FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 27, 23 April 1927, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By the LOOK-OUT MAN NO. THANKS! A solicitor candidate for the CityCouncil advocates further public discussion of council business., and a reduction of the amount of work done in committee. Pressmen whose painful duty it is to report the City Council know that so immense is the amount of business dealt with by the council, that without the aid of committees it would never get through it. And the order of debate in open meeting has not in the past been such as to thrill the reporters or impress the public. To the suggestion that these discussions should be extended or prolonged, when it is a well-known fact that some people would talk all night and far into the next day if they had the faintest hope their remarks would be published, the reporters will ejaculate, “No, thanks!” THE FORTUNATE FEW Members of the Commonwealth Parliament may well be termed the fortunate few. Their new quarters at Canberra are reported to be “one of the cosiest and most luxurious clubs in Australia, in which not a thing has been overlooked for the comfort of the politicians in their working or leisure hours,” while there are pergolas and other special appointments for their wives and lady friends to take afternoon tea in. The furnishing of the new Parliament House and its club appointments are costing £250,000. It is hard to imagine members tearing themselves away at the end of the session, but not at all hard to imagine that there will be a terrific rush of candidates for the plush seats at the next Federal Elections. With such inducements, there should be more candidates than electors. LONGER LIFE __ The lugubrious reminder that “life is short” will cease to have any admonitory influence if we continue to extend our years. Whereas in 1890 a baby had an “expectation of life” of 47 years, the expectation to the baby born in this decade is 59 years. Insurance offices which have sold annuities are now faced with some losing propositions, and pension fund contributions will have to be revised. The argument of to-day is that if man's life is so prolonged, his working days j should be extended. There are many j men, retired at 60, or after 40 years' service, who are by no means worn out or devoid of business acumen and energy—who, in fact, are the richer in administrative or business ability for their years and experience. “Too old at 40” no longer applies, or too old at 60, or beyond, for that matter. But there are numerous instances in which compulsory retirement from che pursuit of a lifetime’s occupation has shortened the remaining years of a man’s existence. For ’tis “better to wear out than to rust out.” CIVIC SHORTSIGHTEDNESS

A singular instance of civic shortsightedness is evidenced in the lay-out of Outhwaite Park. The footpath along Mountain Road from Khyber Pass ends at the park, and pedestrians have either to climb up a lot of steps or take to the road, unless they care to cross over to the path on the opposite side. This road carries a

great deal of motor traffic and is consequently dangerous to walk upon. Instead of cutting back the bank for 10 or 12ft. and continuing the path, the Newmarket Council left it to encroach on space that should have been reserved for pedestrians—a truly edifying example of how not to deal with traffic. There is tremendous congestion on this road when :here is anything in the way of entertainment in the Domain Cricket Ground and the pedestrian stands a very good chance of being run down. The path will have to be formed some day: Why it was not done in the instance, before the encroaching bank was planted in flowers and creepers is a mystery.