Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 127, 19 August 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

A PLEA FOR CANVASSERS Sir,— I would like to reply to the letter by “W.H.”- on canvassers. As a canvasser of many years’ experience I can sympathise with the cause of “W.H.’s” ire. Granted, losing one’s temper gets one nowhere. Still, a canvasser is human and some of the “gloomy beans’’ he meets would fray the temper of Job. He meets savage dogs, snarling, howling Poms and surly, suspicious looks from certain householders. These are his daily portion, faced often enough on an empty stomach and with .a sinking heart. In conclusion I would like to add that canvassing requires courage, good temper, a little culture and good manners and eternal hope, especially with the “W.H.” type. SARAH GAMP. THE POLL Sir.— The sad catastrophe which has befallen Auckland in the turning down of the tramway loan proposals must, I am sure, provide food for reflection for the Auckland City Council, which, I feel sure, will realise that it is a vote of no confidence in its ability to administer the finances of the city. I trust it will exhibit that self-re-spect which was not lacking on the part of the Mayor and certain councillors of the Avondale Borough Council, at its meeting last evening, even at the risk of being accused of showing childish pique. Since the electors of Auckland do not appear to repose much confidence in the Auckland City Council, perhaps someone will be good enough to explain to me why a much smaller body of ratepayers in Avondale blindly threw themselves into the arms of the Auckland City Council, which itself lacks the confidence of a majority of its own electors. J. O’XEIL. PROTECTION Sir, — In a recent leading article you referred to the fight of the secondary industries under the discouragement of “inadequate protection.” What is the meaning of “adequate protection”? The protection which proved “adequate” a few years ago is not “adequate” to-day, because the dearer product of protected industries results in higher costs of manufacture and so calls for another turn of the screw. Would it not be a wise plan to set a limit? If we borrowed five or ten millions in London and presented the money as a free gift to the secondary industries, on the Linderstanding that all protection should cease, it would be the best investment New Zealand ever made. AX UNPROTECTED PROTECTOR. “AVOIDABLE SERVICES' 7 Sir.— In spite of all argument to the contrary, the Auckland City Council is honest in many of its contentions with regard to our tramway system Tf you will take the trouble to turn up page 12 of the recent issue of the “Municipal Record” you will find a very straightforward statement under an item entitled “The People’s Money.” Word for word portion of the statement reads thus: “The people neither rushed into these undertakings blindfolded, nor were they persuaded by any specious arguments. All that has happened is that ♦the. verv best AVOIDABLE services have been provided to meet growing needs.” This at least is honest. The capi-

tals are my own. A statement like that at a much earlier stage of the proceedings would have suggested something of the problem the trams have proved, and might possibly have saved the city from its present transport chaos. But that “best avoidable service” is now tied to the wheels of the municipal chariot and the ratepayers must grin and bear the situation and smile at the crack of the whip in the hands of the municipal charioteer. But the man who “concocted” that above-mentioned paragraph had an honest strain in his make-up. Don’t you think so, Sir? FRANK EYRE. MR. HARVEY ON TRAMS Sir, — I notice Mr. Harvey’s trenchant criticism in THE SUN, and hasten to reassure him that although there is now a fleet of 25 motor-cars on the tram routes, it entails no hardship, secretarial or clerical, because the system is so well organised that every taxi-driver is his own master and loss or gain depends on his own efforts. I can assure him, also, that the community buses were paying a handsome return after allowing for depreciation and running expenses, and that neither the club nor president had any ownership with the cars. It is indeed a standing disgrace to our tram management that six-seater motor-cars can carry passengers just as cheaply as our trams can transport them, but while the trams show a loss the motor-cars show a profit, but when one pauses to think that in Sydney the trams carry passengers to Du Perouse and Marouba Bay, 15 and 20 miles, for 4d; to Coogee (as far as Onehunga) for 3d, and children anywhere for Id, then everyone—including even our intelligent city councillors—must admit that the tram management is not to be commended. To haul a. seat, one section, occupied, and to the terminus empty, costs as much as to haul it the whole distance occupied. HAROLD SCHMIDT. THE RED PROTEST Sir, The resolution reported in your paper as passed by a “mass meeting of Auckland citizens protesting against the contemplated judicial murder of Sacco and Vanzetti" is interesting for two reasons. First it was passed under the “Red Flag,” and secondly, by passing such a resolution, these Reds, who claim to speak for Auckland! assert the right to protest against the acts of a foreign Government within its own territory. The followers of the Red flag usually look upon Moscow as their spiritual home and are supporters of the Soviet Republic and Government. Therefore it may interest your readers to compare the Soviet official views on executions within their territory and the rights of those outside to protest. In June last the Soviet Government executed without trial General Elvengren, a subject of Finland. The Finland Government protested and here is the reply, “We cannot accept and we shall not accept any intervention in the matter of the executions as reprisals for the murder of the Soviet representative in "Warsaw. Those people who come into Soviet Territory must know that they are no longer protected by the laws of their own country and the Soviet code permits the putting to death of people without trial oil the order of the police.” Here are two conflicting sets of circumstances. Sacco and Vanzetti after a judicial trial were condemned to death, and the New Zealand Reds raise a protest over the “judicial murder.” General Elvengren and dozens of others were shot without trial in Russia not for alleged crimes, but as reprisals for a murder of which they were ig-

norant, yet these same New Z HuX Reds voice no word of protest afi.the murders which do not even pret* to be judicial. What is the mentality of these U flaggers? Why don’t they go to'spiritual home in Moscow arid what would happen if they met w* a foreign flag to make protest anything? It would be their lastr ing in this world. They know thii that is why they sponge on the ? tection of the Union Jack to w* their poisonous anti-British views» fly their Red flag. We venture to suggest that American Consul should be offlfinformed that this meeting repre* the supporters of the Red not the citizens of loyal AuckUoc N.Z. WELFARE LEAhi CINEMAS AND THE CLERC Sir*— An analysis of opinions on p * shows given to THE SUN 3 viewer by leading Auckland . shows that, like unto other foia_ ministers are divided into those who indulge in the much- ... seductions of the shadow-wona those who don’t. Of those * dulge,” some consider it a form of amusement and th c are of opinion that some tuXD* artistic and literary ing to vulgarity. In the oth the majority wisely refrain from r ing judgment on a subject o they lack personal experience, however, denounce the 53 unmeasured terms that oraiOTr might apply to the opiuml wife-beating. From depths of their acknowledge ance. they castigate that of wnl know' nothing. . p; What, then, is the upshot. Gibb’s virulent attack and sw charges of degrading ceive corroboration only It* who, even in greater measureappoint themselves P ub :|£ int ?r: morals and denounce withou gation anything that runS .f their Puritanical preconception^. UNEMPLOYMENT AND Sir. — . i However solicitous ? * I may be for the amelioiWti ii>r . ;; distress created by unemploj-m™,. as long us he and those ><* di r ignore the claim for an " k pay for an honest day ® "fy c li >* * 1 tile progress to that end, . earnestlv desires, be reuws 1 - -~- enemy, war. was without'<£Auckland city and pro' n**' mon with the rest of the u most generous re spon • t he ‘. and otherwise. Now within the gates. here, the fair reputation tne ly earned, has been besm country, leading P™? 11 ® -J to offering a niggardly It bj?\ bodied men anxious to ua tion & . too late to retrieve the si the men an honest --jH majority of the worker j hit on the slopes of I son* elsewhere, as loyally as ,-OUP' 1 ' did on the slopes ot Messines. ___ v ”