Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 967, 9 May 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

WHY LIPSTICK? Sir, — I not© that the members of the Civic League are concerned about the question of unemployment and advocate as one way to improve conditions that less lipstick be imported. Why blame lipstick in particular? Is this the only commodity which affects employment? As one who has consistently advocated preference for local industries, 1 am always interested in any news touching on the subject, but I have not yet read that that colourful appendage of the modern flapper was manufactured anywhere in the Dominion, nor have I heard that its importation is likely to affect any trade adversely. Surely the members of the League were in humorous mood in directing attention to lipstick. I hesitate to impute to them a desire to add to the spate of unfriendly criticism being levelled in various quarters at our girls. I await an explanation. M. B. SOL JAIL CANCER RESEARCH INDUSTRY Sir,— In the interests of humanity I would ask why a mystery is being made of the cause of cancer, its prevention and treatment. When such eminent men as Mr. Ellis Barker, Sir Arbuthnot Lan.e and others have clearly proved the cause of cancer and its prevention, why are men of lesser standing permitted through the medium of the Press and wireless to assert that cancer is a mystery and its cause unknown? Surely the opinions of leaders of the medical profession who have a thorough grasp of the subject are to be considered before those of men who declare they know practically nothing of this disease?. The “Medical Press,’’ -England, a well-known medical journal, says: “The elusive nature of cancer, its causation and cure has in the course of years converted the research study of its problem into an industry, from which many gain a livelihood. If the cause of the disease and its cure were known at this day, much disturbance of vested interest would follow.” June 6, 1923. E.C. BUGLERS I was pleased to read “Ex-Bugler’s” letter in The Sun of Monday last, regarding the playing of bugles at the ceremony at the Cenotaph on Anzac Day. I have wondered why an alteration has not been made before now, as for the last five years, to my knowledge,

the same discord in the playing of “The J Last Post” and ‘Reveille” has been in evidence, and it has been the means of spoiling the whole service as far as I am concerned. Time, as “ExBugler' has mentioned, is an important factor, especially in playing “The Last Post,” which should be played slowly and with feeling, not in the fast and furious way the bovs usually play it. I do not wish to belittle the efforts of these boys in any way, as I know thev do their best, and it is to these young people that we must look to uphold the memories of Anzac in the years to come; but I think the service would be made much more impressive if one of our returned buglers ; were to play the calls, for he would , realise their full meaning. The bugle is the instrument that should be used, not trumpets, as at present. The bugle gives a much clearer tone than the trumpet. All returned soldiers who passed through Etaples will remember the bugler there, whose playing stirred the souls of all who heard him. Perhaps “Ex-Bugler” would offer his services for future occasions, or. failing this, then his suggestion that one expert bugler should be selected offers a vast improvement on present conditions. EX-DIGGER. j CONTRACT WORK Sir, Reading recently that it costs property owners 6s a square yard for leaving- the footpaths outside their premises in permanent concrete blocks, this being considered by the Auckland City Council to be half the cost (12s a square yard), perhaps it would be interesting to many of your readers to learn that the Onehunga Borough Council called tenders just before last Christmas for concrete paving in Trafalgar street. The specification called for 4ft x 4ft blocks. 2in thick, composed of four parts of £-inch chips, two and a-half parts of sand to one part of Wilsonite cement, which is a dearer cement than that ordinarily used. This work, some 721 square yards, was let for 4s 8d a square yard, everything to be found by the contractor. The work was performed in record time and can be seen by any interested person. It would seem that the City Council 1 would make a handsome profit if it called for tenders instead of keeping in the same old groove and doing all . its own work by day labour. If ten- ! ders were called for paving our footpaths in concrete slabs, the ratepayers would be agreeably surprised and our footpaths would soon be a credit to the City instead of being a disgrace as at present. RATEPAYER,