Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 242, 3 January 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

MUNICIPAL BRAGGING Sir,— Auckland's dire water shortage may have one good effect—it may check the ridiculous bragging hitherto indulged in by the City Council. The corporation apparently labours under the delusion that it has licence to sing lavishly, and on any occasion, the praises of its municipal undertakings. Of certain phases of its work it has a right to be proud, but its trams and its water supply are two items whereof the less is said the better. To hail with rabid enthusiasm a water system that cannot stand a fevv weeks of fine weather has been shown, this summer, to be a typical futility. I hope the council, in the interests of Auckland, will in future deliver the goods before starting to brag. J. BARLEYCORN. CITY WATER SUPPLY Sir,— Nine months ago when the Water Commission was sitting in Auckland, the City Council’s-advocate, with admirable eloquence, told the world in general, and the commission in particular, that there was a water supply sufficient for the city’s needs for many years to come. He, no doubt, shot the ammunition sent up from the rear: nevertheless everybody was satisfied I know I was. Now, after the passage of a few months, I find that my carefully nurtured tomatoes must go without water, and my lawn, once emerald green, is now brown and thirsty. My drinking water, delectable tipple from the Western Springs, is declared by the authorities to be “reasonably safe.” So this is Auckland, the Queen City. No great supply of water available, and that used for drinking has to be boiled or filtered. Mutual trust is the basis of civilisation, and I would be happier if I knew that the City Council took the people into its confidence a little more. I know that the votes I cast at the last municipal election won’t be going the same way next time. HERNE BAY. STATE INDUSTRY V. NATIONAL LIBERTY Sir, I read in THE SUN issued on the 31st ult. that the State will not help to remove the level crossings without 50 per cent, help from the local bodies. This must make every intelligent person in this Dominion ask, “Why?”. Why should local bodies contribute half the cost? I am afraid the demand is an answer to certain precedents, where local bodies contributed as an act of grace toward removals already executed. The subject stresses the fact that the railway service is, through its executive, becoming too arrogant. We are often reminded that the railways belong to the people. Present indications make us think we have no vestige of authority respecting railways. The highways are not dangerous, or a menace to the railway, but the railways at level

crossings are a permanent menace, and danger to highway traffic and the public generally. Quoting from THE SUN issued on December 28, 1927, Cr. Alice Hasten, National Council of Women, is reported to state: “To my mind it is positively criminal to permit such dangerous crossings to remain as they are. Surely human life is more precious than the outlay required to make these places safe.” I echo her statement, and emphasise that railways as a Government industry, are abusing our national liberty. If the railways are sufficiently wealthy to buy out motor competition they can surely find enough finance to remove the crossings without dictating that local bodies must bear half the cost. It is time our magistracy and leading citizens took action. They must convene mass meetings immediately in every centre of population to demand a direct removal of such monstrous and outrageous ambushes; this without further help from the taxes. It must be done by railway revenue alone. JAMES WILSON REGISTERED LETTERS Sir, I met yesterday at the General Post Office a lady who was very disconsolate, after dropping a letter addressed inland, into the city box. I was fortunately able to tell her that though there are several slots bearing different headings, only one basket, inside, collected all the letters, so that her mistake did not really matter much. I was then on my way to have several letters registered, and two persons who were waiting their turn had plenty of time and opportunity, while the letters were being weighed and stamped, to read the addresses. This may have its disadvantages in the case of some business firms. But what is more serious, to my mind, the lady behind the counter went into an inner room, leaving my registered letters within reach of the public. In progressive America, letters are registered, not at a counter, but behind a wicket. The letter is passed in, so that no one can see the address or be tempted to snatch it away when the attendant’s back is turned. Complaints have already appeared in the Press on that point. But officials are generally deaf to good advice when given by the public at large. OLD STAMP. “PUSSY’S CHRISTMAS” Sir.— As usual, at the end of the year, many citizens who are untouched b* unemployment or by the economic conditions, have left their homes and are away enjoying the Christmas and N»w Tear holidays. Doors and windows bolted, blinds pulled down, gas-meter read, electric switches turned off, milkman, baker and newspaper boy duly advised; only two items have been neglected—the garden and the eat! Consequently, I have now, as at the same time last year, the cats of my two neighbours to feed and look after.

The poor animals are starving and mewing piteously round mv house, for they know that I am their friendhen my careless neighbours return from their trip, the children will once more play with their pets, fat and well fed. A day will come, I hope, when house-owners will be heavilv fined for abandoning their cats and other domestic animals. But I am afraid that day is still far off. Like a good lady of Remuera who is a great lover of our dumb companions, I think that one may judge the degree of civilisation of people by their attitude toward animals. Do not trust those persons who ill-treat cat* and dogs. Their souls are grey < r*«>t to say black) and hard; In fact they are not human. POOR FLUFF!, t