Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 887, 3 February 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

NOISY MOTOR-CYCLES Sir, — When is the City Council going to take notice of the many complaints about - noisy motor-cycles disturbing the peace of suburban residents? Despite legislation to abolish cut-outs these pests are becoming worse and worse and the law is easily evaded by the use of “straight-through” exhausts. All hours of the day and night one learns to expect and loathe that heavy popping and whirring that tells of a youth playing the fool with his machine. The annoyance becomes all the more irritating because it can be so easily avoided. A quietly-ridden motor-cycle makes no unreasonable row. Instead of hitting at cut-outs which are only partly to blame the law should descend on any machine of this type not equipped with a silencer of specified size and efficiency. No one would tolerate a person who stood on a suburban road and fired burst after burst with a Lewis gun, yet we endure motor-cycles which are just as bad, if not worse. HEADACHE. TRAFFIC DANGERS Sir, — Attention is being directed to the traffic dangers in our streets and roads —sometimes termed speedways. Perhaps “deathways” would be more appropriate, however. A remedy must be found, and that promptly, if the users are to be protected against the daily increasing toll of accidents and untimely deaths, the victim. being ushered into eternity without the opportunity of preparation usually afforded a condemned criminal. Life and limb are gradually becoming negative value, of Kittle or no consequence. Some are killed outright, others so seriously injured that death speedily ensues, while others again are maimed for life. And so the tragedv proceeds unabated, unchecked. Nothing is done. Why? Because of the letlii argy—torpor—of the public conscience. This must be awakened, and that right early. How is it to be done? Here is a “skeleton” suggestion. Possibly others may be forthcoming from your readers.

Auckland should set up an influential committee, with a live-wire chairman. A mass meeting should be held in the Town Hall. Domain. Victoria Park, anywhere, to pass resolutions demanding immediate reform in the traffic laws and by-laws, with given speed limits for the safeguarding of life and property, and the strict enforcement of same under heavy penalties. Similar meetings and procedure to follow on throughout the Dominion. When the majority speaks, well, something usually happens. Let us get busy, right now, and evolve a solution which, possibly, may become world-w-ido in its application. URGENT. IYA BROADCASTING Sir, I am glad I made “Disgruntled” sit up and take a. little notice. It may do him good. But when he says that I agree almost entirely with what he stated in his original letter, he is stating what he must know is contrary to fact. He certainly suggested that IYA programmes contained only five or six “turns” that were any good, and. that statement is simply silly, for there are many excellent artists and groups cf artists appearing at IYA. The fact, apparently admitted by practically all listeners, that some performers are inferior, does not warrant the sweeping abuse made by “Disgruntled.” I entirely disagree with him as to the number of good performers at IYA, and I most emphatically disagree with his choice of the alleged humorist (who reads his stuff) and those “vaudeville” nightmares that go oil so frequently. If “Disgruntled” has no appreciation of the many wonderful and varied items given Lrom IYA, that is simply his misfortune. I enumerated some of them in my previous letter. As to that one violinist, “Disgruntled” cannot even quote; his own letter correctly. His words were • - • one person in Auckland who can play the violin really well.” Not “one violinist of note.” And anyhow, what is the point in writing such rubbish? Anyone who has listened during the past few weeks could have heard at least three violinists (local

players! from IYA. and each gave exceedingly good solo oerforns anc-es. “Disgruntled wants a c ;‘- iT V of artists at IYA, but he doesn’t ox plain where the new ones are cominr from. If he knows of any- what pity be doesn’t tell the secret to tn» IYA organiser. Meantime. I read programmes (and listen in "hen can), and find that new perform? are always being added to the “!r The fault at IYA lies not so much tlie standard of the tubists, but ” the ill-balanced programmes, and ' . needless repetition of items —some go®* and some mere trash. STILL A CHEERFUL LIST-tb-