Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 837, 4 December 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

CHRISTMAS CHEER Sir, — May I through your columns make an appeal to men and women of goodwill on behalf of our Christmas cheer fund for ttajß Richmond Road Children’s home. The home offers an everopen door to destitute children, irrespective of denomination —at the present time we have 50 little ones to look after. lam sure that there are many kind-hearted people among your readers who can spare a little from their own Christmas fund to help me to bring a little extra joy to these less fortunate ones this Christmas. All contributions will be welcomed, and may be sent to the Order of the Good Shepherd, Grey’s Avenue, or direct to me. WALTER AYERILL, Chaplain. All Saints’ Vicarage, Ponsonby. RAFFLES AND GAMBLING Sir “To hell with the tote.” In that lurid phrase, the Rev. Jasper Calder has consigned the totalisator to perdition. The reverend gentleman should have said “gambling.” The totalisator is merely an avenue, not a cause, of gambling. Will Mr. Calder tell us from what angle he views raffles at Anglican church bazaars? A raffle contains more of the element of gambling than investing on the machine. Of course he will reply that raffling is a legitimate means of raising church revenue. And when did Mr. Calder acquire such a horror of the totalisator? Men and women will gamble. This inherent craving is to be observed in Anglicans as well as other Christians. Remember, lam not concerned as to whether gambling is overdone or otherwise, but lurid statements of the kind mentioned at the start of this letter are not the most desirable way of reforming the gambling habits of the people. HERBERT MULVIHILL. ON CHANGING NAMES Sir, Being one of the great number of people who hate to leave well alone, I submit a few reasons in support of the proposal to change the name of Edendale. It is true that the name is pleasant-sounding, and well established, therefore get rid of it. The change would lead to much confusion and disorganisation for many years to

come. That alone is sufficient to justify the change, for, after all, we agitators rejoice in being nuisances to all concerned. Some carping critics state that many signed the petition without thinking what they w r ere doing, and also that many of the signatories are non-residents. Even if that be so, does it not show how smart we are, because to us true agitators the end justifies the means. I am told that there is a place in the distant South called Edendale; ergo, change the name of our district. As there is a group of islands (almost uninhabited) called Auckland Islands, I propose to commence an agitation to change the name of the Queen City, and would be glad of any suggestions for a nice new name. Following the same reasoning, the people of Sandringham, in the Old Country, will be compelled to change their name also. We turbulent agitators hope and trust so, at all events. If the present movement is successful, we have some splendid ideas to carry out, including changes of the names of Kingsland (established business firms enthusiastic). Rocky Kook, and Mount Albert itself. If only the Mount Albert Borough Council will give us a little initial encouragement, there is no end to the annoyance and mischief we can cause. Finally, although the Mount Albert Borough Council may consider it somewhat outside its province, a little moral support from that body would much help the worthy movement to change the name of London (England), owing to confusion with the Canadian town of the same name. R. E. X. MATTHEWS. TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT Sir,— I can vouch for your correspondent “Ratepayer’s” statement on Point Chevalier buses. Since these buses started running, there are from two to three inspectors on two bus sections, much to the annoyance of passengers and driver—so much so that many would-be passengers are walking rather than submit to the nuisance. Do these men save the board the amount paid in salaries? Xo! It seems to me they exceed the buses’ net takings. How can they pay? Private buses are not permitted to take up passengers on these sections. "W omen with children must wait in all weathers before they can get a bus not fully loaded, while the men walk. A chairman’s duty is not to dominate the board. All confidence is lost in the Transport Board, and the sooner it resigns the better. The

embers are smouldering, and will flare up in a great upheaval, as the ratepayers will not be bled white. When they add the tram rates to their fares, they are paying more than Is a section for their ride. As things are, 3s a section would not pay. If so, an> surplus would probably go in increased salaries instead of reducing them. RATEPAYER No. 4 THE BLIMP Sir. We take very strong exception “Keelson’s” remarks regarding t outboard motor-boat Blimp in Ia evening’s aquatic column. May * point out that our experience^' 1 1 outboard racing craft, support*® * the calculations made in ccnnectio with the design, left us assured t&ai there was no chance of her being “dud.” That this conviction was g* n ' erally shared is evident by the w that the Blimp, though powered wi a 1928 model El to-Quod, was PM** 1 on the scratch mark in both rac %' along with many other racing crai powered with larger and newer moto. • The entry made was perfectly bona fide, the driver named in the enmbeing Mr. C. F. Goldsbro. who in factor race the boat in the event in wni she competed. _ ~ , r(1 Y'our action in calling Mr. Go.os a “bogus” driver is insulting him and to us, and we must ask > to publish this denial. COLLIXGS AND BELL. St. Mary’s Beach. Ponsonbv. f “Keelson” assures us that the ence to Mr. Goldsbro was in no derogatory. He is personally with Mr. Goldsbro. What lie wisneo convey, in a light way, was tn» Goldsbro was acting as a deputy for owner of the boat.—Ed. The Sun.J