Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 422, 2 August 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

WAR MEMORIAL AVENUE Sir, — I read with amazement the other day of the intention of the War Memorial Museum authorities to plant the avenue leading - to the new building with planes or cedars or something of the sort. As a New Zealander I would like to enter an emphatic protest. Why not give our New Zealand trees a chance? Surely something suitable, and our very own, could be used for this purpurpose! This sort of thing is typically New Zealand, I am sorry to say, and should be stopped. Surely it is a little incongruous for the greatest repository in the world of Maori treasures, to be approached through an avenue of foreign trees! MAOHILANDER. PROGRAMME GLUTTONS Sir. As a keen observer of the controversy over musical programmes, as published in your correspondence columns, I feel hound to make a short comment. “M.U.G.” misquotes the words and phrases of Scotland’s national bard. I believe that an occasional visit by him to one of our public libraries would be found to be of immense benefit. It is to be hoped that “M.U.G.” will accept the hint in the spirit in which it is given. MRS. MALAPROP. We would inform “Mrs. Malaprop” that our correspondent “M.U.G.” purposely misquoted the lines mentioned. —Ed. The Sun. TRANSPORT FOR SUBURBS Sir, — I should like to ask through your columns whether the local municipal bodies in the area for which a Transport Board has been recommended by the recent commission of experts intend to take action in the direction of securing legislation for the establishment of a system of control better than that now exercised by the Auckland City Council? The special article on the subject in The Sun last Tuesday gave suburban residents cause to think seriously. It appears to be clear that unless and until the suburban municipal authorities —a poor lot, it is true—initiate legislation, the present extravagant and inefficient regime will carry on indefinitely, adding muddle to muddle and more loss to much financial loss. What has the Mayor of Mount Eden to say about it? One has noticed with amusement that the Mayor of Auckland and others of the same ilk have interpreted the commission’s report as a complete, almost a laudatory, vindication of the City Council’s policy. How can Mr. Baildon and his friends justify such an interpretation? Their position is absurd and untenable. The commission recommended the elimination of

(To the Editor.)

the City Council, which has proved itself to have been hopelessly unequal to tile task of serving the outer suburbs as well as they were served before the council, aided by an unjust law which the commission scathingly condemned drove the buses off the roads. It is time the suburban local bodies threw off their lethargy and followed the advice of the commission to set up a Transport Board. OUTER SUBURB. THE “TUNNEL” Sir, — Your correspondent “Engineer. Wellington/* ignores the request in my letter asking for a statement showing the cost of the proposed “tunnel/* and giving as well the estimated revenue. What I should like to know is this: Is the estimated value of this tunnel something substantial or merely a “pipe-dream?’* Is it to be another costly addition to the great sum already invested in the railways? Can it be shown as a sound commercial proposition? If the last, will you or “Engineer” submit figures in support of that view of the question? I may say in reply to “Engineer*’ that I know the reason advanced in favour of the Otahuhu-Westfield deviation. I know, too, that the savings in haulage are estimated at thousands of pounds a year, but are these savings estimated before the capital cost of the deviation was taken into account or after? Figures to prove the estimated savings on this deviation would also be interesting, and if “Engineer” can supply them I would greatly appreciate his courtesy if he would submit them.

“Engineer” has not answered my query as to how (as was suggested by your sub-leader) there would be a possible chance of the railways competing with buses and trams for suburban traffic, now that the new station is to be situated nearer Parnell Bridge than the traffic centre of the city. I should like to add that I believe with “Engineer” that the Napier-Gis-borne railway will be for years to come, a colossal incubus. What I should like to be assured on is, that the proposed tunnel is not in a similar category JOHN S. FLETCHER.

MENTAL DEFECTIVES Sir. — Any student of humanity, or of things as they exist, will rejoice in the fact that at last the Government is bringing down legislation to deal with the problem of mental defectives. Unfortunately we have around us many feeble-minded persons and we are deeply sorry for them. But v.hy in the name of common sense should these not be made sterile? Nobody wishes to deny them the right to live, but that they should be denied the right to multiply is simply an A.B.C. proposition. Day by day

we have people before our rt « are unable to control their insunc A man guilty of a sexual offence candidate either for a surgeon man with the lash, and should treated accordingly. The propw* legislation may not be, and pro is not, perfect, but at any rate a step in the right direction,;» pity’s sake let it proceed without structive criticism. NIK OLX SCOTLAND FOR EVER Some pleasant tributes have be* paid to the retiring Archbishop or terbury. Dr. Randall T. Davidson, also to the Primate Designate. Cosmo Gordon Lang. Boi applaud the deserved compLfine I should like to add another trutn bye as the real reason for tne ness and splendid service. * —-hat both are Scots. Ye’ll ken fine, • that means. A s cO*>

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