Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 July 1927, Page 10

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

TOO MANY DENOMINATIONS Sir, We notice from year to year different religions forming, with new ideas for the benefit of the living human soul. How are our present day children going to have a proper understanding of what is right in religion? While the churches say there is not much difference between them, they keep apart. If it were possible for a person to go through the streets of any town and find only one or two religions, he would soon solve the problem of his choice of worship. The people of the present day, however, need to be drawn back to the one church. It would give a person brain fever to try and follow religion as it is now presented. Bring together God’s people by teaching “Unity is strength,” and evil will be overcome then. Thanking THE SUN for space, and giving everyone a fair chance to open, up subjects of interest. Church people wake up. You are far from the path to success. “Bible in Schools” won’t make the difference, but ministers and parents working together will go a long way. DUMFOUNDED. STREETS AND WATER Sir. How much longer will the Auckland public have to contend with the disgraceful conditions of our main streets, which are no credit to anyone? It is a frequent occurrence in Queen Street to stumble over ridges, or almost sprain one’s ankles in the ruts which exist in the substitutes laid down for pavements,, whilst the roadways are even worse. Every few yards one flounders into miniature swimming pools, or else wades through a quagmire. This has been in existence now for years. I am informed that the lower end of Queen Street is hard to remedy on account of its being reclaimed land, but higher up it is as bad, and at the Fort Street intersection one goes over one’s shoe-tops in water as one crosses, for large pools exist on both sides, and Victoria Street and others are very similar. Is there a street maintenance staff on our council? If so, what is it doing? SOUTHERN CROSS.

ELECTRIC LAMP COMBINE Sir,— After reading- the report on the above question in your issue of the 11th inst. and the comments by another gentleman in last night’s SUN, one fails to see where any contradiction occurs Your correspondent admits that’ a combine, these are few, and to a great national character. Evidently your correspondent did not read his Monday night s SUN or he would have seen that it was not stated that all shipments were bad. neither did the board member referred to state that the combine was a scandal. This was the comment of some other member. Therefore, if there is any suggestion of ignorance it must surely be laid at the door of Mr. Williamson, as the following will clearly show. In a report which appeared in the Auckland Press dated March 24, 1920 is the following:

London,. March 13.—The report of the ®“ b o? orn ? nltt ? e which enquired into f 6 t, r i ng i . n . the e >ectHc lamp industry finds the existence of a trade combination including 90 per cent, to 95 per cent, of the industry which controls the faci?S 1 J^ a o d a letalle^ s ’ flxes the Prices at all stages and regulates the output The report considers that the standard vacuum s ° ld to the Public for 3s could be sold for 2s, and still leave a satis- «^ r , y v ?'°, rk ‘ n .S P roflt - The report also m~he tr , a h dmg dlscoun ts are consider-Sdnaa-fb er than necessary, and should be ntu furth er states that 1,250,000 half watt lamps sold to the public in l r il‘* S o 6 F d P ur hased in Holland by the [eft t an t oK earh - w-hich would have at 8s P 6 “Bin Of profit if sold

The report finds the possibility of an international combination, comprising: British, Dutch and American manufacturers, dominating the prices over a considerable part of the world, and recommends that the operations of the existing combination should be subject to public control. It may interest your readers to know that nothing was done by the Government, but the international combine did come into operation as stated, and is now in full swing all over the world, and regulates the selling price of lamps all through New Zealand and elsewhere. As to lamp manufacturers outside the combine, thees are few, and to a great extent uncompetitive by virtue of the fact that the combine controls the wonderful lamp-making machines, the use of which is denied to its competitors, as it also denies the use of the various patents which it controls. There is only one conclusion to be drawn, that Mr. Williamson did not read his Monday night’s SUN with the care he should have done or that THE SUN mis-reported Mr. Williamson yesterday evening. This is totally unthinkable in view of the writer’s experience of SUN reports. FAIR DEAL.

THE WORLD PAGEANT Sir, On every occasion the promoters of the various schemes started to raise funds for, in the main, worthy causes, lean and depend for support on the good nature of the general public. The public is expected to provide the necessary funds by attending garden parties, amateur theatricals, bazaars, etc., and at the same time to be cheerful and lavish in giving. The World Pageant, which was given m the Town Hall in aid of the Plunket Society on the 11th, 12th and 13th of May last, was believed to be a great success, and yet no data appears to be obtainable, and also I believe that no balance sheets were given to the papers or public. To a great many people this pageant was of much interest, hence I respectfully ask whether our curiosity is to be satisfied in the near future, as to the funds obtained and disposal of same. May I remind the promoters that the “public” makes such schemes possible, hence it is only fair to let the facts be known. CURIOUS:. Ar The President of the Plunket Society, Mrs. W. H. Parkes, to whom this letter was referred, said that there had been I , n the drawing up of a balance sheet, because the ticket returns were slow in coming in. The balance sheet appears m to-day’s paper.—Ed. THE WAITEMATA POWER BOARD AFFAIRS Sir.— I understand that recently a substantial order was given by the Waitemata Power Board to an Auckland firm tor the supply of electric motors. Seeing that a member of the board holds an important position in the firm in question, an explanation should be forthcoming as to why public tenders were not called. No doubt there ’s an explanation, but I am sure the consumers would be glad to hear it. I notice further that at a recent meeting of the board a further £IOO,OOO was proposed, but that the chairman would not supply details of the purposes for which the money was required. entirely agree with the member. Mr. Miles Thompson, that the ratepayers should know exactly the purposes for which the money is to be raised. The chairman certainly cannot expect us to vote in the dark for such a big amount. Another matter of interest to Lhe ratepayers of the North Shore boroughs of Nortlicote, Birkenhead and Takapuna is the election of a member to