Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 890, 6 February 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the

Editor.)

CITY STREETS Sir. — Some time ago a number of men were put off the permanent staff of the City Council. They had many years of good service to their credit, but the cry was "No work,” and they had to go. There is something wrong somewhere. There is plenty of work available repairing the roads and streets, which are a disgrace to anv council. As a ratepayer I notice it every day. It is time something-was started to improve our streets and make them safer for pedestrians. There is much work for the unemployed here. Let uss get to it quickly. RATEPAYER. ENTERPRISE \ Sir, — It is refreshing- to observe tangible evidence that the N.Z.R.. possess on its staff men of enterprise. The man who is responsible for the advertisement, “Go by Rail—lt’s Safer,” being" prominently displayed on top of at least one (No. 179) of the Auckland City tramcars, apart from being a humorist, is undoubtedly a genius in the art of advertising. ALLAN EVANS. SNAKES AND KATIPOS Sir. — I am with your correspondent from Taumarunui who commends the New Zealand Government for its legislation against snakes which prevents, even, their exhibition in zoological gardens. I, too, have lived in snake-infested countries and know the horror that lurks in every patch of tall grass for those who have been born with a fear of reptiles. Who could fail to feel terror on emerging from a bathing pool to see a water-snake wriggling along the surface of the water, or who would feel any desire for a bush picnic after having killed a snake a couple of yards from the food supply? No, sir, there is nothing to be gained from an exhibition of snakes. Let’s be content with our katipo. He’s bad enough, in all conscience! SQUELCH. MOUNT ROSKILL Sir, — The roads in the Mount Roskill district are in a shocking condition. The old-fashioned Mount Roskill method of dropping a load of scoria here and there in Mount Albert Road is very amusing. They have held several elections and a vote has been taken to have Mount Albert Road concreted hut as the Greenwood’s Corner end! of Mount Roskill holds the voting; power on loan proposals, the loan is not carried.

It seems a great pity that One Tree Bill or Mount Eden could not a.bsorh tUat district.: then Mount Roskill

might he a fit area to travel over in a motor-car. People who have travelled along Hillsborough Road will know what condition it is in. 1 suggest that the old members who have been long years with the board and whose old-fashioned ideas have shown no tendency to progress, should make way at this forthcoming election for others with new ideas. At one time Mount Roskill Road Board, with its large scoria quarry, had the renutation of showing a large profit on scoria, but, though a lot of scoria is in demand, the Road Board’s sale for the hist three months is practically nil compared with previous figures. Though only a small ratepayer myself, hut seeing the figures of the rates collected each year, I have often wondered where the money goes to. It seems to me that too much money is spent in the management of the Road Board affairs. DOMINION ROAD RATEPAYER. MOUNT ALBERT VALUATIONS It would seem that an effort is being made to “steal a march” on sufferers through rating on unimproved values, as the Valuer-General has treated them with scant courtesy in failing to notifv each ratepayer by personal notice and in fixing the 10th inst. as the latest time for objections to be lodged; a matter of a few days. Take the case of ratepayers absent from Auckland and receiving no notice, direct, as is usually given by the local authority; What earthly chance have they to get relief ? The Valuer-General needs waking up as a protest against his methods in this matter. A meeting of those interested should he called immediately and efforts made to join up with the City, otherwise Mount Albert will find itself in the same position as other boroughs where rating on unimproved value has brought stagnation and distrust. In a yqung country in process of development, rating on either capital or annual value is the only sane method of levying rates. THOS. McINDOE. Auckland. ARE WORKING HOURS TOO LONG? Sir, — Please allow me to compliment you upon your response to the GovernorGeneral s request for a conference upon the question of providing employment for all who desire and are capable of rendering social service. Three letters you published on Saturday* February 1, traverse the ethical side of the matter and deal with the effect of “giant circumstance” in the moulding of many poor “Bills.” Not less important is the economic side, for as 'Patient Penelope” points out, rent and interest cannot be paid by those who are poor and out of work and sometimes not by those earning only a small wage. When we get down to the basic premise that a man

using modern tools can and does produce more than he himself can consume, it becomes obvious that there must be a surplus in many lines. This surplus should be devoted to lessening the hours of labour of the man or men; but owing to out stupidity and selfishness we allow the leisure to go to another class of men, thinkißC this th- c_*iy way to keep producers busy. Some farmers think that they alone are producers. They forget that man! necessary things, such as implements, clothes and transportation material, contribute to farm production, though effected in the city. It was pointed out in Parliament Captain Rushworth that tho causes; ounemployment in New Zealand are no*, exactly similar to those existing h Great Britain, where the rettectior c foreign markets reacts upon EngU* industry; there is a good demand tc New Zealand products, though pr* c€ may be lower than formerly. I lo ' to make land settlement attractive £- desired by another correspondent a problem we should immediate.apply ourselves to, individually collectively, but while the; K4®ure s°** in one direction and the labour in ***- other, I am dubious about a successful settlement. There must be a reconstruction of ideas about labour an production and distribution. In ord ?. to bring this about I think it v,oU . be a good id \ to get the Maori P € °P. to set up ; .iools and colleges to tr^ 1 our youth in communal cultivatio and subsequent distribution. We ar filling their children up with aritnmetic for which they had little under their own system of suppy}* c _ their wants, and if we would » - learn they could teach us how to u as a family. , Go to the savage, ye savants, learn of him some of those thins?* which are hidden from the 1300 know-alls with their boasted . i 'P €:Cia ”*- isation and commercialisation k knowledge of how to produce -wealth’ i.e., kai and clothes. One other SUB* gestion I would make is that the Sta ’ should immediately set up training and health camps, setting aside ar®~’ of, say, 1,000 acres to be brought l " cultivation and ultimately lease®smaller areas to family men prove worthy and capable of keepih» the land in producing order ana ‘ instructing the younger people in * art of agriculture. Here again improper division of hours of labour an** payment demands attention, and P°® sibly legislative regulation. lam sa isfied that many farmers are iosv» ground and money through I®^ K efficient short hour attention tc ueg leeted lines of production and cui vation. _ , PAKEHA MAORI* i