Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 224, 10 December 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say

VIOLINIST’S TUITION Sir, — Will you grant me space in your valuable paper in answer to Mr. Hulme. First, I must thank him for his good wishes, but it might interest him to know that my son has not had a teacher since April, 1926, and his success in the last movement in Mendelssohn “Concerto” was due to his own hard work and study. I, too, am one who believes in honour being given where honour is due. HIS MOTHER. DALMATIANS ARE GOOD CITIZENS Sir, — A few words for the Dalmatian. “Disgusted,” in his letter under the above heading, states that the Public Works Department has in its employ at Orakei 16 Dalmatians to four British workmen. Taking into consideration the statement of the Public Works district engineer, we must assume this to be a fact. This Government officer is justified in retaining the services of the Dalmatian if he has given satisfaction in his work. In fact, quite a number of Dalmatians are engaged on Government or works of private enterprise. Several contractors prefer these men, who are usually content to remain at the job, thus enabling the works to be effectually carried out.* We are content to accept the citizenship of these foreigners; they are human beings entitled to a livelihood, the same as the rest of us. Probably you will notice, there are very rare instances of acute unemployment or dire stress among this fraternity because they assist one another more than our own people. We must not forget that many of these Dalmatians are married men, and have families to keep, besides there are others of them who, when it was possible, answered the call and joined up with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. “PROVILINO.” FOR THE DEFENCE Sir,— The trams, tramway employees, and the management appear to be the only things that the travelling public can complain about. In your columns last night there appeared three letters concerning the above, and none of them seems to contain much sense. In the first, signed “N. Zeder,” we are told of a lady who boarded a Herne Bay car, asking the conductor for a ticket to Point Chevalier. The conductor informed her that only buses went to the Point, whereupon another passenger (not Mr. Zeder) rang the bell, directed the lady to a Grey Lynn car, and told her where to get off to obtain a Point bus. He writes on to explain that it was the conductor’s place to do this, and finishes up by saying how indignant all the other passengers were. I beg to convey to “N. Zeder” this information: When there are two conductors collecting fares, which is only at the 5 p.m. rush hour, the Point buses run to the Ferry Buildings; therefore his fellowpassenger sent the lady on a fool’s errand by sending her to Surrey [ Crescent, to wait perhaps for an hour

(To the Editor.)

until the rush was over before she could get breathing room on a bus. No doubt the conductor did think of this, but to save an argument kept his mouth closed. With regard to the letter signed “A. Walker,” I agree with his idea of popularising the trams, but threepence fiat rate system would be more of a boon to bootmakers than to the council. As regards the one-man trams, they would also fail, because the strain would be too great for any one man on a busy run, and passengers have been known to get out of Richmond Road buses via the window rather than pay their fare. It may also enlighten “A. Walker” to know that it is a regular occurrence for men to board a car early in the morning with half-crowhs. in hopes that the conductor cannot change them. In answer to “Parnell.” I hope somebody will be kind enough to read this letter and explain its meaning, because I take it that his sight must be bad If he did not see that the chain -vas up on the car that he boarded. The conductor was no more brazen to tell him to get off than he himself was fbr getting on, so why blame the conductor when he was at fault himself? “Parnell” did not care about the people that were more than likely left standing further down the road. No, it was just a case of: “Pull up the gangway; I’m aboard.” MANNERS. POOR TYRES! Sir,— There must be a distinct shortage of small-gauge sieves in the North, judging by the size of the metal they are putting on the road through Orewa, Waiwera and Warkworth. The order seems to be: “Nothing under four inches shall be put on this road," and a very fearsome surface results. I have, with others, been waiting to see what the proposals are for dealing with this road, which has now been declared the main highway northwards, but actions seem to be few and far between. A worse piece of road than that immediately after leaving the concrete at Milford would be hard to find, while Waiwera Hill, the hill just after passing Waiwera, and Turntable Hill, a few miles this side of Warkworth, beggar description. Motorists would be well advised to avoid the road until the clay graders have done their work. MOTOR. LICENSING REFORM .Sir, — The manner in which long overdue reforms in the liquor trade are being juggled with gives the moderate and also genuine hotelkeeper grave concern as to the ultimate climax. There is far too much pandering to the two extreme factions by a. Parliament in which the interests of the moderate are to a very great extent obscured. .Gn fh© one hand there are the prohibitionist and on the other the real menace to the trade—the capitalist, who has been permitted carte blanche to increase his hold on the limited number of licences, thus creating a (Continued in Next Column)

monopoly to the direct detriment of the interests of a long-suffering public and the trade in general. There is a universal demand for legislation that will give the State effective control without unnecessary financial obligations. This is the form of State control that existing conditions in the trade demand, irrespective of what the report of the Parliamentary Committee may be. From all appearances the report referred to has died a natural death in some obscure pigeon hole. Legislation should be introduced to do away with the tied house and also where necessary to have a redistribution of licences, or even an increase in same to meet the demands of a steadily increasing population. The ballot paper should certainly retain facilities for votes against prohibition to be aggregated, the reason being that the votes recorded in the past for State control have been in reality a protest against existing conditions in the trade. All licensed premises should be compelled to conform to a fixed standard whereby the public, can obtain proper service at a reasonable price. The question of increased tenure it all-important. The period between disturbing and expensive liquor polls could be extended to even nine years or longer, providing protective legisla* tion embodying drastic and lasting reform be first placed on the Statute Book. MODERATE. POINT CHEVALIER’S PENALTI Sir,— Permit me to bring to your notict another pearl from the City Tramway* and Bus Committee. As you are the fares have reverted to the standard—twopence for the first action and one penny for the next— -ye* we at the Point have to pay this fare twice. Example: You board a bus at the hall for Surrey Crescent, for wh.cn you pay threepence, being two sections. Through no fault of ours, w are dumped here, and have to take tram, say, to the city. Here a^ a ~ you have to pay out once more tv - pence for the first section. We P*? once on the bus. Why are we pen • ised again on the tram? Every p* son out here is asking why. the powers that be will W ® plain. Thanking you for this valoable space in your P aper FAIRPLA T. BUS COSTS AND LOSSES Sir.— al i digThere have been given, m ai cussions over the cost of ™nn 3 city buses, instances of run at from, say, 10d to . pve - Auckland city authorities, now give no figures that will costl support their contention that i 17d a mile to run their buses. , £9 It is a matter of common that, owing to the wrong in . having been bought in narstance, the cost of running th ticular buses is extraordinarily - It is even said that they only two miles a gallon of petrol- 0B To take definite figures behalf of the council, two, ser *TCVitk 606 and 608 miles a week, a single bus which misht tVlPse buses say, £I,OOO. The costs on tnese might then be an estimate. a . ft d o Two drivers at £6 a week • - • • 600 miles run a week at 10 miles a gallon, equals 60 gallons 4 10 ® petrol at Is 6d 1 0 • Oil and grease, say .'*’** Repairs and Maintenance: 3 6 J Wages and Garage $ 0 • Mechanical materials - - • * Depreciation, 20 per cent, o - 4 • ■ £I,OOO l 10 • Office management ** * £» • 1 Yet the City Council claims costs £43 a week to run sue Where does it come in, sTS-* NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENT “S.A.—You do not supply y our . j and address. '' j “C.T. M —No name and adores*