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Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21470, 11 May 1935, Page 21

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,a ■< y:.a villi com-V.'-a ' _M:i' ji" an; , : ; , -. aa .aiaia. and , .. . >, -j by ' he ordin- | 11 '11 oi place. ••ul!y intere.-ited .Vie ci y' : ill tail'-; and ; liSVC liill'.'il Jit . . ■ i' :I to ex ore.-:.; an j,i■ r!in.j - in more . ; . ■ | v.-- 1 : i 1 ins uc - a ,;••:]■ . ponsibi! it ic:;, ■ ri ':i !; r-■ number, ■■ i., calibre 1)1' ■ ; 1 : in tvluriiiir; . " , .. « .-,i ,i. mtd hi:; subse- , a . ■ ■ - J -a > ... a Iter in I trie. . ; .. •" oreueS:->'' COll- •. . -i.ii •••!! : "it tlie pari ot , i ei is i.ncl ined iii.- cr.iU .ivour:; made hi, n'.vii party's pub- -■ .- .-in!- ,i : day.-, oi the elec- ! i ■ .Saaaneuts made in a , l!; 1 ■■ .i "'I ! " which pub- •. : i.i 5..;.. •> ;,iii • of Mr Sullivan and M;i . ri- an i proceeded with thai ussa-n p. . j: 1 certain tilings about J. who were net allied to the ! a ire tif Mayor. and the oia;a-----r , - r of hi.-, ear!;., whom he- specially *fr'ini t'ne balcony on Wod-j.-.U.j-/ /*. i : h«, 'ep many respectable L yalvanised to further -. * ■ * j i. 11 (! . .s iance to their friends !,,-[;'i;i!nii, Satemenls made in -;; c !;llb;:cutJ"J! thai was distributed to "enolders. To :;ive two examples: .Vacs' I '-'.'o columns in heavy type found t>n> statement in the Labour ss w ]j;i;,c "Tie- Doctor alway:; buries las jtiisT|. ; ; ;: i;a' ,i ii aimed at the peri.,' al character „f some ot' the can"ii'iio.e:- a.; fully a:i avered by the ( ~ riM's '.'.hc.a they placed Dr. footer a- d Dr. Arla-id easily at the head of •re Hospital Heard poll, and Dr. 4 , e> a ra- and Dr. Sandston in the first :> ceaeeillea':; elected. !h> r m th» publication relerreci s , e !-nd the.a- insidious statements: | fi {iie old days highway robbers ■a -re hanyed ai chains at the eross- ; -Jbat to-iiay they are found dis,.:ai r'd a, Cih/x-n.-.' Association can••V.'c.v they isavc done before they - a;l do aaam They are unrci.;eiierate. "i' j ri:i> the workman of the reward of J : ... labour, :o pilier pennies from chilar.d ~!eal bread from the lowdy :aa- il'ieir pa -.t iie.es. -If yuii vole for them ynti ally yourM,:f v/ith them and r.heir shameless noi.c.a Don't do it. Trie policy of the opponents of ' .aa<a.:r--no matter what they call 's ; 'm:,elYc->-ci trie spoliation of the v. c-i.wni.-r the benefit ot' those ;> : in-ldy placed. Their policy is the ci aaa, r'.uai c; '.'aaioaiic' ills at your e.x-----e. ,\iicor. e balances they will I-..-.a oal i f your pocke!. • V'.u pa', and lew spend. YoU earn libe' . nave L-eiai an.>uaaa-d by ; i. .d' ( 'raia'dinary iinc poll ( . aa-ie tiiau i: vote I. and by tile if.ii • verdict I'm- llie (.'iti/.en.:' V'!,(.• -'S'lir.' |;.r!c «.) Irulii - | .j i;, a 1 ir:i d a: ( aI iz-.ai!..' . -a:i' :■ a c;aid!tta!" , ami Uieir friends '|uot:cion. it mu..t be re- ■ ?.!: >. 1.;!: >. . an's and the , . ■, i" a I iii", iii peel, of SLIC:I.i a ;a ; .a da,ir<:., would have • a a :v< ! y Jar : :aaa of what they did, i . a: i'-c dw aeio of 11;e very people ' S:i! Ii . a a' frie.'Kis vilify.— CITIZEN KI.KCTOH. :,a.: b-.:t I c a 11':j i. ailtiW the state;.a !.*. ;a..a!e by his V/or.-.hip the Mayor t-j uneu'tlk-nias). la c xj)!a;:un;l my p. alios, as reyaals poil'a":. ' poinu'd to the fact T :.a'. ;(:;..-|;ar« , ..nti': , v 'jovvrnnHint all the ri-1 e-'.i'r we ; !e> ira, 111■'* eonlidene:. <,• U :e J.nr.lie. i I. nee the ajip: arai as- !. ia-- 'a-ae < a. were ea h'ss tyr.eiie- . a ei ;,n! , ! 'a rbainei itary acl iou had 1 ' a " I .f.fi sub-itiuiied lor it) 'd",;;ul e.d :I!c..:sJ.'' / a.ieP-d from J. "tf. Curie, "Travel, ?i:.-i.i ?,J«-n": "Dfi'noeracy beeamo the ;a>o: 1 of pohiK"; and passions from the wry uwpam.a::. A-: the state was a'oH. ; 'a; do every I iiin;.: for everyone, •is.' pehyeiai; -i them-;elves set the bail .eeia- a Tin y voted that they should pjid. '»"!•- y kept, r.u.aim; tin: pay, '.••''l :!■ j a -'am a: worth while to ':<> into li' h'ics for a livjnf{." f u-,ed tiiis to point out the fact that trad." uaie-i ; ..'ciT-taiaes found their •y.jjti'Td activiti"; u : eful, and conw .ali-d by k ay;ii,; that we were out !e-o:i.,a tali; they had wiaeeipa! politic?:. T'a■ maiority of pot,pic ;.r{; s.ick of !sc v.'r;.i!