Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 996, 12 June 1930, Page 10

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS Sir, —- Are we becoming: more cruel and callous, or is surveillance relaxing-? Lately I have observed numerous cases of cruelty, and the number of horses lame, and with sore backs and shoulders, to be seen about the streets and on scooping work, is appalling. Most cases of lameness and galls can be seen in the back streets. Although the police seem to be bringing more cases to court than formerly, more activity seems to be called for from those who have prevention of cruelty at heart. ALERT. ANTI-WAR Sir,— There have recently appeared in the Press of all countries articles denouncing war books and terming them hysterical. These brave armchair warriors. Mow they would run if a soldier was after them. And so many of those magnificent works written not for profit but to help in the great fight to outlaw* war, are hysterical! Men who can pen such opinions lack all imagination. WAR AMBULANCE. THE TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT Sir. — The projected attempt of SquadronLeader Kingsford Smith, with Mr. Van Dyk, the Dutchman, as co-pilot, and Mr. J. Stannage, of Manuka wirelessoperator fame, to fly the Atlantic from east to west, is undoubtedly a hazardous one. AVell known for its fogs and boisterous climatic changes, the •'Ditch” has proved a facer when tried from west to east. Of the stories of the lives that have been sacrificed in the venture, none is so sad as that of Xungesser, the most intrepid of French war pilots, who went on the journey alone. Xungesser led the famous French Touring Squadron during the latter years of his active service, and from Nieuport on the Belgian coast, to far inland, in the war zone, he would harass the Boehe, while his own squadron camped at various airdromes close to the lines. They would then complete the tour by flying to Havre, Calais, Gravelines, remaining a whil** at each place, to recuperate; thence to Dunkerque and the! active round again] Many were the medals he had for German machines he had brought down in combat, and in the air he always wore the medals on his scarlet tunic. On one occasion Xungesser announced that his touring squadron would put up at a British naval airdrome. He arrived with his observer in an open French car, and behind them, sitting up like two human beings in the car were their two pet lions, Wheeskie and Soda. Soda was a growing cub, and bad later to be given to the Paris Zoo

for his wicked ways, but Wheeskie. old and blind in one eye. remained with the squadron to the last. It is well remembered how all the dogs in the British squadron disappeared, not into the lions, but into the heart of France for ever, with the exception of Loutz, a useful Alsatian, who could detect the vibration of a German airplane in the sky and who would run round yelping .as .i warning before the bombs dropped After many fights with Taubes In which he came off successful. Xungesser achieved great fame. Doubtless life in peace time palled. His mother tried hard to dissuade him from undertaking the Atlantic flight and could not believe that he had been lost when the news that he was missing had to bo told J.A.W. TAKAPUNA BY-ELECTION Sir. — As Mr. H. G. Carr admits that the methods employed by Mr. Gibson's supporters secured the latter's return against Mr. Blampied, I should like to point out that the first and foremost method employed was to select a candidate acceptable to the electors. This has been done with success at the lasL two by-elections by the Independent party to which I belong, and that party is surely entitled to the confidence which the electors have seen fit to repose in it. Mr. Wilkie’s name has been drawn into the controversy by Mr. Car, who states that Mr. Wilkie “cannot have it both ways” in the borough, but the ratepayers apparently thought otherwise when Mr. Wilkie was elected to the Borough Council at the last election, for he then topped the poll at the three main booths—Takapuna Central, Milford and Belmont, with a total of 1,48 d votes distributed over the whole borough; whereas, Mr. Blampied, of Bayswater, at the last by-election polled a total of 436. Mr. Wilkie appears therefore “to have it” more than "both ways” in the borough. And why not? Let Mr. Carr look around, not only in Bayswater, but in all parts of the borough, and he will see the effect of Mr. Wilkie’s election poliev. The great expense of the two by-elections has been forced on the ratepayers owing to the resignations of two councillors elected by the party to which Mr. Carr apparently belongs. To avoid a recurrence of this, the .lectors appear to support the independent forty, which muninates candidates willing to give daily service to the borough, and in the borough, as against the “week-end” candidate? engaged in the City during the day Tha r was one reason why Mr. Coilins was selected in preference to Mr. Wills in the previous by-election, and Mr Collins was elected. Takapuna electors resent any interference with their rights. They can be depended upon to support the party which gives them best service for their money. T. G. SEOX