THE FERRIES

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 211, 5 September 1924, Page 9

THE FERRIES

(To the Editor.) Sir, —This interesting discussion has ! : now entered upon another phase, to the ' undoubted entertainment of all observers. ] The chairman of the Harbour Board has I decided to bring the Marine Boroughs' j Association to heel by threatening to I move the ferries, as a counterblast to' their checkmating resolution of Friday i last. Mr. Mackenzie's • Bismarckihn j diplomacy is worth examination. He uses | the pile-driving fist behind the glove of I mud, with the intention of attaining his j end at all costs. Tuesday's personalities in a public discussion directed at the j Mayor of Devonport, Mr. Harris, M.P., and myself provide a case in point. Surely Mr. Mackenzie has forgotten the dignity of his high office when he en- j , deavours to discredit opposition to his' . schemes by belittling those who sincerely i oppose him. Mr. Mackenzie is en-1 deavouring to force a game in which he | does not hold all the cards. The ferry- j , using public are sitting in at the game, i and are entitled to protect their own | interests, notwithstanding Mr. Mac- j kenzie's wrath. With regard to Mr. J Mackenzie's volte face regarding the j necessity for a conference, tho facts should speak for themselves. On Mon-! day, August 25, he hurriedly summoned the four Mayors of the northern. ! boroughs to an alleged conference, at which a certain proposal was submitted, partially discussed, but never ratified. The next move was in Wellington, whence we were informed by telegram that Harbour Board representatives sought to have a clause inserted in a bill before 'the Local Bills Committee to prop up a "valuable" tramway license held by the Board from the Auckland City Council. When informed of this action I maintain that the marine boroughs were quite within their rights in communicating their opinion to the Local Bills Com•mittee. If the frankness with which they stated their case is repugnant to j Mr. Mackenzie, that does not necessarily invalidate their arguments nor render another properly convened and constituted conference hopeless. Fair dealing, plain language, and above-board methods should be welcomed even in local polities, and justice to all would result. Mr. Mackenzie says that those who oppose him do so to further their own interests. This is a boomerang phrase of which he would do well to be wary. If he means the interests of the districts whom we have the honour to represent, we accept the encomium with pride, for from such an opponent as Mr. Mackenzie such words are the highest praise.—l am, etc., ERNEST ALDRIDGE. ITO the Editor.-! Sir, —I quite agree with "Common Sense's" letter of 3rd inst. The Harbour Board has gone too far. I am sure it would be much cheaper to have a new board than to allow them to I carry on their alleged improvements. The Prince's wharf is built in the i wrong place, for it should have been | east of the present system, where the new railway station .will be. But no; the board built the most expensive type of wharf long before it is wanted, and when wages and materials were at their highest. It's a white elephant and to justify its existence a railway must, they consider, be laid down in front of the Ferry buildings and that valuable block of buildings known as the Gladstone buildings pulled down. A captain of one of our large liners told mc that Auckland is becoming one of the most expensive ports in the world. How long will the long-suffering ratepayers put- up with this state of affairs ? am, etc, RATEPAIffiR.. ,