Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 775, 23 September 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

TOO MANY STREET COLLECTIONS Sir,— 1 would like you to grant me space in your paper for the publication of this letter, on the subject of street collections. At a Labour Representation Committee meeting: held at Papatoefoe on September 11 I was instructed to write to you and have this protest published in the “Citizens Say” column. The Hauraki Labour Representation Committee views with concern the increasing number of street collections and suggests that the time is opportune for the Government to take action by providing the necessary funds from revenue for all legitimate and necessitous organisations. In the meantime we suggest the number of days for street collections should be strictly limited. J. SMITH Hon. Sec. HELPING CHARITY Sir, — Considering the popularity of prizefighting, or perhaps I should say boxing and wrestling matches, would it not be possible to make events in some way beneficial to suffering humanity instead of satisfying only the unevolved and animal craving of men and, I am sorry to say, women too. The point I wish to make is. can we not utilise some of the money so made for humanitarian causes, for I am tired of being a voice in the wilderness crying out against such things? There are many women’s societies in this city giving their thought, time and labour to get funds together for such causes as the Hospital, St. John Ambulance, Plunket Society, unemployment, etc., and one sees women, middle-aged and old (I am sometimes there, myself) standing on the street for hours, tired and weary, jingling a collection box in the faces of passers-by and trying to smile in thanks for an unwilling threepence. At the Town Hall last Monday night 2,000 were turned away from the door. I hear, and men pleaded for any sort of seat, offering a pound if only it could be granted. Can this' great generosity not be used to alleviate suffering as well as cause it? A. L>. HAMILTON. AT OHURA Sir. — In regard to the relief work. I have had something to do with it—at Ohura in the King Country. The conditions were awful. We had no floor ifi the tents. We slept, therefore, in mud holes. With no board around the outside, the cold was intense. Several of the men lit fires through the night and I did also. We were sleeping on sacks, stretched across a framework, and the cold could get through them. I wonder how they can stand it I know if I had stayed there I would have been carried out. In regard to the fares, I think re-

lief workers should be carried for nothing or get a big reduction. From a station—l forget its name—to Ohura, about 25 miles, we paid 4s 6d, and on a Public Works train at that. 1 stayed a week at Ohura and slogged hard. When I got my time sheet, I received 15s, but my friend was not so lucky and drew Is 9d. So we walked home to Auckland, half dead. And I want to say that the prices, were very high for,.food. It is impossible to keep out of debt. Of course some camps are a bit better, than others and I hope they are better than Ohura. - LABOURER. RAILWAYS Sir,— Too often our system of railways is subject to destructive criticism. Now, however, the Press has forcibly demonstrated that something can yet be done to improve the financial aspect also the methods of travel by depoliticahsmg our system and making a study of the successful operation of Uie Canadian National Railways. With this in view the New Zealand Government has intimated its intention of sending an experienced officer to Canada to make investigation. As it has been shown by Sir Henry Thornton president of the Canadian National System, that he has been able to disentangle and reorganise lines of no less than 22,600 miles originally owned by many different corporations, surely the matter of depoliticalising the New Zealand Railways deserves the fullest consideration. Mr. Sterling is undoubtedly an excellent manager, but I am afraid he is overloaded. Then again he has not the free hand to administer successS u y* . T° run an y enterprise successfully it is essential that supreme authority be vested in one individual at all Points where action must be taken. It is necessary that the authority, responsibility and scope of each position be carefully and definitely outlined. It is necessary that disciplinary authority be placed in the same hands as the responsibility. The burden of administration should be so distributed as to prevent overloading any one position. In Canada the Canadian National Railways have various departments cooperating- with the railway. The land department carefully settles tens of thousands of immigrants along the lines. The industrial department places approximately £20,000,000 of new 1 r ? l ? ustrlea al °ng ifs lio*s each year, lhe express department looks after the speedy movement of express shipments. and the traffic department deals witj| all matters relating to obtaining business or selling transportation to tho public. The Canadian National i Telegraphs, which is the largest systern in the world, is also operated ! cl osely With the railways. One can | send telegrams from the trains and also the utmost importance is at(Continued in next column.)

tached to quick deliverv to travelling patrons.

Only r seven years ago the lines lost millions, whereas today their net earnings are anything from ten to twelve mililon pounds per annum. Locomotives were scrapped and larger locomotives built giving increased haulage. On short runs where the steam train could not run at a profit the oil electric train was substituted and shows handsome results. The Canadian National have enlarged on the new oil electric engine and built huge electric locomoti. os for long distance express trains, w hich effect a saving of fifty per cent, in operation. A good deal of expense is devoted to research, but this is small when it is considered that the gross earnings of the system are approximately £ 60,000,000 per annum, and if only one per cent, of this huge sum can be saved they’ are well compensated. Canada is fully’ alive to the tourist trade. In fact, when it is considered that approximately £ 80.000,000 is spent in Canada annually’ by tourists, it is no w’onder that taxation is being continually reduced. It is not a case of being satisfied w’ith the present position, but . to encourage more the tourist the Canadian National are building an hotel at Vancouver costing £1,500.000, one at Saskatoon costing £200.000, one at Halifax costing £750,000. over £1,000,000 on enlarging the world-fam-ous Chateau Laurier at Ottawa and annually tens of thousands of pounds on enlargements in the Rockies. The railways operate a chain of hotels and resorts, and this means additional revenue and also brings business to the lines. A railway is no different from any other enterprise. It is never finished. The “fashions of travel” are always on the change and necessarily so to keep y the traffic from the popular motor-car. Canadian trains are luxuriously furnished, beautifully upholstered, and well ventilated. By radio the traveller is well informed of the latest news, the world’s markets, and also enjoy’s radio concerts. On long-distance National trains the business man has the wireless telephone, and can ring up Montreal while travelling, say, a thousand miles or more away. How would these innovations go In New’ Zealand. Why the public would travel by train to experience them. They would delight at getting along at forty’ or fifty miles an hour in an oil electric train. They would be just as interested in the new oil electric express engine as in a new make of motor-car. They would look with pride upon their public-owned system. In fact, I am afraid to contemplate what would happen to the destructive critic. But the question is» “Who will bell the cat?” PROGRESS. HAPSBURGS Sir, — In discussing a cabled report in The Sun of a supposed Prince of the House of Hapsburg, it is stated, inter alia, that The Hapsburgs were descended from Maria Theresa, the daughter of Charles VII. of France, and her husband. Francis of Lorraine, etc.” Was not this particular Maria Theresa the daughter of Charles VI., Holy Roman Emperor from 1711 to 3740. Archduke of Austria, and King of Bohemia and Hungary, who attempted to secure j her succession to the various domlnions by’ his famous Pragmatic Sancj tion? Charles VII. of France was i King of France from 1422 to 1461, a | contemporary’ of the first Hapsburg j emperor, 300 years before the time j the Empress-Queen, Marla Theresa of Austria, J. H. PEXNIKET.