Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 863, 6 January 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

AN UNPLEASANT SUBJECT Sir,— Though the subject is an unpleasant one, it is high time that the problem of sewerage refuse in the Waitemata Harbour was discussed in public and faced by the authorities. On several occasions in the last month while boating in the harbour and the Rangitoto Channel, I and others have found ourselves in the midst of appallingly large quantities of this refuse, floating either toward the city waterfronts or toward the North Shore beaches, according to the shift of the tide. Where this is eventually deposited I have been unable to discover;- but it is highly likely that much of it reaches a populated part and becomes a potential menace to health. Can it be that the sewage tanks from which this refuse is ejected are not performing their neutralising functions properly, or do these tanks normally discharge their contents without any form of reducing and disinfecting treatment? Either one or the other is the case. Apart from questions of public health this refuse, which is to be found at present in every locality—swimming beaches included —is sheerly revolting. HOLIDAYMAKER. MADCAPS OF THE AIR Sir, “Jay Peaceful’s’* remarks in your Saturday’s issue to the effect that airplane pilots who fly at low altitude over crowded beaches, as one did at Milford on Thursday, should get three months’ hard labour without the option of a fine, are perhaps a little too bitter and fiery to endorse to the full extent. But it is indeed time that pressure was brought to bear upon many of the inconsiderate “madcaps” of the air who, through sheer bravado, fly low over crowded areas. They are possibly not experienced pilots but recently licensed pupils, with a few hours to their credit, who have not yet reached the stage when they realise that the more they learn about flying the more they know that they have to learn. Auckland has been singularly free from flying mishaps, but such cannot remain our boast for long if the low-flying practice is permitted to continue. And the extent to which the progress of aviation is impeded by a bad crash cannot be estimated. Then the safety of those on the beaches and in the towns has to be considered, for a crash from a low altitude on Milford, on a Sunday or a holiday, would indeed be disas-

trous. If it is merely for the safekeeping of the ’planes the officials of the Auckland Aero Club are bound to view low-flying in all seriousness, and Aucklanders should immediately acquire the habit of reporting any ’planes which are seen flying low or stunting over crowded parts, to the Aero Club officials. It is often possible to read the number of the ’plane. JOYSTICK. KING’S HEAD ON STAMPS Sir, My name is Harry, just plain Harry from the bush, and ’tother night being short of a decent racing romance or murder yarn, I read the letters to the editor. ... I saw “'Well-"Wisher's’* about the absence of the King’s head on the new charity stamps, and I got straight up out of bed and burned my “roll” because none of the pound notes had the King’s head on them—only a Maori king’s head. . . . Anyhow, “WellWisher,” don’t let these ignorant jokers worry you. You just go on buying stamps with heads on. . . . But listen. I must tell you of the Minister of the Crown who sent me a Christmas card this year. .. . There was no charity stamp on that; neither was there one with a King’s head on. ... It was a rubber impression of his department (a backsheesh stamp). . . . Such rubber impression under the circumstances makes a bad impression. . . . But for the peace of mind of you, Mr. Well-Wisher, let me make a suggestion: Write to the King and tell him all about it, and while you are on the job, ask him for a photograph, duly autographed. . . . And if you get it, let me have a photo of you getting it. AB - ORIGINAL. CANADIAN BOWLERS Sir, As a fellow bowler, I feel sorry for these gentlemen who are touring our country as much for pleasure as for bowling. Our “win every time at any cost” players have taken them sternly in nand, and seem to regard their visit as a Bowling Invasion, and are “packing” teams everywhere against them to make sure they take no ashes back. I would suggest to Southern clubs, which may be honoured by a visit from these good sportsmen, to regard them as friendly visitors and allow only members of the club they visit to meet them. I belong to one of the clubs these gentlemen visited, where only four of our members had the

pleasure of playing against them, the others being selected from the strongest Auckland players. Those in authority seem to think that the visitors should be beaten on every green. With greetings to the Vancouver bowlers, with whom I sympathise. SMILE-AXE. In the selection of teams to play the Canadians, apart from the Test match, all clubs affiliated to the centre were circularised for participants on a membership basis. All these players were selected by their respective clubs, and not by the centre. Some of the smaller clubs, however, sent in more names than they were entitled to. These, of course, had to be excluded. In reference to the selection of players for the Te;st match# the centre: selected strong players, as the bowling ability of the visitors was an unknown quantity, and the match had an inter-Qominion aspect. “Jack High, our bowling expert, says that “SmileAxe” is incorrectly informed when says that; teams were “packed.”—-Ld., The Sun. 0