-;i>: and sectional tia.hliu:; in C: I .' :• al'aj:' . • a p.-t;a Tii.!'. any personal applit"i!a a willd ia made of -what, are > ova a ; .'eats applicable everywhere iii v.''i!d c-eli'ic; to-'|.iv. Yours, etc., A. C. SANDSTON. | 5 . .»* »s/fo* ot xaa ;a;a-n. a , (la/ie:; on '.he vigorous and 'or r- as- • ; f'-atur" of tiie siicces.-.ful < -ad fi.a. a, a-, o'epjct'.'d in your illus•ai aai -. oia.ae-:, one realise-: that yoiiih . r - -a:i a ;11.- rule over u-.' CJne, 'v :a' s the nan:a, and plea.-.ures. of apeo.; a , , i , H tualised hope are pa-U, •' e H-'.vr 1 a i e'.: Ufa erencCs may : 'a'.'e i,- . a b t ..i c, t'c.'se •: re now our c.'.ac a<! a . whether once labelled - . - '1 ■ aa-'l thai h-'x-aforih tleer - . - ev i 'r. or M.H.i.!. respoc- ' a: : . -J':,. , a- o much more Ham ' s ' i i, - of t ia.' ia iy.l i ly to r V. ra ■ a i -a-.i o.aly co-oneration and ■ a'- a ou Id" be the conlribu-.--(a(i// ri■ ■. We have no ■■ "a.a ;t In indul:;e in: our ;s.!- " 'a a 1 • oiely in their aclneviny ' ': 1 ■ ■ a 1 deep i; nll v in counsel and ' ' !i ; <. ;!■■!ivfrnnce of the city a-. ri . And probably the only : wary ot the canstituents into ' • ii ••• a, ■: at '',ns is to be gained by I'-ia:.;- ■ ; e *,arou;d; .your ho:- , j>itnb!e it' lea .; a ; ya;n to our boinis. the '•h.'m. (""• a .tciiurcii hits a!way." been a., '! ai farm and the factory run -■'! ea I :ia;e"b<_r here that v/e are " ever ,aa>- wriether this is an a,yncul- *• U',l o: ~ nainufaidurinj-l centre. Then aea a a,. a and tiie* plain are so -adi-a i.eiy i'.dated that v/e have '''vines- ~ paai. nor an inland town. Tins i.aaa.'a n.ene.'-s of character has iuu-rneii Ciiri.>tchurch repeatedly with yovii.-rja'neat investors, manufacturers, mt-i chiif.t , aiid tourists. It is re-fltcU-d n, a a.ie.at many feature.-; ot cur civ;..: conditions:- — '!> We alone have no Town Hall by i's si/.e and sititation to iynjool and express the unity ot Chfi- ■tchoreh. Instead of a medley of enti'tiajriincnt !ion:-:es and small shops, » Towa Ilali should be the adjunct of

I'o.il Oilice and Anglican Cathedral in our central square. 12) We more than others are harassed by a multitude of separate, petty indc--11 andciit governments —boards, councils. Icasutv; in bewildering confusion. They stultify one another by conflictl im; policies the common welfare. They turn our little state into a petty Heptarchy—-ineffective abroad, contusion within. A civic government with correlated departments dealim; each with its own side ot the city's, affairs would promote economy, vision, progress, and unity of spirit. d!) We who live and work and buy i and sell together are not even treated | as one city territorially. We must be set free from false divisions and create a greater Christchurch without delay. And that greater Christchurch must prepare for greatness more extended still, by burrowing through the dividing hill and uniting Lyttelton freely and easily wilh i.self, by means of a tunnel road, i '-4) The discursive ''ribbonimy" of the | shoppim; area should be checked by a | better direction of the public transport services, making the termini the j cornel's or mid-sides of some central block such as Durham to Manchester by Armagh to Lichfield streets. Perhaps the i'ic;id tram routes should be replaced by more mobile and variable bu-; routes. 15> Our comparative isolation should be ended at the .earliest possible mipment, by the completion of the East Const. Main Trunk .Railway. The trade of our port would in the long run suffer not at all: all that we should lose is the monopoly by the Union Company oi all our northern communications; instead oi. a weekly sundering o. connexions for 43 hours continuously, we should gain a twiee-a-da> connexion. Hit The odd and daii'-terous confusion of our street traffic should be ended by co-operating with the adjoining counties to ensure adequate skill in motor drivers, ''routeing" for cyclists, and the immediate widening of such death-traps as the bottleneck and the Armagh street-Park terrace junction. <7> A bold and comprehensive policy such as this would certainly need energy am, persistence to put through against short-sighted opposition, but the loan to finance it once authorised. the project would almost end unemployment throm.'