Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 654, 4 May 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

MR. ALLUM’S POSITION Sir, I sincerely trust that the new council when it meets will decide to retain the services of Mr. J. A. C. Allum as its representative on the Transport Board and that Mr. Allum will be permitted to carry on his good work as chairman. I don’t think there is a man better qualified to steer the tramways enterprise toward prosperity. Mr. Allum has the whole business at his finger-tips, and it would be .disastrous if someone less qualified were allowed to play ducks and drakes with things. Let us hope there will be a Mayoral pronouncement on the subject at the very earliest opportunity. VERB. SAP. WANTED, A TUG Sir, — I was unpleasantly surprised to notice in your reports of the mishap to the mission steamer Southern Cross and the steps being taken to lend aid, a statement to the effect that, as no suitable vessel for towing the steamer back to Auckland was available, it might be necessary to apply to Sydney. Surely this is an unwarranted reflection on our port and its facilities? It is quite untrue, for here in Auckland we have a number of vessels, any of -which would have filled the bill admirably, had the call come. The Simplon, a powerful, sturdy craft, originally a North Sea trawler, now specially adapted for local conditions, would have been an ideal tug, and there are several others with similar attributes. Such a statement as that to which I refer leaves the impression that the Port of Auckland cannot look after itself. May I claim that there is none more capable in this part of the world? LEADLINE. THE TRANSPORT UNCERTAINTY Sir, — I hope the people in the Auckland suburban districts are satisfied with the result of their voting on Wednesday last. First they have rejected the chairman of the Transport Board without giving him a fair chance to justify his position, and secondly they probably have done more to prejudice doubtful ratepayers against the transport loan proposals than any contemplated opposition could have done.

I, a resident of the Point Chevalier intermediate district, am one of the most disgruntled of bus patrons, for I am convinced that the service between the Point Chevalier Hall and the City is infinitely worse than before the board was formed fmany times recently I have waited for 15

minutes, and once for IS minutes, for a bus); but at the same time I cannot overlook the viewpoint of the Transport Board, which is fighting its way against fearful odds and with the internal white-ant of parochialism eating into its every proposal. If the people of the outer suburbs have a grain of common sense—and a few of them must have —they will realise that the sudden deposition of the Transport Board chairman is not going to cure their traffic ills. On the contrary, further trouble will now be occasioned by the change-over. The people have made their own bed. I say now—Let them lie on it; because I hope to have enough money soon to buy a motor-car! HOPEFUL. THE TRANSPORT BOARD Sir,— The action of the City Council regarding the Transport Board will be watched with considerable interest when the council meets for the first time, after the election. We have read of the speculation of Mr. Allum being re-elected to the Transport Board, yet it is very apparent that the recent election was fought very largely on the burning question of transport. Mr. Allum, the chairman, was decisively defeated on the City Council. In spite of the verdict of the electors, will the City Fathers turn the deaf ear and appoint a defeated candidate to so important a position? Coming events will be well worth watching. ELECTOR. THE JUBILEE INSTITUTE Sir, At a meeting of the trustees of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, held on Thursday, one of the board reported to me that an intending subscriber had told him he was withholding his subscription because we were wasting money, or at least spending more than we had any necessity to do, on beautifying the outside of the main building. He referred to tlie re-facing of the stone work now in progress. I would esteem it a favour if you would publish the following statement: “That the re-facing or reconditioning of the stone work was only decided on after strong recommendation to do so by the institute architects. We further consulted one of the most experienced firms in Auckland in connection with this particular kind of work, which stated that if we did not recondition at once it would cost us double or treble the amount within the next year or so. Ihe building has been erected for many years, and very little has been done to it in this connection.” A. J. HUTCHINSON. Chairman. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENT L.M.P.— Tour assertions arp too sweeping.—Editor The Sun.