Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

IS NEW ZEALAND BEING STRANGLED BY “RULES AND REGULATIONS”?—AVIATORS SHOULD BE FORCED TO FLY HIGH OVER CITY—CHOOSE A PICTURESQUE MAORI NAME FOR WATERFRONT ROAD.

LOW-FLYING AIRPLANES Sir, — . May I protest against the growing habit, on the part of pilots, of flying low over populated parts of the City and its environs? The marine suburbs in particular suffer from this nuisance. Machines buzz out to sea, and then come roaring back and oass over the houses at extremely low altitudes. On several occasions I have in mind, had their engines failed, a glide to open ground would have been impossible. If pilots are willing to risk their lives let them do so, but not in circumstances that constitute a grave menace to others. The first aviator that drops into my backyard will receive attention but no sympathy whatever. HEADACHE. WHAT’S IN A NAME? Sir, — By what name is the new waterfront road to be known to Aucklanders when it is completed? Surely nothing as prosaic as the title which it now bears, and which threatens to become adapted to general usage by the capitalising of the first two letters. The four-mile sealevel road will provide some of the most picturesque glimpses of the marine suburbs and, therefore, must not be saddled with a name, the sound of which destroys any illusion of scenic beauty. Let us have a Maori place name for preference; but, nevertheless, one that is appropriate and expresses what it represents. A euphonious Maori name that would suit the route exceptionally well is Rawhiti Road. Rawhiti, 1 understand, means “The East,” the place where the sun rises. Naturally people living in the little bays will agitate to affix their pet name to each section of the route that traverses their particular districts, but in common interest cannot we submerge petty parochialism in this case, and select a title that is worthy of the route? Any more suggestions? OZONE. TOO MUCH BEAUROCRACY? Sir— Thinking men and women, to whom the welfare and prosperity of this country mean everything, are wondering what is wrong with New Zealand. They know the country itself is one of the best in the world; its climate eminently suitable for people of their race,

its soil fertile and blessed with plentiful rain and abundant sunshine, its open spaces waiting for population and closer settlement. They realise that these islands could easily support a. population of 10,000,000 and not be overcrowded: yet on every side they note stagnation. Taxation. instead of decreasing as the war period recedes, is increasing rapidly at such a. rate as to threaten to become an intolerable burden to industry and enterprise. Government expenditure grows greater and greater each year. and the community finds itself struggling under the burden of supporting an evergrowing Government bureaucracy comprising approximately at least 25 per cent. of the adult population. Thinking people are beginning to realise that for a young, developing country, New Zealand is overgoverned; that enterprise, initiative and individuality are gradually being strangled by the masses of rules, regu—lations and prohibitions poiired out in a. voluminous flood by the unskilled. inept amateurs (often illiterate as well) who sit year out and year in, wasting time and lnoney in Parliament, accomplishing nothing useful. Thinking people are suggesting that New Zealand might benefit materially if Parliament House were to be closed up for 10 years and all Parliamentary salaries, great and small, salvaged for the benefit of the nation. As department permanent officials Ilready really advise Ministers and Parliament very wisely and often successfully, perhaps they could carry on for a decade without more laws and statutes beingr necessary? The idea appeals to many and certainly would reduce the burden of taxation sensibly. Thinking people are assergilig that the time is long overdue for t e Government to withdraw front business and from interference with business: that Government expert advice and assist—unce to agricultural and nianufacturing business interests may be beneficial—but that, most emphatically. Government interference and control is worse than injurious: it is fatal! Thinking people would like to see all business men. of every class, thoroughly organised into representative bodies united into chambers of commerce, which should receive their unstinted financial support and unswerving loyalty enabling these bodies, in their turn. to present a united opposition to Parliamentary in—terference and bureaucratic control. They are absolutely convinced that once the business men of New Zealand realise their organised power as a community over everything in the community, once they get propcrlly