IN THE PUBLIC MIND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 74, 29 March 1943, Page 2

IN THE PUBLIC MIND

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

CITY WATER SUPPLY To The Editor Do you know the city authorities have decided not to release to the public the figures that would show how the estimate that had been prepared by the engineer, of £9,500,000 to bring water from Karapiro to Auckland was arrived at? You, sir, can easily realise why, for by taking the distance as 100 miles—it is really less—the estimate works out at £1125 per chain. The city authorities are very forgetful, Some weeks ago they stated in the Press that the peak supply that could be obtained from the Hunua Ranges was 11,000,000 gallons per day. Now we are informed the peak supply has increased in a few weeks to 14,000,000 gallons per day. I know the district well and my opinion is that they can't obtain 4,000,000 gallons per day during a dry spell, which is the time we all need an abundant supply and this could be obtained from the Waikato River at a very low cost compared with the Hunua scheme. Do you remember 17 years ago when the whole city officials and staff and the council were running about the city areas looking for leaks? That was when all water was cut off in Remuera, and I suppose in all other areas. Not a drop of water was obtainable except from tanks, which were carted around. The poor children and others had to be washed in basins. This made people forget about their beautiful gardens going to rack and ruin for want of water. We are on the verge of another such experience, if rain does not come. The figures we are given from time to time of the enormous quantities of water stored in the three reservoirs are nearly as misleading and incorrect as the figures compiled showing estimated cost of bringing in from Karapiro. Apart altogether from the holding capacity of the three reservoirs, is the fact, carefully hidden by the city authorities, that the reservoirs are the most vulnerable places in the city and suburbs. This shows the urgent necessity of obtaining an abundant supply of running water from the Waikato River, controlled by a water supply board.' ONE WHO KNOWS.

COMPARISONS

In your news pages on Friday you gave details of the launching of another Fairmile patrol vessel and mentioned that local builders are "rightly" proud of the fact that these boats constructed in Auckland are completed in about 20 per cent less time than the same type in England. Why "rightly" so? If the local builders had the same conditions and circumstances to contend with as the English builders they would no doubt take 20 per cent longer to complete them. You people are far too ready to preen yourselves at the expense of old England. You seem to forget that you would have been in a pretty pickle if England had not stood firm after Dunkirk and constructed for the protection of coastal shipping these same Fairmile patrol vessels, thus releasing valuable corvettes, destroyers and cruisers to protect convoys of badly needed goods on the way to this country and New Zealand produce on the way to feed the people of England. English people are grateful for the help England is receiving from her colonies, but I fail to see why such spiteful statements as this are allowed to be published. YORKIE.

REHABILITATION

There have been many suggestions concerned with the defaulter. If a man wishes to be a defaulter that is • ' ' romeivhen \J 'Ujoy { ••nd | ■ ike ' sacrifice, and do esseuuai work. ! HI would suggest the Government should put aside 20,000 acres of the best land and appoint returned far-. mers from the last war as overseers and employ all the defaulters and aliens, paying them soldiers' pay of 7/6 a day to cultivate and improve the land. They should then divide the land into 25 to 50-acre blocks and charge the soldiers a reasonable rent, with the right to purchase the freehold. If we found the land, erected suitable buildings, and gave reasonable terms, this would be appreciated. The men have left home and country to fight for a principle, and the best is not too good for them. The defaulters and aliens will show their appreciation by providing a home for those who fought for them. JUSTICE.

PENSIONERS AND STAIRS 4

When people grow old their hearts become weak, and their doctors say that climbing hills and stairs is exceedingly dangerous to them. Knowing nothing of this the Hon. Mr. Parry 'makes old totterers, barely able to walk on the level, climb a ramp about 15ft high, at the top of which they often have tc stand in a queue in the hot sun or in the pouring rain for an hour or more so that they may receive their age benefit at the earliest moment. Not satisfied with this infliction, the Government has expressed its intention of building flats for age beneficiaries somewhere up the Grey's Avenue hill. The Hon. Mr. Nordmeyer, who is well versed in the methods of protecting the people's health, should speak to the Hon. Mr. Parry and his other colleagues about the matter. J.W.H.

SUBURBAN FARMING

The correspondent who wrote m the Auckland Star about suburban milk supply gave an incorrect representation of the facts. The acreage of the farm to which he apparently referred is 9£ acres, not five, and there are 9i- acres attached to the same farm in an adjacent suburb. The bull has not been poked with a hayfork; he is too well-bred and valuable an animal for that, being a pedigree bull with a family history of ninety years. That can be backed up by a pedigree breeder. The cows have been milked with the best quality buckets, the milk can used was made to order, and the separator is of the latest type. The highest test is obtained from the cream supplied, and the inspector has stated that the cows are milked in the best possible position on the farm. PURE CREAM. i

PENSIONERS' THANKS

On behalf of the Aged Pensioners Association, I desire to pass on to the Labour party an expression of deep appreciation for the magnificent transport arrangements made yesterday on their behalf to and from the Savage Memorial at Bastion Point. Also for the splendid seating accommodation reserved for them. Also a word of praise to the bus-drivers for their courtesy as well as other officials. Everything seemed to have gone off without a single hitch. PAUL PLOWMAN. 176, Khyber Pass.