Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 159, 26 September 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

“HARD FACTS” Sir, — The other day I saw a cartoon—it was not in THE SUN —showing the various candidates for Raglan standing on soap boxes, the Reform candidate’s box being labelled “Hard Facts.” The only “hard fact” which has evolved as yet is that that particular candidate for political honours admits that he “knows nothing of politics.” Another hard fact will present itself when the numbers go up. WEARING OUT. GOVERNMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT Sir, — May I make a suggestion in reference to aiding the unemployment in New Zealand. At every race meeting, where the dividend works out to an odd sixpence, the inside public gets this sixpence, but the outside public, whether it bets in pounds or ten shillings, loses threepence for each ticket. Instead of the racing clubs keeping this money, which really belongs to the outside public, the Government should take it and put it in a fund to keep for unemployment. So every year, instead of putting up a hue and cry about unemployment, the Government would have this fund to work on Thanking you for the space in THE SUN. R.M. BLOWING HOT AND COLD Sir, — For consistent inconsistency some of our Labour members are hard to beat. When it comes to spiritual subjects they exhibit disapproval almost to the point of irreverence, even objecting to the repeating of the Lord’s Prayer in our schools. Yet in the matter of the prosecution of a student for failure to comply with compulsory military training regulations even Mr. Holland has used the phrase “high ideals” in defence of the one charged. Should this same student to-morrow attempt to infuse into the daily lives of the children these same high ideals, Mr. Holland would regard it as something objectionable. I am quite in accordance with the principles advocated by this student. What I do take excej>tion to is this twisting in order to enlist the general population. ARTHUR CUMMINGS. Middlemore. MOUNT ROSKILL AFFAIRS Sir, — Just because two members of the Mount Roskill Road Board decided to anticipate the Tunney-Dempsey contest, there is a section of the community stricken with the “Join the City” ailment. To my mind it signifies foolishness in the extreme. If these men would only centre a little interest on the district, and endeavour to rouse the ratepayers to take an active interest in district affairs, and select men who are capable of handling Mount Roskill’s business, then the position would be more secure. As things are we, strictly speaking, are not on the map (although we did set a. good write-up after the “contest”!, and the majority seem content to let things slide. Foils for loan proposals do not create the interest they

should, and if we join the city and get nipped for some of these loans in the vicinity of half a million, we will be w r orse off than we are now. Just ono point to remember, the body which it is proposed w r e join is indirectly the cause of the loss of our transport, ancl has yet to find the purchase price of the buses and plants it was forced to take over, so if we join, we pay: We must, by agreeing to come in “unconditionally.” That our general rates will advance there is nothing surer, for we will be declared a special rating area, and what we get we will pay for; we do now, as a matter of fact, but there is some satisfaction in having the administrative powers in the district than otherwise. “To join or not to join?’’ That is the question the ratepayers will have to answer. Before doing so it would be as well to have a look round Mount Eden and Newmarket and see if there is any district that has come under the city’s jurisdiction that has roads which coulcl be classed as equal. When all things are considered, I am sure that, rather than be wedded to an overworked body (they say so themselves), the ratepayers will decide to keep Mount: Roskill on the map. ONLOOKER. MOUNT ROSKILL AND CITY Sir,— I notice by a report in THE SUN last night that the ratepayers of Mount Roskill are, according to this meeting, desirous of joining the city. I claim to know something of the feeling of the eastern part of the district, and I have never heard of any great desire to join the city at present. After reading the names of the gentlemen it just struck m 3 that nearly all are against rating on unimproved values, which has just beer carried at a poll. It may eventually be an advantage for our district to join the city, but I hope the ratepayers will not be stampeded until we have had an opportunity of testing the new system of rating. RATEPAYER. SYSTEM Sir, — In perusing my paper, THE SUN, or Friday last, a worthy citizen termed “Another Side Stepper,” writing with reference to the pedestrian traffic across Grafton Bridge, mentions installing turnstiles. Now doesn’t this worthy body think that our City Council might have an “L.0.M.” out to collect up such ideas that are not born every day? Turnstiles suggest to me, “toll/’ and the council night think that way also. I would loathe the thought of paying a halfpenny toll. My parents are Scots. The real cause of the trouble is inadequate signs. Fo instance, at the Park Road end of Grafton Bridge, the pedestrians’ notice board is not in a prominent position for pedestrains to see. To educate the public for its own safety, let it see something vivid and outstanding, on larger signboards facing the oncoming pedestrian traffic, such as “Folks, cross the bridge this way, and cross in safety.” On the opposite footpath, facing the oncoming pedestrian traffic, put a signboard and have on it, “Folks, cross the bridge this way if you want to visit the hospital.” To educate the public for its ow.n safety we must have clear catch-the-eye signs, and put the signs in prominent position, not as at present existing. No, no turnstiles, thanks. The change of a £1 note for a haIf-

penny toll —with a rortiy_ wit ft'p.-. reels, caught **•■! turnstiles —would sugfc it “traffic jam.” CAXC H.B3*-«ff ■