Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 891, 7 February 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

A CASINO SCHEME Sir, — What is sadly needed in New Zealand is a rapid and effective method of augmenting the income of the State without increasing the load of taxation. I suggest that the Government should shed hypocrisy, take leaves out of the books of Queensland and Tasmania, and establish attractive State lotteries of all kinds that will not only provide exciting entertainment for New Zealanders who at present fritter away spare cash, in various unfruitful directions, but will attract hosts of visitors to New Zealand. Furthermore, Rotorua, now in process of reorganisation, would make an ideal headquarters for, say, an up-to-date casino run on Continental lines. I vent lire to sav that a really first-class casino conducted by the Government on lavish and scrupulously fair lines would bring wealthy people flocking from all parts of the world and would provide New Zealand with an immense revenue that would enable a lowering of taxation. Of course, I suppose the anti-everything brigade will see nothing good in this suggestion. They never see anything beyond the limits of t.heir own stultifying moral code. Yet the world will gamble, so why not let it gamble here? Finallv, I would point out that Rotorua is the finest spa in the world. The Continental spas cannot look at it. Why, then, do the moneyed crowds —not the tip - the - guard - sixpence "itinerary” tourists who trickle into this country—go to the Continent? Because they can gamble, and gamble for high stakes. Are people aware that a properly developed Rotorua casino would have the capacity of producing for this country not thousands a year but thousands a month? LET’S BE PRACTICAL. BETTER BROADCASTS Sir, 4 an \ Slad that your correspondent Cheerful Listener,” with whom I have been prxvileged to have a few words? is still a cheerful listener; his writings are conclusive indication that he would to anything—and call it e,ood stuff. This is my final contribution to this controversy, and. having claimed a little more of your generosity, I will leave to their own enjoyment your correspondents who are satisfied with the broadcast. “Cheerful Listener” gloats that he has made Disgruntled” sit ur> and take notice. Unfortunately it was iYA

that first made me sit up: and then, I think, “Cheerful Listener” was made to sit up by my complaint. It is obvious, whatever is said bv those afraid to criticise, that the programmes at IYA are not satisfactory. You may call it lack of balance, or limited reoer-toii-e, or whatever you like. The fact is the listeners are not getting -their money's worth, and on the other hand good performers are not only being kept off the programme, but actually discouraged from displaying their ability before the test microphone. In circumstances like these, it is obvious that the best is not being secured for Auckland listeners. To those who will listen cheerfully to anything that comes over the air without any thought of improvement—when it is known that improvement may be secured —well and good. To me, however, that is not good enough, and while this state of things continues, 1 will always remain "Disgruntled.” Why quibble about the good performers on the air? Of course there are good performers: we all know that. But there are bad ones also. And why should there be bad ones? It is of no use saying that there must be good and bad on every programme. That is nonsense. E very performer is—or should be —tested before he ever goes on the air. Auckland can supply sufficient performers for good all-round programmes. Why not let us have them? DISGRUNTLED. URBAN FARM LANDS RATING Sir,— When a former Takapuna Borough Council decided to inform the ValuerGeneral that a reduction should be made in the valuation of certain farm land suitable for building purposes within the borough, the indignant ratepayers held a public meeting and passed a resolution condemning the attitude of the council. A copy of the resolution was forwarded to Wellington, and the Valuer-General wisely refused to make any reduction in valuation of the property. Quite recently, however, the present Takapuna Council, with only one dissentient (myself) passed a resolution in favour of'relief from local rating of so-called farm lands. As unimproved rating was carried in Takapuna by over a thxee-to-one majority, it is obvious that the resolution of the council was contrary to the wishes of the ratepayers as expressed at the poll. Reeentlv the Birkenhead Borough Council decided that relief from local rating is not warranted. If an Act is passed grant-

ing relief to speculators in possess . of three acres or more, the unimpr*'' a rating system will be gradually uiw H mired, and tho Takapuna ratepaJ, would be wise to sign a petition forward* it to the Municipal tion; hold an indignation. mee and ask the council to posi tii.m is a serious one, and 1 ate action is desirable . J. guiniveH. Takapuna.