CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1925, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

■ a m MANUKAU ELECTION. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I was pleased to read in the "Star" that is is possible that Mr. C. E. Major, ex-M.P. for Hawera, will bo the Liberal candidate for Manukau. He was a candidate at the la3t election, but when Mr. Jordan, M.P., stated that he was standing as an "Independent" Labour candidate and would support Mr. Wilford on no-confidence motions, Mr. Major declined to split the votes and retired. But Mr. Jordan has not been "independent." He has supported Mr. Holland in all his actions. The only time Mr. Jordan showed signs of independence was when he received a "shock" at the result of the Franklin election, and in a statement to the Press he criticised the land policy of his party, but was soon "disciplined" by Mr. Holland. I am sure if Mr. Major stands, after he explains the mad land policy of the extreme Labour party, he will receive the support of the Liberals and "sane" Labour voters, who, combined, are in the majority in Manukau.—l am, etc. VERITAS. "Old Liberal" writes in favour of Mr. Major's retirement, while paying a warm tribute to his Liberalism. He thinks Mr. Jordan's defeat would be a "national calamity." y AN AMERICAN'S PRAISE OF AUCKLAND. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Upon leaving Auckland after a very enjoyable stay of a mortth or more I want to say a word or two of very deep appreciation of the charm of your city and of the kindliness and hospital-, ity of New Zealand people. Ever since landing in Wellington several weeks ago I have received almost daily revelations of the attracti-veness of your wonderful country, of its energetic and truly progressive spirit and of the great promise of its future. New Zealand has delighted mc until I very deeply regret that I cannot make a long stay and see it thoroughly. And I shall endeavour, through my articles in American magazines and newspapers, to convey to my fellow-countrymen something of the impressions I have received. In the course of consider- ' able travel I do not remember to have visited a city of Auckland's size which has revealed in so many ways so much of the spirit of the better sort of progress; and it has astonished mc to note here so much real cosmopolitanism. ■ I was much amused at the anonymous correspondent—such correspondents are usually anonymous—who found your city backward because of the character of the moving pictures. He should change his residence to Hollywood. The word "progress" • is, of course, often applied to a great deal that is unworthy and to advancement of a purely material nature. But the trained observer sees in Auckland, and in the whole of New Zealand, much that is real progress. When this is supplemented by an attitude of uniform friendliness and unfailing courtesy in every class of people with whom the visitor comes in contact, he leaves a community with quite the feeling of parting-from a warm personal friend. It rather surprises mc to note that so many people are dissatisfied with your Art Gallery, the broad scope of which, and the excellence of some of the paintings, greatly appealed to mc. 1 thought, too, that the Mackelvie trustees had shown much judgment in their selections. The securing of so-called art treasures is a difficult and expensive matter, such works being held often at fantastic figures. The province of an Art Gallery in a small city like Auckland is, I take it, equally to instruct and to furnish pleasure. To spend forty or fifty thousand pounds for two or three "masters" is to attempt, probably abortively, to instruct at the expense of the certainty of giving much pleasure by a more Judicious expenditure. Names mean nothing whatever to nine out of ten people who virit such a gallery as yours; and this should be borne in mind, even while due consideration is given the fact that every worthwhile gallery should be developed about its little nucleus of the masters. I do not recall any American city of Auckland's size that has done any better than.you have in the matter of an Art Gallery. May I express the hope that New Zealand's future will be as happy and prosperous as the spirit and character of her citizens deserve. —I am, etc., Boston, U.S.A. MARC T. GREENE. NORTH SHORE WATER SUPPLY. (To the Editor.) Sir, —The proposal to empty the drain known as the Wairau Creek into Lake Takapuna to augment the water supply for the northern boroughs is one of the most harebrained and mischievous municipal eccentricities that have ever been submitted for public judgment. Lake Takapuna, until recent years, supplied the very purest water, and even now, though depreciated in quality through the action in the past of thoughtless people, it is much purer and more potable than the city water. The most eminent scientific men, beginning with Hochstetter, declared that the lake was fed from the rainfall on Rangitoto, and all the evidence seems to prove this. Now it is proposed that a filthy drain shall carry the seepage of a swamp and land which has been grazed by cattle for fifty years into the lake to increase . the latter's volume. The proposal has been emphatically condemned by every medical man in the city who has considered the matter, and* by the Medical Officer at the head of the Health Department. Mr. Lamont, the Mayor of Devonport, indulges in sonic grotesque reasons for advocating the Wairau Creek diversion in preference to the Lake Taupo supply. He says there is no •security" that Lake Taupo water would be pure. That is, that a lake 2o miles long by 15 miles wide and of enormous depth—up to 1500 feet—and situated in practically uninhabited country, fed by about fifteen rivers and streams coming direct from snow-capped mountains, may require greater precautions than water coming fr»i a swam]) a few hundred yards from a closely-inhabited suburb. Lake Taupo water is known to be absolutely pure. It is free from any pollution, "and is clear as crystal. In any part of the lake the water is so clear that you can jee from the surface, up to 50 or GO teet m depth. If Lake Taupo water were brought down to Auckland, it would be the greatest boon that could ue conferred on the inhabitants. It would improve the people's health, and be a God-send for our gardens. If "security" be required for Lake Taupo water, what "security" is to be asked for the sewage that'it. is proposed to empty mto Lake Takapuna': The people should not be stampeded into accepting this iniquitous project by any ground™j" cr y «f a probable water famine. ine lake has outlived Buck cries before.

They are too stale. But if there « real danger of a shortens it better to adopt tanks femporaX.-** some other expedient as an Si 0r until Lake Taupo water fa'aSfe' Mr. Powell misrepresents the Jl when he says it is a case of bad +__* or no water But even in such.» g* think sensible people would ratW if • no local water than drink , £ "! repulsive bacterial concoction T gest that a vigilance committee't o nZf" sent the whole district he This committee would be empowered t apply to the Supreme Court for an • junction to restrain the the threatened injury, and to " a « other proper steps to give the seW its quietus.—l am, etc., 6m<! w - J- NAPIER. ' ' (To the Editor.) Sir-The Minister of Lands at Hawera, stated that: "If you aw ' « to remove these protective duties yon are going to shut up two-thirds of Z ' secondary industries at present at workin this country." This statement need, an emphatic denial, for it is absurd on the face of it. Something like four, fifths of the secondary industries of the Dominion are free-trade industries and therefore are unaffected b y protective duties, except to their injury. Possibly Mr. McLeod meant his remarks to apply to the "protected secondary industries'" (only), in which case he should have said so, but even then his sweeping statement would still be merely a wild guess. It is on a par with the assertion that the Colonial Sugar Co. could ' not stand a drop in price equal to 5-16 d per lb on its sugar, an assertion which has already been disproved by the very best of evidence, i.e., a lowering of the price by 9-lGd. There is little chance that the removal of protective duties would injuriously affect more than 10 per cent of the protected industries or say 2 per cent of the whole of the'secondary industries.—l am, etc., C.H.N