Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To tha Editor.)

“BLACKBERRY CHECKED” Sir, — X read your article in The Sun of November 28, “Blackberry Checked.” I have been working - on the Waihou River stopbank for the past four months, cutting blackberry, and I also have noticed among the blackberries the little black insect, which is similar to the ladybird, and where these insects are numerous there is scarcely any blackberry, and what plants are there are withered, and almost dead. These insects will take a good nip of you if they get down your shirt. SUN SUBSCRIBER. Faeroa. AUCKLAND’S AREA Sir, — Would someone please inform Mr. T. Walsh that the area of Auckland City is, as stated in your recent editorial, 18,162 acres, not 8,570 acres, which is the fig Lire he quotes from the Local Authorities’ Handbook. I am afraid Mr. Walsh must have a back number of the handbook. Greater Auckland would, of course, be far greater in area. It wolilcl include such local areas as New Lynn, Newmarket, Onehunga, Mount Albert, Mount Eden. One Tree Hill, and Otahuhu, which would raise the figure very considerably, STATISTICIAN. MR. PARRY AND THE BONUS Sir, — Before Mr. W. Parry got into Parliament the Labour Party held meetings on Sunday afternoon in Quay Street, and I heard Mr. Parry say on two occasions: “Look at those fellows in Parliament, getting three hundred a year for doing three months’ work.” Mr. Parry apparently begrudged them three hundred a year. But now Mr. Parry is in Parliament he seems to have changed his opinion. We want members like Mr. R. A. Wright, member for Wellington Suburbs. Labour should improve not so much the con* ditions for themselves as the condition of people to inspire them with hope—and to improve them socially, morally and politically. JOHN NICHOLSON POOR “L.O.M”! Sir.— Your contributor. The Look-Out Man. comments on the Band of Hope Union's protest against the sale of sweets calculated to create an appetite for alcoholic liquor. A local manufacturer of sweets stated that sweets highly

flavoured with rum are being sold in Auckland, and expressed the opinion that they were very undesirable for children. The Band of Hope Union, remembering former deliberate attempts to create a desire for alcohol by the distribution of such sweets among children, urged that confectioners discontinue the sale and the authorities ban the importation of alcoholised sweets. Surely such a request was quite reasonable and the Band of Hope Union should be commended for trying to save children from thus acquiring a craving for alcohol. Your contributor, however, made it an occasion for cheap sneers at the Band of Hope workers and indulged in the kind of humour that suggests that his idea of Paradise is a pot of beer. Liqtior is not necessary for the enjoyment of social life, and frequently leads to accidents, quarrels and disgusting exhibitions of bestiality. I do not understand why The LookOut Man likes to glorify that kind of thing. It may be his idea of enjoyment, but I would rather listen to the kiddies reciting and singing at a Band of Hope meeting. I trust that your contributor will omit from bis column* that kind of drivel for the future, and realise that the drinking of a demoralising poison for pleasure is a ridiculous old custom that will eventually become as dead as the dodo. CLEAN WIT. WELCOME WITH FLOWERS Sir, — One feature of the visit of the Matson liner Malolo which I think should be mentioned publicly is the fact that few, if any r , flowers were offered the American tourists when the vessel entered Auckland yesterday morning. Coming from Sydney, where the people showered blooms upon them, the visitors noticed this, and although they were not disappointed at the reception of Auckland, it was clear that flowers for table decorations would have been appreciated. As one who realises the immense importance to New' Zealand of the visit of tourists from the United States, I think it would be a graceful action, and part of New' Zealand’s handclasp of goodwill, if an effort were made, say. tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon, to give generously of flowers for decorative purposes on the voyage to Fiji. AUCKLANDER. SUNDAY BROADCASTING Sir.—When the last Sunday concert of the Municipal Band was relayed by IYA I wrote in pain at the manner in which the programme was curtailed hv the dragging out of a church ser-

vice, and was hopeful of more oonsideration last evening, but it was wors than ever. The operator made a_ most courageous attempt to cut in but on . succeeded in providing some que cacophony with the “Bells of C ornf* ville” clashing horribly with those o the Rev. Jasper Calder’s orchestra. The result was worse than the h* lls of St. Matthew's, and the first three items of the band’s all-too-brief PT®" gramme were lost to listeners. Ow civic, band has been off the air too long, and as there is so inU ?; trashy stuff with which IYA fills in'* air, the best music we get should no be chopped out like this. The churches should keep within the liberal allowance of one and a-half hours J£*ven them when they are “on the air.” VOX ALL.

“THE TEPS.” Sir.— On many occasions when T com* to Auckland I find the tepid bath* closed at ten o’clock. We countr> visitors have cold baths in our own towns, but no tepid baths for swimming. Why should this attraction be denied us on the only occasion? when we country visitors can advantage of a warm swim? On inquiry. J find that the cold swimminr hatha are seldom closedCOUNTRY VISITOR.