Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 327, 12 April 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

' HOMEWORK Sir, — “Humanist” is one of those amusing people who strive to deflect the course of humanity with a six-inch sign-post labelled “Detour. This Way to Destruction!” Whatever Mr. Sandow or Mr. Bernar McFadden or any other physical culturist may have to say. the fact remains that life as it is demands a standard of education. This, of course, varies but the pupils of Auckland secondary schools have to tackle their nightly tasks with a will if they are ever to fill the places in the community which fond parents have mapped out for them. PRO-HEADMASTER. SUNDAY LABOUR Sir,— It is apparently useless to draw the attention of our legislators to the increasing numbers of the coloured races in the larger centres, and the inadequacy of the present restrictions, but one expects that at least these people should be made to observe the law of the country, which they have seen fit to adopt. In open competition with our own kind the- Chinese, with their frugal mode of living, have a decided advantage, and they certainly should not be permitted to increase it by working seven days in the week. At one market garden on the North Shore, teams of Chinamen can be seen following their occupation every Sunday. If a New Zealander, in order to meet this competition, did the same thing he would very quickly receive a visit from the Labour Department. Why should Chinese be exempt? NATIVE BORN. BIRKENHEAD AFFAIRS Sir, — As the representative of a large section of the ratepayers of Birkenhead we would .like, through the medium of The Sun, to utter a protest against the proposals -that our local council has included in its proposed loan poll. Only one—that for reticulation —is, in our humble opinion, of immediate need. In a district so richly endowed with safe, natural bathing facilities, the proposal for swimming oaths can well be relegated to the future. The sports area to be bought is at the far end of the borough, and would serve only the minority of the residents. This could well have been a question for a special rating area. But what we believe condemns both these proposals at pc«-*ent is the district’s dire and immediate need for (1) drainage and (2) fire-fighting plant. The former has been urgeii and will be demanded by the Health Department. Here we still have the stone age system of pan sanitation. In the event of the council’s present proposals being carried the district, in the near future, will

be compelled to instal drainage, which will mean a still further addition to the rates. As for the second need, we have on many occasions had ample proof of the total inadequacy of the present arrangement, by which we are completely dependent on the Northcote Fire Brigade. On no occasion has it arrived in time to make a save, due to the time taken to get word through. These, we hold, are matters needing immediate attention, and we would urge the ratepayers to be alive to their own interests and to ponder carefully on these matters before committing themselves. EXECUTIVE JB.R.R. ASSOCIATION. PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYMENT Sir, — I would like a few lines in your paper to ask who has the duty of employing men on public works jobs. St K + 1 t 2 olc a walk right round the beach to St. Heliers to see the improvements, and I was disagreeablv surprised to find that many of the men employed there are foreigners I dont mind foreigners finding employ“®nt lf , ? a own flesh and blood scandal! 6 ’ Ut otherwii » it Is a These men are clannish. Tliev spend money m their own little circle, a large majority of cases, when ! , ey t^v ve t accumulated sufficient capital, they take it all away to their own t-?n. n r’ a ! d H , Ve their Uve - S there. We talk, of naturahsation. It is a farce It international complications unfortunately arose, and their country was invoked, we would see what naturulwater- 11 B !? od is thicker than water. I think charity should comat home, and when work is to P® “ad, our own stock should always have first refusal. J Auckland. gT ‘ THE AUTOCRAT OF THE BUS Sir,— , it on the bus which left the citv -Point Resolution shortly after 10.30 last evening that the passengers were !he a h d l a - an act of impertinence by at? a l !’! s drlver that calls for immediate attention. The driver allowed the passengers to become seated before lie a ml 5 V l k!°d' k f h * M ’’ l ac e • He then turned aad , asked " or tares. A number of walk-la !° S ?u fr ° m their seats and but K B fr ° nt of the bus t° Pav, wv!e were one Of two who sat h-rt u ey w P re - When these people rtriU. t US and tendered their fares the J? ecaaie impertinent and wanted V they had 11 ot come forward wnen he called on them. As one man informed this autocrat of the bus not „., y °P r p ‘ ace to collect fares, and 3 to Chase you because you don't happen to be in your seat *’ ‘L®*™ 5 a Sreat pity that an inon the«e d u es n 0,5 a PPeaf more often board hut so seldom do they ( board these vb-c,. aam*t fS vhe drivers

have become just a bit too big | themselves. There is always a crowd j for these late buses, and people are not going ti wait outside while the j driver carries on a conversation with a friend in the street. I hope tins comes under the eye of the right people, who will attend to a nuisance that is becoming more prevalent, and which is going to be a bad thing toe the drivers who continue to adopt an attitude that is neither becoming nor likely to be favoured with regard t>r the majority of people using the buses. People pay Or their rides, and the up Tramways Department pays the “ r *V ers to get their fares. If th* ment paid the passengers to take their fares to the drivers it would be a d 1 ferent thing ___ A PASSENGER-

HATS OFF IN LIFTS Sir.— „ _^j| Your correspondent, ‘Curious, . lind that th ?re is no general rUl ®. vogue in Auckland in regard to removing their hats in an elevator,* the reason that it is superfluous. , t sides, there s no more necessity than for a mere man to remov hat in the presence of women "J**tJ* a tramcar. Each is a public co ance. Personally, I never re f tt ? irCU rjhat in an elevator under any JTVbcat stances, and I am often in them wc the city. But I have . ofte ®L* amused to see some men in a c cn ;t s elevator holding up their hats, ve high as their heads, in order them from being crushed. anu mind they would have sensible had they been left on I in some cas A s—bald pates. can judge, the women foU a . indifferent about the matter, think any the less of those o with our y\TS O®* I