Citizens Say —

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 283, 20 February 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

NEW USE FOR RESERVOIR Sir, — Your paper is as delightful and as bright as its namesake. Now could you answer me this? I see by a daily paper that the City Council is building a new reservoir in Khyber Pass. What is it going to keep in it? Not water! The council has none! Perhaps it will serve as an asylum for broken-hearted flower growers and lovers of Auckland who are daily watching the destruction and ruin of*their gardens and beautiful plants and shrubs to say nothing of the vegetable gardens, which are such an asset in families where the income is none too large. What do you think? “SUN” READER. AN INVITATION Sir, — In your issue of the 17th instant, a correspondent shrouded with the pseudonym “Fifty-Fifty” indulges in innuendo. I shall be glad to receive from the said “Fifty-Fifty” a correct name and address, when I will ask the permission of the association to invite “Fifty-Fifty” to a discussion at one of our meetings; by which both parties may gain information—perhaps 95 per cent, in “Fifty-Fifty’s” favour. PATRICK SMYTH. Hon. Sec., Te Akarana Maori Assn. SOLVING A PROBLEM Sir, — This appreciation is perhaps a little belated, but surely the thanks of thinking people in general, and the unemployed in particular, are due to The Sun for the forceful and timely leaders inspired by the Anniversary fe-stivities. The Sun alone faced the shameful truth. Our other daily papers simply printed, their perennial futilities about “Progress,” “Profits” and “Optimism,” and only referred to the dark cloud of unemployment by its “Silver Lining.” However, a Hymn of Praise to The Sun is not our immediate object. We would attempt to find a unity in the chaos of “unemployment relief,” and state a simple, practical and acceptable way, for the people to commence to help themselves. At present they are very tired. and distrustful of the bureaux. Let us start at the foundation instead of the roof, and then we ! can build truly. We must commence ;at the real beginning and first define ! the position. Then we can “carry on” We can do no more here than point ja way, and trust that others with real [desire to help, and the capacity to or-

ganise, will accept the idea, and give it suitable form for expression. We would suggest first that an organisation under the control of the unemployed themselves, is a necessity, and the first necessary action is a means of finding the actual number of people, men, women and children, who are in the grip of want through unemployment. This is the first step, and others, which depend on the success of the first, would logically follow. R. ROGERS. PERMANENT JOBS •Sir,— * It’s about time people left off writing about the unemployed and did something practical. Many of the unemployed are not strong enough for labouring work, but pretend to be to get work, so how will the relief works settle the trouble? What is the use of the Labour Department stating it places so many men in jobs every week unless these are permanent jobs? W o do not all live on charity or want it. I have had only a few odd jobs in the last 12 months, and not had two good meals a day, so as to make my savings last. I have not improved my health by it. “UNFIT AND ELDERLY." UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG TEACHERS Sir,— It is a matter for surprise that bondsmen liable to the Education Department have not taken united action to define the liability of the department in regard to payment of salaries to unemployed teachers. The present situation, is, for the department, a win on all counts—heads we win, tails you lose —by the fact that teachers are unable to embark on any other course, and receive no pay while awaiting the pleasure of the department. The words of the bond state clearly and without ambiguity that the student shall, after admission to the Training College, continuously attend for one X ear or more and “immediately thereafter” serve as a teacher for a period of three to five years. Thus the bond claims service from the student and guarantees employment by the board At intervals lately reports have appeared in the Press, from various sources, complaining of the terms of the bond, and asking for guaranteed work or release. | The position is that students, quali!lle<l as assistant teachers, after several 1 years’ preparation, are keenly desirous

of continuing in their profession. reason of spending some years sPf*alising in their profession, they are too old to commence in any o-* business or calling. It is that a department of the -mof Government, so aggressive in defence its honour, so swift to resent aLJ putation to the contrary, should i sake of a few thousands a y®* r » I faith with so many of the youth j Zealand. Bondsmen are Resuming without question, that ui u partment is within its rights in . “iLj ing, and holding to the bond, st The Teachers' Institute or AssocLtio” should take up this matter on of their less fortunate brethT* . ter _ advice should be obtained to u Jt mine the department’s liabilitygathered that the local Boardi j e ft cation is sympathetic, and cou n:r0 j alone, place all teachers, ana the situation successfully. w-an In the present crisis let ou ....viand be Auckland postions for _ J: er ners. teachers, and keep out c>ou l 0 who under a less strict . p jae« exists here, obtain marks wn —Jdijif them in a better position qualifications. yynvrisMA*