Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 261, 25 January 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

BUS FARES Sir,— Some time ago the citizens of Avondale approved of joinng Greater Auckland. When we had done this we naturally thought that as ratepayers we would be subject to the same consideration as ratepayers in other parts of the city. How, then, is it that the fares here are one hundred per cent, higher than in the city proper? From Albert Road, Waterview, to the Hall, Point Chevalier, the fare is fourpence single and yet from, say, Pitt Street to the foot of Queen Stree, the distance is greater and the fare is twopence. I think it is time the Avondale people made a vigorous protest against this and other anomalies in regard to our bus service. RATEPAYER. G.B.S. AND IRELAND Sir, Bernard Shaw has proclaimed himself a Dublin man “and proud of it, too.” One is always glad to hear that so eminent and versatile a scholar has a warm corner of his heart for Ireland. So far as Nationalists of the new Irish type are concerned, they welcome all Irishmen in the words of the poet: Stand forth Irish born man, If you’re to. Ireland true, We heed not race, nor creed, nor clan, We’ve hands and hearts for you. Shaw’s reference to the little Irish girl taking off her boots on the way to school and putting them on again before entering it, recalls similar acts I witnessed, but, with that delicate feeling characteristic of the Irish poor, the matter was breathed in whispered tones which had something both of pride and pity. CL'AN-CONAL. CAGING THE DOVE Sir,— Your leader of January 23, 1928, sums up correctly the position in respect to the Anglo-United States armament controversy, and suggests the only possible remedy for its abolition, namely, “that the best place for building up world peace is at Geneva.” It is only by a frank and unbiased discussion that internation prejudices can be overcome and the League of Nations supplies the machinery by which, and through which, these discussions can take place. Many have expressed surprise at the failure of the recent Coolidge Disarmament Conference, but a perusal of the conditions of the conference shows that the issue was much more complicated than would appear at first sight. I quote these conditions, and rely on your generosity to give them space in your columns. The conference was not general, but limited to three Powers. It was inadequately prepared and much of the discussion was secret, thus giving rise to wild and prejudicial rumours. Above all, disarmament was dealt with tco much as a technical problem, without the political conditions requisite for success having first been established.

For there is as yet no treaty wholly ruling out war as a means of settling disputes between these two Englishspeaking peoples. They still retain the right to use war and the threat of war as an instrument of national policy in their mutual relations. Thus British and American experts at the conference had to proceed on the assumption that so lunatic a crime as an Anglo-Ameri-can war was a contingency that each must be prepared for. In these circumstances, an adequate measure of mutual reduction and limitation of armaments became very difficult, and was not in fact, achieved. The breakdown of the Coolidge Conference is very regrettable, but it should be regarded as only a.n episode in the enterprise of general disarmament and limitation by international agreement. We should direct our efforts towards contributing a.s much as possible to the success of the League’s Preparatory Disarmament Commission and of the Disarmament Conference to which the commission is a prelude. This can only be done by the education of the masses by such organisa,tions as the League of Nations Union. FRED C. JACKSON. Secretary, League of Nations Union. “KARANGAHAPE” Sir,— Do you happen to know of another broadcasting station in this country that is more in need of the services of a Maori linguist than IYA—if only to inform the announcers of the correct pronunciation of the name of Newton’s main highway? We have heard the name of the road pronounced in various ways, but the rough treatment it has received for some time now has been really shameful, and I wonder, that the business people of Newton have not risen up in protest. To pronounce the name “Karangahape” as “Cranghappy,” “Crangappy,” or “Carry Nappy” may be excusable for those who are unfamiliar with New Zealand, but for an official elocutionist to pronounce the cherished name as “Caronger-harpy” and then change it to “Car-rang-gar-happy,” is murder, and the crime calls for justice—Maori justice. While protesting against the abuse of the beautiful Maori tongue, I would also protest against the unnecessary frequency with which the announcers designate their station and its geographical position. ANNOUNCER. THE LICENSING POLL Sir,— In Mr. Bankart’s statement, as published on the Licensing Amendment Bill, 1927, and resultant political perplexity as a sequence to a somewhat futile effort to introduce reform, he rightly refers to the two extreme factions as being the National Council of the Licensed Trade on the one side and the New Zealand Alliance on the other. It is between the two factions referred to that the welfare of the few remaining free houses and the interests of the genuine moderate are being overshadowed gad jeppardiggd. ~ '1

I disagree with Mr. BaJikart that the Prime Minister showed his strexgu* when he introduced his Licensing I contend that he would have materially strengthened his position had dealt with the question of long overdue reform in a more fearless statesmanlike manner by ranging himself alongside the moderate section oi the community, whose vote in pas years has been exploited. It is the moderate who is responsible for carrying Continuance, but tne moderate is for obvious reasons directly opposed to the two extreme factions mentioned by Mr. Bankart. In the interests of this Dominion i trust that before next poll that tn appeal on behalf of the liquor trace will not come from any organisation dominated by the capitalist who has been permitted to create a monopoly in a limited number of licences, but will come from an organisation re P r ®" 1 senting the genuine hotel-keeper who is on side with the man in the We are an intelligent people in New Zealand and irrespective of what may eventuate next session the people as a whole can be relied upon to suj l the position and return men of tn* right calibre to Parliament, who win protect us from extremists. I refer Mr. Bankart to the effective steps taken in Victoria to clean UP the liquor trade. We certainly require similar legislation in New' Zealand, hut no extension of tenure until protective legislation is first placed on tn Statute Book to combat the actual menace the moderate is up against. There is always an element of dan* ger of Prohibition being carried in twe Dominion, not by the will of the but by “working Congress,” in words, lowering the prestige of P ar " liament by members pledging selves to ideals quite contrary to their true convictions. We must resist such insidious tactic even being attempted in the puDii life of this Dominion. Calm judgmen together with a bold front muat prevail to combat any influence® that will tend to retard the necessity of raising the whole tone of Parliamen and general status of members. Get the trade cleaned up anuPJjJ"'* on a proper trading basis. We will tn«» have no need to fear Prohibition, pective of bare majority or a ny d “Jf else. If Prohibition is carried tne fault is with the liquor party 111 vote for Continuance not being us state of solidarity, and .not as result of the activities of the Zealand Alliance prißfrUTl