IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

DEFENCE POLICY. COMPULSION AND DISARMAMENT. <To the Editor.) The bill for the abolition of the obsolete Military Service Act was rejected liy. the present Parliament by a majority of twenty, live. Were a referendum to be taken on this question in the Dominion it would be safe to assume that fully eighty per cent of the people would register an emphatic protest against the continuance of this useless and exlraraoan 1 system of compulsory military training" for boys. The total amount spent in 1928 for teaching boys to form fours and for the upkeen of costly brass hats to tour the Dominion was £481,750, and for naval defence a further addition of £486,830, making a yearly expenditure of £908,559. Our indebtedness to the Great War is £71,970,036, and at five per cent that means an annual imprest charge of £3,600,000. Wo are therefore spending yearly the sum of £4,508,589 to pay for the past war and to prepare for the next, while the "rant made for education is a mere pittance to that which is actually required of necessity. The Governor-General in his recent opening speech at Parliament House made the following statement: "My Ministers are firmly attached to the principles of the League of Nations and are determined to take any steps possible to forward the great work of the League, and, in particular, that of peace and disarmament. In this connection New Zealand had the honour in August last of accepting the invitation to become one of the fifteen original signatories of the multilateral Pact for the Renunciation of War, commonly known as the Kellogg Pact, and has also taken'the further step of ratification. This pact lias received almost universal acceptance by the nations of the world, and its solemn renunciation of war as an instrument of national policyhas been described by a European statesman as 'the greatest collective deed born of peace."' In view of these remarks it is somewhat strange that not one of the Ministers voted for the second reading of the Abolition Bill, nor yet have they either individually or collectively taken any step towards disarmament. By abolishing compulsion our defence will not in the least be impaired. There are thousands of New Zealanders who are prepared to be enrolled as volunteers, and there are tens of thousands who are keen to become aviators, both for commercial and defence purposes. L. A. TOZER.

FLAT RATE ON TRAMS. I would like to know how the flat rate on trams if substituted for the present fares would affect a worker on a small wage, as myself. I have to travel one section each on two routes before reaching my place of employment, costing now by concession cards three shillings per week. Am I right in thinking that if the flat rate of threepence is brought in it will then cost me six shillings per week, or will there be transfer tickets? ANXIOUS. [It is proposed by those supporting the flat rate that transfers be granted so long a« the passenger is travelling in the one direction. —Ed.] "LAVENDER FLATS." It is gratifying to note the suggestions put forward by "Greater Auckland" in Tuesday's "Star" of reclaiming the upper reaches .of Manukau Harbour. As to his inquiry re acreage, it is, I believe, fifteen hundred. No doubt the filling in of this great flat would result in many advantages being achieved. Apart from dispensing with this receptacle of filth it would permit of direct access between two important boroughs, Onehunga and Otahuhu. By the use of suction dredges depositing silt from the vicinity of Onehunga wharf it would deepen the berthage accommodation there, so much needed. As far back as the reign of Mr. G. W. Russell as Minister of Health I placed this matter before him. ARTHUR CUMMINGS.POLITICIANS' COSTLY PRIVILEGES.

I consider the decision to sell the official residence of the Prime Minister in Wellington is one made in the interests of true economy. It just shows what can be done when business principles are applied to government. The circumstance that a man is head of the Government, the leader of a million and a-lialf people and the spokesman of one of the King's Dominions should not blind anyone to thefact that he is only a politician. The people can pull him down any time they like to do it. Which shows that he is only as good as you or me, doesn't it? If he has to live in a flat he will not be any worse off than thotr-" sands of others, although I will admit that if he is old-fashioned and has a family it will be hard on the children. Still, they can play on the Parliamentary grounds round about Seddon's monument, while mother is ir tli 6 kitchenette getting afternoon tea for any distinguished people she may be entertainiiy (After all, when you think of it, a Prime Minister is not absolutely forced to provjtfjs afternoon tea for visitors from overseas; th< |ty could quite well afford to pay for their own t) These forthright efficient methods of governi »g distinguish our virile country from the efff.jte nations of Europe. In England, for instan CV;, they keep a "mansion called Chequers (mi ifh bigger even than Government House) just 3lpr the Prime Minister to go to in the week-er«'i; and often he never goes near it. The cost m uist be enormous. Yet if that mansion were c?ut up into residential apartments the Governtf Wnt would have no difficulty in letting them. MORE EFFICIENCY

BACHELOR FLATS. H

I must entirely disagree with Miss Bas tea's views on bachelor flats. Why were there no insinuations made of the morality of Ihe inhabitants of flats when the flats in Sym pmds Street were erected? Why lower-paid wo fleers who are forced by economic circumstanc Its to find cheap housing should be less moral than those who can afford to pay high rents for Jlats is insinuating that only the well-off can .live in flats and be moral. Quite the contra! ft facts. Most immorality has been earrjjjA on in flats occupied by the idle rich, and we t-have had no end of recent scandals amongst (that class. I cannot think that our young men and women are less moral than those of $ngland, Germany, Denmark and other cou (tries that have bachelor flats to accommodat ft the working class with small means. High penta, dear transport, bad and dear accommodation in boardingliouses, all have contributed to make the provision of small and cheap flats nec wsary for our girls and men in business. Many the girls and men in our shops and office: j have complained to me of the exorbitant pricfe that is asked for accommodation in boarding 'Eonses, where there is little comfort, no privai iy and where the diet is anything but wholescmo and hygienic. Week-ends cam he spent in boardinghouses as well as flats. Don't think for one moment that board* ingliouses are models of morality. Wlr f doe* Miss Basten condemn a system which ie,» ■■working so successfully in England, and rvliers every electric convenience and every sn jjiitary convenience, such as baths and communal washhouses, can be enjoyed by those with 'Small means? Why should we cater only for the rich and well-to-do, who enjoy these pa'i vilege®. in their most modern and labour-saving; flats? RUBY E. WAT gON.