Y.W.C.A., MUD AND ROAD TALK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 3

Y.W.C.A., MUD AND ROAD TALK

A RAMBLING RETROSPECT

(By Bros.)

This would never have been written had tho writer not had to besmirch tho glace linon of a new unwashed pockethandkerchief by removing a largo mud 6]K>t thrown up by the frayed tyro of a motor-car as it jerked along tho street of Ton Thousand Islands. (Tho referenco is to that portion of tho city in tho vicinity of the Central Piro Station,and the Star Boating Club.) At least tho street boro this Venotian appearance earlier in tho day but a steady procession of lorries, milk-yam, and mounted artillery (sis horses ito a little pop-gun) had churned islands and water into a thick, turgid, dull grey soup, that spread in stow, .ugly waves whenever a pair of tyres squdge'd through it. It was of that soup I received a splash as largo as a half-crown —and my shiny new handkerchief had thereafter to bo concealed, although the blue spots round tho border shrieked Aloud tor publicity. What was silently thought about that car with the flnpping tyres «nd its driver could not bo expressed outside the trenches. At the same time I remembered that tho Wairarapa pooplo and tho motorists (as there is a motor-car to. evory four people in the Wairarapa, it amounts to one and tho same thing) had asked Wellington to fix up tills sido of tho Wairarapa Bond as they intended to do the other (with tho assistance of tho Government, not vet obtained), and our worthy bul-at-a-gate Mayor had practically consented to commit (he city to its quota of the cost, whilst such roads as Jervois Quay South, Cable Street, and Lower Taranaki Street exist in their present condition. True, it is mid-winter, and one naturally docs not oxpect the city streets to bo French po.ished, but tho centro of the Empire City has long ceased to bear oven a cousinly resemblance to tho baclc-Mocksi and that there should bo any streets serving the wntoriront with a surface which can bo churned into liquid mud three or four inches thick (which flics through the air under vehioular propulsion) is, in its way, a reflection on tho streets policy of the City Council, which now proposes through its please-al'l-anuMiang-the-eost Mayor to repair, widen, bridge, and otherwise render safe this side of the road between Kaitoke and' the Summit at the expense of tho ratepayers. '

Motorists have cultivated the cool effrontery of the Hun in asking the general piblifc to foot the bills for the repairs of the rfcnds thoy rip to pieces without a thought as to who is to suffer. Ivoad upkeep now and'in the future is going to he enormous compared with what it was twenty years ago. The old Roman Wads held out against all kinds of traffic until the suctions!, pull of the pneumatic tyre drew the binding up and laid the foundations bare to the wheels of the mighty. The arrogance of tho motorist is notorious. He fancies ho is a little king, and, liko one. wishes to tax everyone, for his pleasure. If tho motorists are in earnest in wishing to do thou- bit, let them tax themselves for the establishment of a fund to bo earmarked for the repair and maintenance ot roads. Their only mission now is to pull them *> pieces in rushing to nowhere in particular and back again, just to get the rush sensation/' Perhaps my grouch was born of that lying spot of mud concealed in my pocr „ , ns ' for thc nlom enfc at' least, dispelled by a- "vision," who bounded out to mo from a doorway with positively rudiant smilo (considering the weather), and said:

"Oh. it's you! What luck! Now, buy a teiclgo, you dear, generous boy!" ~ IVhat could I do? I felt that mean, top. I always do when it rains for a week—but I like being called a bov. m as we stood on the kerb she pinned on a badge, and I "parted." Parting were such sweet sorrow. She said that 'tho badges were to show that I had Veen 'pinched" for tho YAV.C.A. call and that I need not pay up aeain—unless 1 /liked. Just as sho said this with a wicked grin that seemed to convey that tiie armour I had bought was very weak iv motor-car dashed by, and to my great surprise it threw a small spot of Willis htreet mud, as large ns n threepence, on the chin of my lady highway man . 'Excuse me," said I, without thinking, ami pulled out my despoiled handkerchief to wipe off the filth, but as I shook it out, sho gave a shriek, and saidwhat on earth is it?" "Sir Walter Raloicrh's coat," I said growing and feeling hot as I stuffed the (•heading linen m my pocket. She wiped o!t her mud spot with some four square inches of crepe de chine,' and held it out saving, over so sweetlv:' "Now. don't get huffy, old dear--here's th« waistcoat to it!" T, « n W i.l '^ Hl PJli(l ihi, *» aW> "t the wenther the T.W.G.A., and Mr. Luke's tree mud baths.