Citizens Say-

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 150, 15 September 1927, Page 10

Citizens Say-

EDUCATION BOARDS Even yet we have not obtained a plain answer from the secretive Minister of Education. However, he says there is “no present intention of abolishing the education boards. I know enough of Ministers to be assured by this that this means there is a future intention of doing so. Now is the time to organise in strength against the carrying out of this iniquity. —VIGILANCE. WILL MT. ALBERT JOIN CITY? S *ln dismissing Mr. Cook without supplying specific reasons, the Mount Albert Borough has sacked itself from the confidence of the ratepayers. The movement for joining Auckland City is now on a sure footing. In this, at least, Mr. Cook has served the ratepayers admirably. „ rtTT vmT y SACK THE COUNCIL. AN ENGINEER’S DISMISSAL I consider the step taken last night by the Mount Albert Borough Council the most disgraceful thing in the history of local or national politics during the last quarter of a century. The councillors had been warned that the tide was rising against them, the tide of British fairplay and of British justice, but what did they care? They were sure of a majority, and the ratepayers did not matter one jot. Only one way lies open now: to agitate and agitate until even these hardened councillors are compelled to see how they have dragged into the mud the name and fame of one of Auckland s leading suburbs. FIAT JUSTITIA RUAT COELUM. NO REASON GIVEN Sir, — 1 was one of the many ratepayers who attended the special meeting called to discuss the Mount Albert engineer’s appointment, and 1 wish to protest most emphatically against the council’s methods of dealing with this question. That the council has seen fit to ignore the requests made by the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, Professor Harkness, the Mount Albert Ratepayers’ Association —not to mention those ratepayers who have protested through the columns of your paper—and to dismiss Mr. Cook without acquainting him with its reasons for so doing seems to me most un-Bri-tish. To dismiss a man of Mr. Cook’s

(To the Editor.)

standing and ability without acquainting him with their reasons calls tor the greatest condemnation. However, bad our Mayor and councillors been privileged to witness the reception given to Mr Cook after the meeting, and hear the opinions of the large representative body of ratepayers assembled outside the council chambers, 1 think that they would have had much food for thought, especially *on the question of duty. In conclusion permit me to congratulate Crs. Russell and Brigham on the fight they put up to have this matter properly dealt with. ANOTHER RATEPAYER. THE PARNELL BATHS Sir, Judging from the tons of filth being removed from the bed of the Parnell Baths, it was indeed high time this “dip’’ received a cleaning. 1 note that the council has departed from its decision to cover the floor with concrete —which could be scrubbed periodically—and now proposes to put down fine rtibble. Of course the filth will permeate this, and we will have a permanent floor of foul muck and rubble. That will be nice—so much cheaper than doing the job in a thorough and sanitary manner. As far as these baths are concerned in the coming summer, they are NOT FOR MINE. THE VANISHED HUIA Sir, — “Bird Lover,” writing In your columns on Tuesday evening, asks for information about the huia and the kiwi. The huia was last reported by a reliable observer, Mr. W. YV. Smith, of New Plymouth, in 1907, from the forests surrounding the upper reaches of the Wanganui River. A few unsuccessful expeditions to locate them have been made by ornithologists since then, but much rough country in the Ruahine, Kaimanawa and Tararua Flanges remains unexplored. It is quite likely that a few pairs still survive. Unfortunately there are none on island sanctuaries or in the South Island. The prospects for the preservation of the kiwi are much brighter. The bird is still found in mary parts of the North Island and is even plentiful in seme parts of the North Auckland peninsula. Being nocturnal in habits, however, it is seldom seen except when disturbed by dogs. Although kiwis on the mainland v.-ill always be in danger of attacks by dogs, they are comparatively safe on sanctuary islands. Both North Island and South Island grey kiwis have been liberated on Little Barrier Island and are reported by the caretaker to have established themselves there. R. A. FALLA.