Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 111, 1 August 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

GLADSTONE ROAD BUS

Sir, —• The ratepayers of Parnell are being charged 3d for a trip from Gladstone Road to the top of St. Stephen’s Avenue, the shopping centre. There is not another first section in all the districts round that is charged more than 2d for the first trip. Visitors arriving by car to St. Stephen’s Avenue and wishing to go to Parnell Park must pay 3d before they pass into the car, and another 3d to return to the top of the avenue to get trams to Remuera and Newmarket. In what manner has Parnell offended to be thus punished? Is it to make us vote for the big loans? PUZZLED. TRAMWAY LOSSES Sir, — Just when the Auckland City Council is asking permission from ratepayers to embark on costly extensions of the existing tramway system, the following from a London paper is not without interest: £114,629 TRAM LOSS Though 9,000,000 more passengers were carried last year by the L.C.C. Tramways, there is a net deficiency on the year’s working of £114,629. This deficiency is equivalent to a rate of twothirds of a penny in the £, and compares with a deficiency of £278,441 in the previous year. In his report on the trams, the district auditor says: “The present position of the undertaking is not as satisfactory as could be wished, and the immediate future, pending the reduction of repayment charges upon the expiration of loan periods, must be regarded with some apprehension.” BUS. K. S. DULEEPSINGH Sir, May I take this oppoprtunity of correcting a mis-statement that appears in your issue of the 29th inst., wherein it was said that prayers were offered in Clare Chapel for the recovery of Iv. S. Duleepsingh. In making this correction, I have the backing of “Cantab,” the Cambridge chronicler in the “Cricketer,” as well as that of personal acquaintances at Cambridge. I may state that Duieepsingh, although laid up for some time, was never in danger of losing his life. It may be of interest to those who demanded to know why Mr. Duleepsingh did not play for Sussex to read these words. C. H. CUNNINGHAM. ELIMINATING TARIFFS Si!', — Mr. Hughes and I are both free traders; we differ only in method. He thinks that a tariff war to end tariff war is feasible. I deem it as futile as military war to end military war. I hold, also, that if the elimination of tariffs is to come by negotiation, the nations that are free trade or low tariff will carry most moral weight by reason of their example. But free trade will never come that way. Rather will it be brought about by the economic education of the masses. Once communities come to realise (what Mr. Hughes and I affirm) that a protective tariff is a boomering which recoils and injures them, they will eliminate tariffs, regardless of the fiscal policy of other nations. Your correspondent says no one knows how many tariff wars “have been nipped in the bud by threat of retaliation,” but I think most people do know how tariff has been set against tariff ad infinitum. Will they reach a point where they will all tumble? I am afraid if we rely on a tariff “war to

end war” it will be “when the sun grows cold, and the stars are old, and the leaves of the Judgment Book unfold.” Moreover, what chance would this Dominion have against (say) America in a traiff war? The latter is a world in itself, and might be selfcontained without incurring a fraction of the injury which would accrue to a self-contained New Zealand. As regards American trade, Mr. Hughes has been, like a great many others, misled by appearances. During recent years the United States has been (1) lending largely abroad, (2) giving immense sums of money in postwar relief. The first results temporarily, and the second permanently, in exports without imports, and this has given rise to the fallacious idea that America was dumping surpluses abroad and ousting foreign competition at home. Mr. Hughes answers himself when he admits the stern necessity of America’s trade to become “unfavourable,” if accounts are to be squared. And will they not be squared? C.H.N. WHITE NEW ZEALAND LEAGUE Sir,— Would you kindly grant me a little space in your columns to help clear a matter which would otherwise probably bear a grave reflection on myself and the organisation which I represent. I write of the White New Zealand League. In the first place I would say that the White New Zealand League is positively in no way connected with the New Zealand Natives’ Association referred to in your issue of Saturday, and further, that the man referred to has never been associated in any capacity whatsoever with the White New Zealand League. I firmly trust that this note will serve to clear up any doubt or misapprehension existent in the minds of the various members of the White New Zealand League. ROBERT J. C. GROVES, Organising Sec. for X.Z. HYMNS AT FOOTBALL MATCHES Sir, — I admire the Rev. Jasper Calder immensely and I sympathise with his fine work as City Missioner. I approve, too, of his conducting community sings to augment his mission funds. But I do most vigorously object to having “Abide With Me” hurled at me when I go to a football match on a Saturdav afternoon. “Bye, Bye Blackbird” is appropriate enough and “Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag,” but when it comes to “Lead Kindly Light” it is time to protest. I go to church on Sunday and sing the hvrnns as reverently as the next man. but I would be the first to protest if the minister gave out that the next anthem would be “I Want to be Happv.” It is not right that hymns should be foisted upon the mixed crowd that attends a football game, nor is it in the best interests of religion. B FLAT MINOR. HYMNS AND HOOTING Sir, — At the risk of being denounced by a hypocritical generation as an impious fellow, I protest against the introduction of hymns in a programme of community songs at football matches. I was at Blandford Park on Saturday and, with many other citizens who fear God and honestly try to be good Christians, was chagrined to see and hear •Abide With Me” and “Lead Kindly Light” bracketed with “Bye Bye Blackbird” and other inane ditties. There is a time and a place for religious fervour, but neither should be found at a rowdy football match. It

is true that the crowd sang tb* ®* g. vocatory hymns with great SpMfc* ■ much so indeed that the perlervifl H of supplication promised a fln« B monstration of sportsmanship. 1 tunately the God of Battles did** abide long with the majority or .] tators, whose hooting of strafiS"* | within their gates was a 1 Auckland or to any other hymn-sror _ 1 community. The Canadians were uwr j to administer a lesson in Soccer, ga they administered it with ro ’ j,/ vigour, but they did not deserve n_ g* ing. Yes the hymns were a and did not help the mob of had sP* : men a little bit. My advi <* k, f: organisers of community i this: Keep hymns for ehurcn__ gselect for football s pec ta tors _.k e which shall teach them good mannc: « and tine sportsmanship. g poRT NO NIGHT SITTINGS Sir, — I I have read in our newspapers I i about the House of Lords tryi | i reform itself. What humour » 1 whest it is least expected. it is * j This has set me wondering ' H possible for our own House sentatives to try the same A few nights ago the foUoWfflf | tence appeared in our political P I Only fourteen members | awake when Mr. T. K. Sl^f?s ru; a' I his first speech of the siting a 5.30 a.m. Mr. Skley thought I partial tribunal should SSm 9 Samoa to make an '"Yf 8 jssp m Several drowsy members S themselves to read the J™, „ ■ newspaper, which was delivers the House at 5.45 a.m. B Is not such a state I graceful when such importan , Pas Samoa is under discussion. L,. | it not show that some reforl ” nt « t jT** I in our own House of Repr« # * I If an gmployee of a private V* gt fc* f civil servant was found as!eeP post, how long would he keep ‘ or <#f" tion? Then why should our rey tatives. who are no rnore ao ig,!• servants, and often uncivil s allowed to fall asleep in the . important business, and still It is high time that in the daytime only, even ? vear . took the greater part of ine should some business be: pu• j side and some rushed throug | fair consideration and atten & members can have a longer ■ We have had too much J I 9 ** I hi ked legislation during B and if we got a little in or *Jhed sr< B baked in the daytime the nm- B tide might be the better f . 1 “ONE WHO HAS BEEN