Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 177, 17 October 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

“BILLIE’S” THANKS

Sir. — I would like to thank, through you, those friends who have supported me in the “Miss New Zealand 1927" competition. We all would have liked to have been “Miss New Zealand,’’ but I, and I am store all the other girls too, think that Dale Austin deserves the honour. It would have been very hard if one of us had defeated her in the last city visited, after she has led right through the Dominion. I wish her all the luck in the world. BILLIE ANDREAS SEN.

MAKING TWO BITES OF IT

Sir, — If anyone is seeking the reason why our trams do not pay, he has only to notice what has occurred in Ponsonby Road during the past week or so. The whole of the tram track along there has been repaired and practically relaid. The job has been well done and neatly asphalted over. Before, however, the asphalt has been given time properly to harden nearly 200yds has been torn up again, in order to allow new curves at Richmond Road intersection to be relaid. Such waste of public money is inexcusable, and when debited to the tram account must help to put the same on the wrong side of the ledger. Surely work for the unemployed can be found in ways more remunerative than this. LOCUS.

LABOUR’S FISCAL POLICY

Sir, — Although the fallacy of protection has been exploded by every leading thinker in the world for the past 100 years, and although the British Labour Party is solid for Free Trade, the New Zealand Labour Party supports high protective tariffs. Mr. Holland pointed out the absurdity of sending our leather and wool to England and bringing back blankets and boots. Why is it possible for England to do this? Simply because she has an all-round free trade policy, only small revenue taxes being imposed. When you tax every nail, screw, lock, hinge and stick of timber that is used to build the factory and the house in which the worker lives and every tool the worker uses, up goes the cost of production. In short, when you have protected all industries, you have protected none of them. If one man took a stool to a football match, he would get a better view, but if all took stools, they would be no better off, and so it is with protecting industries. But, sir, the farmer, who is the backbone of the country, cannot be protected. His butter, wool and cheese are always open to the blast of the world’s market. He has to pay dearer for his boots, clothing and building material to give hot-house treatment

to city industries. The Reform Party used to preach more free trade when it was in opposition. Now it is being made the cat’s-paw of Labourites, who do not understand the A.B.C. of the fiscal question. Labour members should read “Protection or Free Trade,” by Henry George, and they might see the inconsistency of advocating protective tariffs at the same time as universal brotherhood and goodwill. Hostile tariffs have been the cause of more wars than enough. E. STEVENSON.

WAIHEKE

Sir,— I was very much surprised to read the letter of Mrs. Wood in your columns on Wednesday complaining: of the heavy rates on her property at Onetangri. I own two residences on the island, both at Surfdale, and have had them for some years. The only rate I pay is a small rate to the Hospital Board. Of course, we are not troubled with any local body or unimproved values, dr such pests, and we always are able to buy our bread and our other victualling at Auckland prices. My experience is confirmed by all my neighbours. While one can hardly hope that our lovely island will contain the population of Long Island, even 50 years hence, it may bid fair in due time to rival Coney Island. R. EAGLETOX.

iN MOUNT ALBERT

Sir,— Your correspondent “Ratepayer” in Wednesday’s issue of THE SUN, gives an illustration of how the ratepayers’ money is wasted by over-zealous officialdom. I know of an instance where it takes two inspectors to try and do one man’s work. If Mr. Cooke had acted similarly, he would possibly still have been in employment. He was too zealous in the carrying out of his responsible duties. What is wanted in Mount Albert is a new mayor and some new blood in the council. I can endorse all that “Ratepayer” says in his letter to THE SUN. Only the other day I noticed five men working on a section of road. The ganger was busy smoking his pipe, and seemed to me to be hindering the men at their work instead of leaving them alone. ARGUS.

THE SHAKESPEARE SEASON

Sir, — I have read with great interest an article by Mr. Allan Wilkie on the apathy of New Zealand audiences. I think that in blaming “the pictures” for the lack of applause he has hit upon one of the most important causes, but perhaps not the only one. I remember him saying once, some years ago, that he considered it hardly possible to under-estimate the intelli-

gence of the crowd of citizens _i* “Julius Caesar.” I am half afrsw** and it is with all diffidence that I say it —that he is inclined to under-estimat* the intelligence of his audience. Tn«e consist mainly of young people of so®* culture, most of whom are keenly enu* cal; and while I cannot speak for I can say that boys are the most rutnless of critics, outspoken in censure but reticent in praise. At the sam time this does not necessarily lack of favourable appreciation; n » I suppose, merely one manifestation» the Englishman’s proverbial habit “taking his pleasures sadly." Zealanders are notoriously less d p™ o .* strative than Australians, and n this difference that Mr. Wilkie notic® after such a long absence. It in*P*\£ comment, I remember, when theAm can warships visited Auckland, ai Sydney, a year or two ago; and c™ the Duke and Duchess of York, poy lar as they were, were unable to m the crowds to much cheering-”-** the papers described as “tumult . enthusiasm” being no more -nan polite euphemism. Mr. W fh . not quite realise that it needs now ing short of a football match to New Zealanders to enthusiasm. As to keen appreciation, may a case in point? Both Miss Ho ’ Watts and Miss Forbes had, in . last scene of “Antony and to take a property asp out ox a oa* —an act simple enough, surely a® . at first sight capable of ® uc ". in interpretation. But the din : in the manner of the p marked and commented on arte by almost everyone near wner sitting. The truth seems to * * a Shakespearean play produces mind of the playgoer mingled tlons, which do not lend them • j, enthusiastic applause. The usually the result of a aT „- only, such as is produced b> the a age melodrama, with its

heroes and villains. \CUkit Finally, let me assure Mr. that in one quarter, at any vgnand his company are being keenly appreciated —especially members of the company ,1! oniy while they are the time. I have never JJfff Hunterexponent of this than Mi a (rr Watts; but there are. of course- u “sticks” in the companj. . average Is high, ana the h 'j e the tion In general „-ith veriest glutton should be !»USthe mounting and dreasmK. tb*t Let me assure Mr M llk ' r e; ia uon W he must not judge cur appre-iau^ 2cc r id r ent C wm prevent n hi 4^ 9itinS *