MT. ALBERT AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 134, 9 June 1925, Page 12

MT. ALBERT AFFAIRS.

(To the Editor.) ! Sir, —The Mount Albert Ratepayers' ! Association is a live body and is to be | commended for its activities in connection [ with new works. Slay I suggest to it i that it call a public meeting of ratepayers for Morningside, with a special invitation to councillors, to obtain a definite pronouncement regarding the intention of the council re work now in progress here. Teople would attend such a meeting prepared to enroll and support the body. We want the policy of spread- | ing £5000 over an £SOOO job discontinued. The stone wall which had a life of three days, shows the desirability of this. We also want thp practice of building up roads above our properties discontinued, failing these things let us by all means demand a poll on the amalgamation question.—l am, etc., RATEPAYER. BACK TO THE EGYPTIANS. (To the Kditor.l Sir.—With the exception of university students and the clergy, there may not be many people who study the ancient history of the Egyptian*, or see pictures and plates showing the way they dressed, etc.. about B.C. 2400. " These descriptions and pictures, are. however, very interesting to the present day up-to-date fashionable women whose dress is I like that of this period, with short (sol called) one piece frocks with no sleeves, low necked, and very tight. Women would not like to go back to the Queen Victoria fashions, which, although "modest," were not (judging from their pictures) pretty in any way: hut between that time and up to 1900. the fashions wore sensible and becoming, and like men's fashions, which change very little, are neat and sensible. Why revert to the times of the Pharaohs , ;"—l am, etc., ARTIST. , OUR UNEMPLOYED. I (To the Editor.) Sir,—ln reading the weekly reports, as published in the "Star," of the number of unemployed men in our city, it makes one feel inclined to seek some relief for these unfortunate men. The majority of those who apply to the Labour Department for work are married men desperately anxious to obtain some work to keep their wives and children. There would, no doubt, be less men on this list if tho employment offered was in or near the city. Married men cannot take a job away in the country for two reasons. First, they have not the necessary cash to shift their homes, and. secondly, if they do take work away from home, they cannot, after paying their hoard, send enough home tr. keep their families. Xow, sir, I would respectfully suggest that our local bodies, the City Council, the Auckland Harbour Board and the various borough councils, should peruse their lists of employees, and give married men preference of employment. The single 'men should be persuaded to take the country jobs, as their board moWy and a few shillings per week for clothing is their only liability. I know of a great many single men who poso as being married, simply to keep their jobs. Let these men show that they are jnarried and thus give men with family ties a chance to support their families. I have never put my name on the unemployment list, but have walked round Auckland for over three weeks in an earnest endeavour to obtain work. I have lived in Auckland all my life, excepting two years of active service, and I know of hundreds of single men in employment that any married man with intelligence could do, and would be quite willing to accept. I know, also, of at least one instance on one local body where a father and three single pons are fully employed. That means that at least £17 4/8 per week is going into one home. —T am. etc., KUMBBR THTRTEEX. THE PRICE OF MIILK. (To I ho KHit or 1 Sir, —Mr. Purtell's latest letter upon the subject, as appearing in your issue of sth inst., seems to be mainly a repetition of what he has previously submitted to the public of Auckland, the main points of which have already been dealt with by mc, therefore a further reiteration of facts in regard to the cost of production would seem a waste of time—especially in view that Mr. Purtell is not prepared to admit that chalk is different to cheese, likewise the cost of producing milk for town supply cannot be compared with the cost of producing milk for the country factory. I am surprised that Mr. Purtell refers to the agreement reached as the result of one conference called under the direction of the Board of Trade in 1920 as a "frame up.' . He was not there, otherwise he would know that four conferences were held, during j which lengthy evidence was taken as to the cost of producing milk for town supply, the result of which was that the wholesale price of milk was then fixed at 1/4 per gallon for winter milk, to operate for one year. As one who was present at these conferences, let mc assure Mr. Purtell that the Board of Trade resisted the increase in price as far as they were able purely in the interests of the large army of consumers as against the army of producers, but the facts as presented by the Producers' Association proved unassailable, with the result referred to above. It is not for mc to say how the town worker is going to pay 100 per cent increase in the price of milk with a 42 per cent increase in wages, as I have I too many similar problems of my own to solve; however, I find that the only solution of my problems lies in work from daylight to dark for 365 days in the year, and would suggest that a possible solution of town workers, burdens might be found if they came on to the land, where prices approximately 120 per cent above butter-fat values can according to Mr. Purtell be secured. .In conclusion, might I ask Mr. Purtell as to where it is suggested a debate be held, in town or country? It occurs to mc that the show of hands would be in favour of the pocket, so it might bo advisable to hold the function on an island where the only milk used is that from a cocoanut. I am, etc., ANOTHER TOWX SUPPLIER.