REMUERA AND SLUMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 101, 20 July 1927, Page 8

REMUERA AND SLUMS

Sir,— I raise my hat to the two leaders in the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches for linking arms in defence of maintaining the city beautiful at Remuera. It was fine to see them take a spiritual stand against a threat of foreshore reclamatory vandalism. They made it clear that they were not there to protest on behalf of the men with great possessions, who own the lovely ridge overlooking Hobson Bay, and readily command the sympathy and support of the City Council, all the local bodies, the Government, the Churches, and the newspapers, whenever they want first-class highways, good side-streets, excellent lighting, advances for housing, and the right to make and keep their suburb exclusive. Though it is wrong to be covetous, perhaps those who have to live on the dingy slopes of Ponsonby, where, in easterly weather, the fumes from the gasworks spread over and through the simple cottages of the poor (Bishop Liston must know the Ponsonbv odour) may be permitted to envy the people of Remuera. Everything that is good leaps to meet them. And what about the slums? One should like to see these brethren in bishoprics take the platform together against the curse of slum areas, and herding in tenemental flats. ONLOOKER.