprise to relieve the housing shortage, by way of building portable baches and selling them to the homeles for temporary accommodation, then I would suggest that this local body would do well to follow the lead given by the Auckland City Coupcil in its Transit Housing Scheme. This Borough Council could start a small scheme here on its own prooffenders as all temporary housing ing for those desperately in need of a roof over their heads. This would also eliminate the building permit offenders as alltemporary housing would then be under the control of the Borough Council and Health Department. The housing camp when finally evacuated could be used as a modern tourist camp and thereby attract the touring public to this district and serve to the advantage of this town. Yours etc., - BARRIE EVANS.

Sir, —I cannot see anything sarcastic in my letter to the Borough Council asking them as a reasonable body of men to do their utmost to see that water and power services are provided for people requiring houses without either the owner or builder being penalised with large deposits for such services, which should be done by the Council, and charged for out of revenue received in rates. However, lam pleased Councillor Shapley suggested that the Finance Committee should reinvestigate the whole position and see what assistance could be afforded the writer, and that the Council agreed to follow this course. As regards Mr Barry’s remarks that “It is a pity that these two gentlemen didn’t make their applications first, before writing to the press and writing letters like this to the council.” I would like to say a few words. With regard to Mr Simcox, I wish to say'' that he never wrote a line to the press. With regard to myself, I made application to the Engineer after Mr Simcox had made application to him for power and water, and after a heated argument, and get-, ting no satisfaction, I wrote to the press. No possible harm can be done, and possibly a little daylight can be let in, if the press will publish the full facts, and not half my letter which appeared last week. Mr Barry does not mind anything appearing in the press that will give him a pat on the back, but nothing to the contrary. ( I notice that the Council have adopted a scheme for