.h the variety ot enterprises undertaken; and the resulting economies and -increased local j and outward trading would make the I interest burden comparatively small. ! -—Yours, etc.. j W. 'CO 'UIB JJMTOII OF Till, I'll r.S.-l. Sir, —Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., though he did not known it. at the time, was correct when he said the elections were a victory for democracy. Surely he can learn something from the figures lie referred to. He said the Labour pr-ty had maintained its strength. From that he should learn that it tiad never represented the people of Christchurch. The people were too indifferent to vote. That is not to be wondered at. Originally Labour had high ideals, the ideals of Keir Hardie, and of others of his ilk. Those ideals of justice for all, have been lost sight of. And what now calls itself a labour party is only a party of exploiters who have usurped the name of Labour. Why does he refer to the organisation of the Citizens' Association? Does he blame that for the exploiters' defeat'.' All the Citizens' Association did was to place the truth before the people, and tiie people, learning the truth., rose up and voted the exploiters out. He said that some exercised more Hum one vote. Can he say that none of his oarty did the same'.' We have -iiiiy to remember the elections i when two who were elected supporters lof his party were neither ratepayers ! nor rent-payers, rior even residents of the city. The council employees have for the last, few years controlled the Labour .Representation Committee; the Labour Representation Committee has controlled the City Council. In eti'ecl that meant the council employees have controlled the City Council. Under seen conditions such men could not give ! etticient service. Much of the work jof the City Council could be done to ; much better advantage by contractors. llf the present council explores tHis avenue fully it will probably be able to get the work done in a more satisfactory manner and at less cost, and then have money with which to find work for some of the unemployed who would be willing to give a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. It is a mistake : tlnnk that all who voted for this so-called Labour, favour exploitation and. cutting of the real wages of thousands of the poorer ratepayers: tiie;.- probably did not. They have baeu deluded by Ihe cry of "Follow Hie banner of Labour." little knowing that those who carried that banner had nothing in common with the high ideals of Labour. Nothing except the name. Yours, etc.. A. B. May K), iy:i, : 5. TO TUS r.OH'Ptt O * THE par.ss. Sir. '/oil conclude your leader yesterday morning Uhi, : : "The Citizen.,' Association has learned more of its strength than it knew before and wail not weaken again." Had it previously endeavoured to discover its strength this city would never have had inflicted upon it such a council as we have ha\i io endure for some years. The apathy of the past of citizens llii.mselvc.-i and of tiie association has at last told its tale. The conduct of ihe business of the City Council became so nauseating that citizens a: last, revolted against the dictation ';f die Labour heads and decided no ipsrwr to take it lying dowr,. So having induced a number of business and profe.-.ional men to come forward to put a stop to tiie Trades Hall interference with the carrying on of municipal affairs. Ihe Citizens' Association "decided to discover its strength"—that is t.o say, to work. That is to say further. they decided to no longer let matters ye by default and make a serious attempt. lirst to place their friends on Ihe roll, then to go out and educate them, and, more important than all. to s'-e that they recorded their votes on polling day. Ildnerto, they had only played at the game, though members of the executive have been told over and over again that they v.ould n-aar succeed unless they worked a, tiie Labour people had been doing etfectively. And the result oi the really lha-,t serious attempt at work by the Citizen.