Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 768, 14 September 1929, Page 10

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

THE WESTERN FRONT

Sir,— It is essential that easy access to the city from Herne Bay and the surrounding district be provided. A level road from the end of Fanshawe Street to St. Mary’s Bay could not provide tliis and would mean the expenditure of a large sum on access from New Street and St. Mary’s Road. It has been suggested that the Gas Company should be allowed to keep certain land for future requirements. Public necessity demands that the area be secured by some means or other. Let us not be deterred by foolish side-tracking. Ponsonby and Herne Bay are out to get the road or know the reason why. WESTWARD HO. A QUERY Sir, — Can you or any of your correspondents inform me whether it is true that the Chinese Government has recently closed five Treaty Ports to the British? It has been reported that Dr. Mildred Staley made a public statement to that effect without, apparently, giving any authority. If this is a fact it is a grave matter and may lead to serious international differences. I have questioned several wellinformed people, but they all express ignorance of such action on the part of the Chinese. FIAT LUX TOWN PLANNING FINANCE Sir, — Mr. J- W. Mawson’s remarks re town-planning finance are to be welcomed as an indication that the folly of allowing “betterment” values to go into private pockets is beginning to impress itself upon thinking minds. He, however, advocates what is known as “betterment” to overcome the difficulty, and although there is a good deal to be said in favour of this, when one examines the problem closely, it is apparent that no ordinary betterment plan will be satisfactory. The difficulty is that it is impossible to assess all the added values which accrue from any particular work of town-planning. Improvements of this nature in, say, the suburbs of Wellington would make that city a more desirable place to live in, and would therefore attract population. The direct result would be an appreciation of land values, not merely in the districts town-planned, but also in city values, and these latter would be left intact in the pockets of city landowners. In short, it is quite impossible to say bow far afield values are affected by any given town-planning work. Seeing that all Wellington ra/tes are levied on the value of land (alone), the financing of town-planning

out of the rates is the correct and equitable method. Areas that would be specially favoured by the work Mr. Mawson specialises in would pay the same rate a £ as less favoured areas, but the values of the former would be immediately raised and thus the “betterment” idea would be scientifically attained by the assessing of the rates on a higher value. If Auckland were to adopt rating on unimproved land values the harbour bridge could be financed out of the rate revenue with the certainty that all land would pay in strict accordance with benefits received. Nothing could be fairer. C.H.N. “SISTER BODIES” Sir,— Let brotherly love continue! The Mayor, in council, has said that he is doubtful whether the couicil should criticise the Hospital Board, and that it should be remembered that the board is a sister body. Could anything in this world be more ridiculous than that? One could postulate any number of offences that might be perpetrated against the city by the boards which control this and that. Is the Mayor’s remark intended to convey the information that whatever happens in such cases the City Council wiil not interfere? If the council does not come to light with a protest against the infamous proposal to place an infectious diseases block in the heart of the city, I shall certainly place that interpretation upon his remarks. DIPMEASLES. FALCON ISLAND Sir, — In your Friday issue Mr. C. F. Giesen comments on the dictum of Drs. Farr and Marsden that “earthquakes can now be predicted,” and I was glad to see that he had something to say in defence of Mr. F. R. Field. Mr Field, despite what hostile critics have said, has had extraordinary success in his predictions. I have not forgotten that he forecast, to the hour and day, the eruption that placed Falcon Island on tho map again. If it was pure guesswork,. why, in the name of all that is seismic, should he nominate Falcon Island? Perhaps some of the sceptics w-ill “laugh that off.” TONGA. BRITISH LABOUR PARTY Sir, It is fair, I think, to draw pointed attention to the successful manner in which the Labour Government at Home has made Its trial run. Within nine weeks or so (he MacDonald Ministry has done more in the best interests of the Empire and Europe than

the Baldwin Government—the Ministry of "all the talents"—managed ;o do throughout its amiable and mediocre career. You, sir. already have paid a fine tribute to the splendid work of Mr. Snow-den as a statesman at The Hague. His service was in keeping with the policy of his Government. Now Mr. Ramsay MacDonald lias demonstrated Labour's belief in the value of the League of Nations as a great moral force for world’ betterment and, also, the desire of the majority of the British nation for international amity. There is a prospect of Anglo-American unity on the question of additional naval disarmament. Other Ministers of the Labour Government also have done good work on commonsense lines. The party indeed is so sound in its administration that the New Zealand Parliament and people should n£& that Labour, alone, lias the -nerev promoting peace and progress

MR. SEMPLE'S SECRETARYStt* Sir.— The report announcing Mr. ft* Semple’s retirement from the position of secretary to the General Labourers Union is astounding. Mr. Seraple holds a paid position as Member of Parliament and yet he was keeping another man out of a job by filling * secretarial position without pay. In such circumstances, how can he argue in the House for a solution of unemployment problems? If Mr. Fletcher. M.P., is really serious in his threat to cross the floor of the House let him. in choosing whom he will serve, take heed lest he fall. “Am I my brother* keeper?” evidently fails to‘appeal t* Mr. Semple. H. BIRCH CT AEK.