Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 395, 2 July 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

THE NEW RAILWAY LINE

Sir, — I read with considerable interest the report in Saturday’s Sun regarding the indignation which has been aroused in the Bay of Plenty over the decision of the Government to proceed immediately with the construction of the RotoruaTaupo line. Bay of Plenty interests, of course, consider that the Taneatua line should be extended to Opotiki. While there may be arguments against the construction of either line, it must be admitted that there are greater possibilities of development ahead of the Taupo project. The present line into the Bay of Plenty taps the richest part of that district, while the coast throughout its whole length is well served by coastal steamers. The line into the Taupo district will make cheaper fertilisers available to a vast amount of undeveloped country, and, by bringing the district into closer touch with the markets, allow opportunity for closer settlement and the prosecution of intensive farming. ENSILAGE.

OLD AGE PENSIONS Sir, — I consider it is about time that the public’s attention was drawn to the position of the old “Homies” in the Dominion, who are eligible for an oldage pension, but at present do not get one. it seems to me monstrous that these old people, who have performed their duties to the English State in their various ways, should lose their right to the old-age pension for preferring to be with their children out here, rather than stay alone in England. Surely they deserve better treatment than they are getting in the evening of their lives, and it is little short of a scandal that the Imperial Treasury has not devised some plan to enable these old people—many, I believe, »in actual want—to pass their later days, if not in affluence, at least in comfort. To blame the old people for coming here is very poor argument, as it is only natural for them to wish to be near tireir children, and this view of the case should be considered by the Imperial Government, whose duty it is to restore the rights of citizenship and pension to these worthy old people. It is sincerely to be hoped that this important question will form a plank of the political platforms at the coming general election, with a view to placing the position before the Imperial authorities for their prompt consideration and action. G. F. HOLIBAR.

COUNTRY MEETINGS IN AUCKLAND Sir, — I wish to register a strong protest against the increasing practice of country racing clubs being allowed to hold race meetings at Auckland. I am no “wowser,” but anyone in the city last night could not help noticing the meagre number of Friday night shoppers about, and business men to whom I talked were emphatic that it is al-

ways the same before a race meeting. The money that ought to be spent on household necessities Is being kept to put on the totalisator for the enrichment of a racing club hundreds of miles away. Who grants these permits? It is common knowledge that country racing clubs are taking advantage of a complacent Racing Conference to hold meetings at Ellerslie. Can you imagine the Auckland Racing Club deciding to hold a meeting at Waipapakauri, or some equally outlandish place? It is time this sort of thing was stopped. It is no good to the working people, who are tempted in times of hardship to risk money they cannot afford on the totalisator, and it is no good to the business people either. TOWNSMAN.

TAKAPUNA LOAN PROPOSALS Sir,— The Mayor of Takapuna recently issued a circular to the ratepayers urging them to vote for the loan proposal on July 4 authorising the council to raise the sum of £28,100 for various road and other works. As a councillor I disagree with all the loan proposals on the ground that they are financially unsound except the three following: £ s. d King Edward Avenue, Bays water 3,057 0 0 Belmont Corner 500 17 6 Victoria Road (Walters Hill) 3,120 10 10 Total £6.678 17 4 The cost of maintenance of the above three portions of the main roads will exceed the annual interest and sinking fund charges on the amounts required to complete these sections and these works alone are a sound financial proposition. The concreting of Tahoroto and Shakespeare Roads, which will absorb the sum of £13,415, I maintain, is economically unsound and should not be undertaken for at least five years. The cost of the maintenance of this section of road last-year was £634 15s Bd, yet the interest and sinking fund will amount to the sum of £1,173 16s 3d per annum. In other words, there is a direct loss of £538 0s 7d per annum, which means that this loss must be met either by an increase in rates or must come out of the amount otherwise available for side streets. The latter are in a deplorable condition and will require every available penny to keep them in a passable state. I assert that Shakespeare Road and Tahoroto Road can be satisfactorily maintained for £350 a year. The distance is one mile 18 chains only. In this connection it is interesting to compare this road with the Great South Road, situate in the Franklin County, south of the concrete read at Papakura. The annual cost of maintenance a mile of the latter road is £275 and the daily average of traffic is 745 vehicles. The tally taken for Shakespeare Road and Tahoroto Road by the council in February, 1928. at the height of the summer traffic, showed only 306 vehicles a day, or less than half that (Continued In Next Column).

of the -Great South Road, yet the Franklin County Council recently turned down concrete for the Great South Road, as it was economically unsound. How, therefore, can concrete be justified for Shakespeare and Tahoroto Roads with less than half the traffic? By putting up the bad proposals with the good the council is attempting to force the ratepayer to vote for the whole proposal, hut I urge the voter not to be misled by such tactics. As for the assertion that it will be necessary to spend £4,000 next year on the road in question, I entirely disagree with such proposal. Such expenditure is absolutely unwarranted. If proper methods are followed this road can be maintained in a very satisfactory surface for £350 a year. The present policy of patching *is wasteful and extravagant and is not the method adopted by other authorities maintaining main highways in metal. The use of a grader would bring expenses down by nearly half. The assertion that if the ratepayers do not pass the loan the rates will be higher this year is too weak to be taken seriously. On the council's own figures the interest and sinking fund on the proposed loan is going to be £653 10s 3d, more than the cost of maintenance. On the contrary, therefore, if the loan is passed it must follow that the rates must be higher to meet the increased bill for interest and sinking fund. I maintain that there should be only one proposal: i.e.. for King Edward Avenue and Walters Hill, Belmont. The remaining proposals, which constitute over three-quarters of the total proposals, can well afford to wait five years at least. In regard to that portion of the loan dealing with stormwater drainage, i submit that there are many other parts of the borough which urgently m- % similar works and that it is only confusing the issue by putting them in such road proposals. In view of the above I consider, therefore, that ratepayers generally will be acting in their best interests in voting against the proposal. JOHN DAVIS. Councillor. N.Z. FOREST PRESERVATION Sir, — I take up this subject with the hope that some interest may be aroused in the question of “The Preservation of New Zealand Forest,” which is much too important a question to be left to take care of itself. The Hastings Chamber of Commerce has, ■with commendable foresight, started an efforj to secure for scenic purposes the native forest areas on each side of the road, now being constructed, from L#ake Waikaremoana to Ruatahuna. and, also, that area of native forest lying between Ruatahuna and Te-Whaiti. The New Zealand Government have here an opportunity of creating a scenic reserve which will not only be a delight to all who pass through it, but which will remain a happy hunting ground for the natives, who now occupy that part of the country. Now, if by opening up such scenic beauties, we can increase the volume of tourist traffic, so much the better: for every tourist that visits us must be fed, clothed, housed and carried from place to place. The tourist creates within our shores a market for meat, butter, eggs, milk, bacon, vegetables, fruit. New Zealand-made clothing and rugs: mats, kits and curios made by the Maoris, in addition to which ther* is a general distribution of wealth which reaches further than most of us have ever dreamed. Then again there is the question ot preserving the native bird life of our Dominion, and native birds live very largely upon berries grown upon native trees such as miro, tawa. hinau, kahikatea. matai, konini. and so on. Als'* there must be a conservation of water supplies at the headwaters of ° ur rivers if we would prevent sudden flooding of rivers and avoid continue’ disaster in our lowlands. Other reason* could readily be given, which make* the preservation of our forest upon the ranges not only desirable but absoluteb necessary for the well-being and prosperity of the land. FRANK E. SMITH. Hastings, July 20, 1928.