Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 309, 21 March 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

THE EDEN ELECTORATE Sir,— There is some little misapprehension in regard to the change of electoral boundaries in Auckland. On the basis of population Auckland was given a new electorate. That electorate was formed from portion of the Manukau, Roskill and Eden electorates. The present Eden electorate will be called Auckland Suburbs. The present Roskill electorate will be called Eden, and the new electorate will be called Roskill. I am standing for the Eden electorate because the vast majority of the electors are in that district. Out of 6,800 votes recorded for me at the last election, 5,500 were in the Eden electorate. V. H. POTTER, M.P. for Roskill. AUCKLAND SUBURBS ELECTORATE Sir, —■ It is not probable that> Mr. V. H. Potter, M.P., and I, will find ourselves contesting the one electorate, as your leader of last evening implies. My present constituents, for the most part, are in the electorate to which the name ‘Auckland Suburbs” has been given. I do not propose to desert them, but hope to be the candidate for that electorate. The name Eden has been taken away, to my regret, and I am sure also to the regret of my constituents. I trust that you will give such publicity to this as will correct any impression that I propose to leave my present constituents because the name Eden has gone. H. G. R. MASON, M.P. for Eden. UNEMPLOYED Sir,— Is nothing to be done for the unemployed? Some time back Mr. Coates announced that employment would be found for 3,000 unemployed men, but that it was necessary for all so placed to register at the Labour Bureau Many hundreds have registered since then and have gone, dailyj to inquire for work but they still meet with the polite answer that there is nothing doing. Is there no one who will champion the cause of the unemployed 9 It is a thousand pities that poor, hardworking men should find themselves in such straits. It is not charity thev want, but work. CITIZEN. BROADCASTING IN AUCKLAND Sir, — In a statement in Tuesday’s San, Mr. A. R. Harris attempts to whitev;ash the Broadcasting Company, and sidetracks the real issue by comparing thei number of stations in Great Britain and New Zealand. He contends that as we in New Zealand have four stations, England on a basis of popula-

tion should have 128 stations instead of 21. He is obviously “unaware” of the fact that the agitation is not for more stations, but for better or more

varied programmes. He admits that at the time when' radio had been operating in England for the same period as it has in New Zealand there was only one listener to every 43 persons. Here at the present time we have approximately one listener to every 34 persons, the fees are higher, and yet Mr. Harris considers that the revenue does not warrant paying a fair price in order to make use of the best talent available. I maintain that there is no financial inducement to attract the best artists. Propaganda was also broadcast on Tuesday by the announcer at ITA, who claims that the number of licences issued had been doubled since the opening of the Wellington station. Is that why that station is favoured in the matter of variety of programmes? Perusal of the programmes published in The Sun daily shows that Auckland programmes are far inferior to those of the other stations. The same artists’ names appear at IT A with monotonous regularity! This fact, taken in conjunction with the periodical changes in the staff of the local station, clearly suggests that Auckland is being neglected. Will Mr. Harris kindly make a public statement regarding the amounts allotted to each station for programme purposes, or whether Auckland is allowed the same amount in this respect as Wellington? I would also endorse Mr. Haycock’s remarks concerning certain artists who have been making thrice-nightly appearances, and have been favouring us with “first” and “second” movements all through the year. “Paddy McGinty’s Goat” would be at least a change! We thank you, Mr. Editor, for your ventilation of the grievances of the long-suffering public, which before the advent of The Sun would never have seen the light of day. Shine on! SPERO IYA Sir, — Mr. Harris, in his reply to complaints from the Listeners’ League, said that “the provision of variety necessarily depended on talent of suitable calibre being available.” Quite true! But does Mr. Harris know that many artists—some as capable as any yet employed, and others, in the opinion of the writer, more so—have applied for engagements without success. Until this state of affairs is remedied, dissatisfaction must prevail. OBSERVER. ST. PATRICK’S DAY Sir,—Some of us old Eirennachs send up the Irish lament for olden days when customs, sanctified by centuries of tradition, are absent on St. Patrick’s Bay. "We miss the time-honoured procession, the green banners bearing Gaelic inscriptions, the picture of our glorious saint, the sound of music

from many bands, but miss the grasp of a . we b* ve the “Beoch an Boris. ja&nf been consoled by the sight Imbleff 5 delighted children bearing diidear to all Irishmen: I ®©ax» e voUr play of orange and greer ® .--j—----tion of Erin’s national *** liarp. Inspired by my b£r “; ivin g yooj I plead forgiveness for S eT J readers a taste of the ne things in the dear old la* l ' Let the orange lily be Your badge my Ulster The everlasting green for And we both for one CLAN—^