Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 271, 6 February 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

UNEMPLOYED GIRLS Sir, — Your direct exposure of the unemployment situation in this city has been read by me with interest. I was surprised, however, to discover references to girls and women out of work, because a personal experience which I had led to the belief that there was none in this position. My wife became ill recently, and I had to get a girl for domestic duties. In the circumstances I thought this would be easy. I rang the Rev. Jasper Calder, and was told to ring again. When I rang* on the following day I was informed it was the Sister’s day off; and so I received no satisfaction there. The Government has closed its women’s branch of unemployment relief, so I went to the Salvation Army, and later the Girls’ Friendly Society, neither of which could supply someone to fill the position. Sister Esther had one on her waiting list—an old woman, who was so hopeless that at the end of the first day I gave her a week’s wages and let her go. (She could not even cook potatoes!). I called at the Y.W.C.A., and answered an advertisement, and finally I engaged a girl who was a bookbinder by trade. This experience entitles me, I think, to ask in all modesty: “Where is the unemployment among our girls?” A.H.S. BEAU GESTE OR BAD JEST? Sir, — A Sun correspondent claims to see in an inverted stamp bearing the King’s head the seeds of possible trouble with a “jealous nation” (America). Now, I have noted many flimsy pretexts recently advanced for tilting at the United States, but none quite so thin as the above. Is it not time this puerile “sour grape” stpff was scotched? While most people in New Zealand are little concerned about how stamps bearing the King’s head are affixed to foreign-going letters, many—quite loyal—regret the use of the stamp at all; and on this subject some candid criticism appeared in the Press not so long ago. On the other hand, lately, a Sun correspondent described the stamp as a “beau geste” on the part of New Zealand; and so it may be. But “bad jest” would in my opinion, be more aptly descriptive; and how inordinately bad can best be illustrated by comparing our New Zealand stamp with the Canadian issue B. SANDY. THE KING’S PORTRAIT Sir, — What a diviner of persons is this “Citizeness Claudia”! In very truth, I am “nosy,” as she has it, and being such am merely giving rein to my humanity. I am quite ready to admit that I read the particulars on my Post Office friend’s letter. Antithetically through your correspondent’s reply runs a vein of hypocrisy. It is perfectly human, though undesirable, to want to read letters to other people. And, sir (I smile that one so skilled in ithe cabalistic arts should let herself

in for this), may I ask how cam© “Citizeness Claudia” to learn what was in my letter to somebody else—to the editor of The Sun? Now I understand why the fair sex invariably turns first to the letters to the editor (before even looking at the marriage announcements) It’s because they are written to somebody else. “Have I ever had the experience of tearing down Queen Street to reach a closing mail box’” asks Claudia. Rather! Who could forget the chivvied days when he fagged for all the office as postage boy? Yet a pride in my work forbade that I should up-end King Edward. I soon learned that it takes no more time to stick one stamp, or a dozen, on right way up as wrong, no matter how 1 might be bustled. CITIZEN CLAUDIUS. THE LANDLORD’S CASE Sir,-*— t a &ree with the views of the landlord, mentioned in your issue of February 3. If a tenant remains in a house for even one week without ■ lor that week * the landlord, losing that week's rent is really paying it for the tenant If anyone objects to the landlord evictS®J* 1 ® tenant, then it is up to the ™f tOrS uS pay the subsequent week’s f, Why should the landlord do r ’ lam one of th® unemployed. *«S?- Ve n ° Ve r y , rosy Prospect of again * e “ lp S a Job in the occupation in 1 was trained. I have, however, ® a ' ed se veral hundred pounds, and ago bought a rough secion and got a building put upon it it wol ln 'h thOUSh - 1 do not suppose it would be considered sufficiently good accommodation for many of those who complain of getting into diffieuL ties through high rents. lam potterbm therf m^ ns a few improvements, ther ®., wlU soon not be much more is pSt U un a Aguiar up-to-date house is put up. There are several things 5° 7" hlch would give employment not only to myself, but to others nopular'Hfe r° the le e islati <m and the monSv f mg against even humble property owners tt may be as well r° rny little capital in the bank. I +v?° Uld 4. put up the house, employing al he /ar *7 d T ° the work * and helping ff r 77 s 1 could myself, but even if I were sure of letting it, at an un--7? 1 7'7° US cental, 1 c °nld not be sure f getting the rent. No matter who ***?. tenant, there seems to be a diffiif 1 rent ll hlm out * °nce in, even if rent falls into arrears; while if a thit? e - 1S le ! to people with children. htfifii, 11 ? 1 ° nly the lesal difficulty, lf that can in time be overcome ataiLf IS n, the v popular indignation turnfne * he , hard - hearted landlord into p ?° r , llt . t i e innocent children wh? Bt J, eet - though I do not know f landlord should be expected to lose for the benefit of the waster or the impecunious, any more than the “ a “^ h ° makes or invests his monev in ouier ways. Another thing I could 1 ° dld be to let my section as it ' . iilQ building accommodation alFf ady , on it would be sufficient for at least two people, though It is only a rough kind. X could then go on

to another rough section, improving and building adequately for my ne *~ and incidentally employing a cert *r amount of other labour, as I have *7* ready done in connection with present section. But again, how can be sure of getting the 5s or 10s w that I would consider a fair thixtf? charge as rent for my present sec tion, with its buildings? Anotnj thing I could do would be to here, buy another section suiiaM fruitgrowing (my own is not able), and start work on tlie ll section without putting up any &If ing there. But here would co jr the worry by thieves and 't; -nd II whom it is so difficult to catcm | who know that, even if |; can acord to laugh at th® H deterrent punishment that tn y Set " IMPOVERISHED CAPITA!®*’ NOTICES TO CORRESPOND^ ‘■Punk-”— You cannot use ** of The Sun to accuse cials of having thwr tickled” —unless you baV» “ proof of the “tickling. ■ DU *’ Sun. - “Wake Up, Auckland.”— You to accept our ruling suitable for our colT iStfr* t# columns if you wish your appear.—Ed., The Sun. “Pa inter.”—And what of ees in the industry you mention contention that * where possible, employ paint their homes is a reasons o** 0 ** —Ed n The Sun.