Citizens Say —

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 23, 19 April 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say

To the Editor.

AN OPTICIAN REPLIES Some of your correspondents seer.* to be under a misapprehension in regard to prescriptions. It is true that a chemist cannot as a rule re-construct a prescription after having smelt the cork or seen the bottle, but any good jeweller or optician can measure a broken lens, even if only a small portion be handed to him. —JEWELLER-OPTICIAN. MAYORAL ELECTION Sir, — I notice that one of the candidates in a circular which is being broadcast, invites electors to vote for him on the ground, among others, that he lost one son in the war and has “ another m business on his own account.” It seems incredible that anyone, however desirous to get into office, could stoop to such a thing as this, but there it is in cold print—in his “ appeal ” to the burgesses. I do not know the gentleman, but this settles any chance of his getting my vote. A man who can put forward such reasons why electors should vote for him is obviously unworthy to be mayor of a large city like this. —GRAFTON. It is but fair to state that the candidate to whom reference is made has repudiated the authorship of the circular mentioned. —Ed. THE SUN. EXTENDING ARBITRATION ACT Sir, —Changes are coming about rather suddenly nowadays. We have the Farmers’ Union siting in conclave condemning the Arbitration Court. It

is not so very long ago that they were forming arbitration unions of \yorkers to work on the waterfront and in the shearing sheds. And now we find them condemning their own work. A suggestion has been made to wipe the Arbitration Court right out, but nothing has been formulated to put in its place. As a lifelong arbitrationist, I aver that arbitration is required at home and abroad. In disputes, national and international, we have to resort to arbitration. In wage questions the worker who sells his labour, and the employer who buys the labour, have a right to arbitration. Both sides have to be heard. That is but fair. I contend the Act has not gone far enough. I will make my contention plainer. Why not make it apply to the civil servants, public works employees and State forest workers? I am positive if the Arbitration Act were amended in the direction I have mentioned my wife and family would benefit. I am working on public works wages, £4 2s 3d a week. That is in fine weather. Otherwise wet days mean docked pay. Of the above amount it costs me £1 to live on the job. The balance I send to my wife — £3 2s 3d—to keep a family of four, and out of this amount she pays 25s for rent and £1 17s 3d remains to feed and clothe them, pay doctors’ accounts, etc. It is existing, not living.

And my case is not an isolated one. Hundreds are in the same condition in the public works. So you can see it would not pay the Government to apply the Arbitration Act to the public service. If it did we would be more in a line with the cost of living, and the farmers would get just as good roads —in fact, better —to run their motor-cars and lorries over. A more equal distribution of the wages bill would bring my case and many others up to a point of decent living. W e are told by “Sky Rockets” that New Zealand could keep millions. It can’t keep me and my family. Farmers, please call a special meeting, and move a strong resolution that the Arbitration Act must be amended to apply to all workers, brain and manual, more purchasing power means buying more woollen goods and plenty of New Zealand butter and cheese. BONDI.

AT AVONDALE Having noticed that the Avondale Jockey Club has been granted the further use of the Ellerslie course for their next season’s spring meeting, my curiosity was aroused over the improvements that are being made to the Avondale property. Therefore. Good Friday being an “off-day” I took the opportunity of paying Avondale a visit, and was greatly interested in what I saw. The newly-formed and grassed course proper presents a picture calculated to make the heart of the sportsman bound tvith delight, and will probably prove to be almost equal to the splendid Trentham rendezvous for roominess and record-breaking. the non-existence of the almost "straight six” and the “straight five” being the only unfavourable comparison. The Avondale course is, perhaps, even more level than Trentham, and has certainly taken the grass better. A start has not yet been made to bring the appointments for the comfort and general convenience of patrons up to the same high standard as this fine new course. I have been wondering if the plans will be drawn on the same expansive and liberal lines as those adopted for Trentham. The totalisator turnover on race days is probably larger at Avondale than at Trentham, and this should encourage the authorities to give us a really up-to-date and roomy pleasure ground. The Avondale officials have now a splendid opportunity to excel themselves and make their course the admiration of all sportsmen in these northern parts, and a credit to all concerned. SPORT. RED, WHITE, BLUE AND SAFFRON It may be readily admitted that the essence of good government is to provide and conserve avenues of employment for our own race. Notwithstanding the fact that unemployment is rife the present Government continues to issue permits to Asiatics, thus aggravating the unemployment problem. The number of race aliens in the Dominion at March 31, 1924, was 5,434, and the arrivals since have been pro rata considerably in excess of British immigrants. There are 1,400 Asiatics engaged in market gardening, fruit shops claim 840 and laundries 360. Most of the street vendors in Auckland and Wellington are Indians and there are several hundreds scattered through other occupations. Asiatics thus are directly responsible for monopolising avenues of employment otherwise open to our own race. Furthermore, they contribute nothing material to the substantial wealth of the country as their profits are not re-invested in the Dominion. There can be no objection to Asiatics residing in New Zealand as merchants for the purpose of furthering international trade, but I submit that it is economically unsound that Asiatic, nationals should be permitted to come to New Zealand and oust our own race from existing avenues of employment. I believe the New Zealand Natives Association has in view the establishment of soup kitchens for unemployed. What sort of policy is it to provide profitable employment for Asiatics and soup-kitchens for Britons? A deplorable reproach upon people and Government. A NEW ZEALAND NATIVE.