Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1005, 23 June 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

GOOD MORNING! Sir. — When 1 left home this morning 1 said “Good Morning!” brightly to my wife. She looked rather surprised, but answered me, civilly enough. I boarded a tram and with a pleasant smile said “Good Morning!” to the conductor, who replied: “Farespleez.” In Queen Street I said “Good Morning!” to a policeman and he gave me a dirty look as if to say: “Any more of that and you’ll comerlong with me my good man.” A business man whom 1 do not know, but to whom I gave greeting, informed me, although I already knew it, that he had not the pleasure of my acquaintance. An elderly man, emerging from a by-street replied to my greeting most cordially and proceeded to borrow a shilling. Will the president of the Good Morning Club toll me what I am to do? Should I keep plodding on or become again my taciturn, happy self? GOODNIGHT. THE MANGERE AIRDROME Sir,— Few member of the Aero Club will endorse the opinion of “Disappointed Enthusiast,” who writes to The Sun objecting to the purchase of the Manger© airdrome. If he hud attended the annual meeting last Wednesday he would have come away satisfied that the executive has done a wise thing in securing this line property. It lias outstanding advantages that completely outweigh the fact that it is 12 or 14 miles out of town. Apart from the fact that the cost of a large block of land close to the city would be prohibitive, it is exceedingly inadvisable that an airdrome should be in a closely-settled area with its high-ten-sion electric-power lines, and restricted facilities for forced landings. In a rapidly-growing city like Auckland it is necessary to look ahead, and if the club purchased a suburban area, before many years are past it would probably be faced with the necessity of removal. SATISFIED MEMBER. TONGANS Sir,— I am writing in support of the appeal of Mr. Ralph Sanft that two young educated, half-caste Tongans be allowed to remain in New Zealand. I think I may claim to have some knowledge of island life as many years ago I spent 'eighteen months wandering

through the Pacific from Tongatabu in the south to Niuafou and many other islands —Wallis, Ilaapai, Vavau. In islands off the beaten tourist route I have seen the real owners of the soil in their native state. When Mr. Sanft’s appeal was published he said:

“You know what island life is for half-castes. What will their future be?” We who know the islands know. They will drift back to island life and customs for the simple reason that a brown mother has more friends in her homeland than a white father has on the island of his adoption, and halfcaste children grow’ toward those who show most interest in them. The education obtained by these two Tongans in New Zealand will be wasted if they are forced back into an environment for which their training has totally unfitted them. We send teachers to these glorious islands, but what good can come of their efforts if we educate natives to the point which stimulates desire for further knowledge and then refuse them the right to leave their country to seek that knowledge .end experience in other lands. The Tongans are a wonderful people—goodnatured, generous and endowed with a gift of humour. Let us be fair. Let us prove that our contact with these young Tongans lias improved their outlook rather than otherwise. ARTHUR H. CRANWELL. CONDITIONS IN GAOL Sir.— During a month spent in Mount Eden gaol at his Majesty's pleasure. I was asked by several of the long-term men to bring certain complaints regarding conditions there before the public. While I can have nothing but praise bmm the sa ? itar Y system in the main building, i must protest strongly against the very crude lavatories for use by men at the quarries. These have been built up roughly of iron and wood, and make no pretence at StenCh brincs swarms to thT'JiS may wel > carry disease to the neighbouring houses or to the irammar School, whose grounds bor £ h »rs‘ he orison. Such Sondil lead t„ , ? private institution would lead to a heavy fine. These buildings Uon ca V nno! n b DeCted j l ard thei! ''™dl authortty 1 be reaUsed b >' those in give each rnl\, appointed to food is ne“ r s/oe t ha„ th :

same with the dinner allowance of of meat and vegetables. It is th* method that is to blame rather thafl the intentions •birdie “Nearly every inau here on a Ij* term has some complaint to make proves as groundless as these are.” the Superintendent at Mt Eden gaoltnjmorning, when the letter was referred rhlm. He pointed out that the r lavatories had been inspected personxiu by Dr. Hughes, district health and had been passed as sanitary. had never been an epidemic at the g®?** as there would have been were tpe charges correct, and the Grammar was certainly too far away for ,2*5 That prisoners actually put on _*• in nearly every case was the of the gaol’s official doctor. The ration had been increased recently *•*. 12oz to 16ozs uncooked, equal to k lOoz cooked, but after a short the men were again complaining would continue to do so “even « , # were billeted at the Grand HoteL’’ * complaints are obviously those of 1 _ 3 term men made through one who _ just passing through, and was ea suaded.” concluded the superintend Ed., The Sun.