-;' Association and its friends has been almost to wipe out the Labour people (including men and Vi'cini.ii secretaries of unions) from the council. Mr Sullivan, tiie Mayer, acknowledges tiie reason of the defeat of his friends in "The Press" this morning when he '-ays "our opponents have, through f'ue very powerful organisation which Ibcy liavo developed, placed a large number of extra people on the roll and induced them to come to the ballot box " The Mayor has now discovered that he and his friends wdll no longer be allowed to be the only section of the people to do this work. Of course, in the past, it has been very difficult to persuade business men of standing' to come forward as candidates, as they were not prepared to be heckled and insulted at public meetings by the Labour section, and those who allowed themselves to be nominated at the recent election deserve the thanks of all right-thinking citizens for their temerity in deciding to run Ihe gauntlet. With the Citizens' Association now alive to its responsibilities and to the fact that it cannot without work in the proper directions hope to see its candidates succeed, it

should, at the next general election provided the candidates are of ti&a right calibre, score a similar success. I cannot close tliis letter without congratulating Sir Hugh Acland on the handsome response of the citizens at hi.-; "first time of asking." His narrow defeat might easily have been made a victorv, but that is another tale. Mr Sullivan practically admitted that he was shaking in his shoes all the evening.—Yours, etc., FESTINA LENTE. May 10, 39115. TO TUT EMTOii 07 TUB i. J UKS3. Sir, —Judging by the remarks the Mayor, Mr Sullivan, is allowing himself to make, he is evidently feeling a bit sore. This is easily understood, considering that the electors have plainly indicated that they have no desire to retain the services of certain very cocksure Labour councillors. I would advise him to "pack up his troubles and smile." AH men arc liable in some circumstances to forget that though "speech is silver, silence is golden." Even Mr Sullivan, at times, forgets this bit of wisdom. The Hon. W. Hayward, M.L.C., and Dr. Sandston are reported to have made some remarks about persons who made public office a profession. Though these remarks were quite true, the Mayor savs he "lakes the strongest exception fo them" and considers them "a verv mean form of controversy." in returning thanks on election night Mr Sullivan handed out bouquets to his candidate supporters. He clearly forgets there are four newspaper's in the city, and reading any of these shows that a vast number of intelligent citizens are positively disgusted at the election tactics of his friends. Regarding this matter, I venture to say the same citizens expect the new council, in appointing the Deputy-Mayor and chairmen of committees to keep in mind the honour of the citv and the harmony of the council. If there is a councillor who has a weakness for throwing sand into the machinery, why, put him out of the workshop, or at least, let him only sit where the Mayor can keep him under control. fn closing, may I say that Sir Hugh Acland, though failing in the mayoral election, deserves the sincerest thanks for creating an interest that has given the city a council which will bring to an end the extravagance and abuses recently prevailing. —Yours, etc.. RATEPAYER. May 10, 10:15. TO TUB KMTOH Oi TUB Sir, —It. would be a great gesture, something big, on the part of our newly-elected council, if a Labour councillor were unanimously elected as Deputy-Mayor. It would make for smooth, efficient working. In the previous council Labour gave Citizen members representation on various committees. These members were able councillors, and have stood the public test. Although Labour has not been voted by me. it cannot be denied that there are manv able men, outstanding, among its" ranks. The appointment of a Labour deputy would be a big token of goodwill. Harmony within reason would be a good motto.—-Yours, etc., UNUS. May 10, 1935.