LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1109, 24 April 1911, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE MAIN ISSUE IN THE COUNCIL ELECTION. Sir,—While a portion of the more obtuse electors may bo entrapped into a blind voto by such high-sounding phrases as "sound finance," "interests of all citizens," and similar meaningless language, it is due to the general body of electors that the candidates comnosing the "citizens' ticket" should make a pronouncement, individually or collectively, on tho question of municipal markets, which is generally admitted to be the main issue in this election. Reading reports of candidates' meetings, I notice that this issuo lias been carefully avoided by Sir. Moran, side-stepped by Mr. Godber, while neither the Hon. Hr. Jenkinson nor Mr. Gulliclian appear to havo thought tho matter or sufficient importance to deal with in their addresses. Mr. Shirtcliffo promises to give his support to the project, provided it is started on an "experimental seals, cayablo of expansion." This attitude appears to be ono of damning through faint opportunity. So far as I have read, the candidates who stand definitely and decisively pledged to , give municipal markets a fair chance are thr Labour eight, Dr. Cameron, Messrs. Bedford, and Fuller. This only enables those who, like myself, consider this the vital question of the whole election, the opportunity to vote eleven out of fifteen seats. As there is a largo body of public opinion— thrifty housewives, and working people generally, together with a number of small traders—who will voto on this issuo alone, perhaps some of tho=c candidates at present, on the rail will conin down fo mother earth on a definite side of tho fence, and cease to weary tho public with such election platitudes as "safe management of the city's affairs," "fair administration for all classes," etc. It is to bo noted that among tho names above these shibboleths are some of those who havo been administering the city's affairs for a number of years, and apparently only learned the other day, per medium of tho Tramway Union, that there was need of something more than these qualifications to put the tramway trafiic in order. —I am, etc., A.D.R. Brooklyn, April 23, 1911. INSANITARY DWELLINGS. Sir,—Regarding your leading article in to-day's paper, you state that "strangely enough, none of the candidates, so far as we have noticed, has touched on the question of insanitary dwellings." This is extremely unfair, for not only have the Labour candidates dealt wich this matter, but (he following is ono of the planks of my platform :—"Enforcement of necessary sanitary improvements in slum areas, elc.; but not by unduly oppressive means to any owners who may bo financially weak." also stated that I considered that if aiiy "good was to bo doue, I thought (ho council should obtain power to assist any owners who were financially weak and enable them to make necessary improvements. I also staled "that by so doing the councillors would not only have to be 'city fathers,' but would have to further add to their titlo the namo of 'city uncles.' They already give assistance in putting in drainage. Jn Glasgow, where 1 have had a little opportunity in studying this question, areas of slums have been taken over and good sanitary blocks of workmen's dwellings built. However, we find in AVellington that wherever the council has taken over property, that they havo not made a great success of it.. In Adelaide Road, for instance, you will fnul .plenty of examples of the failure of. th'o City Council as a landlord and propertyowner. Therefore, before the council goes in for big schemes like Glasgow, I would like to be sure that they are capable of making a success of them. Further, if Ilaining Street is pulled down to-morrow, I would like to ask advocates of (his ideal and similar people who "build castles in the air," where the Chinamen are going to be housed in the future, and if the next street they settle in won't be as bad as Haining Street in a few years' time? I may further stats that I have had opportunities of studying the Chinese quarter in San I'rancisco, and slum quarters in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Belfast, London, Liverpool, Paris, Geneva, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Colombo, Naples, etc. As I will havo other opportunities to go into this matfe.r more fully, I will not discuss it further at present. Lastly, your own reporter mentioned this plank in my platform in his report of my Sydney' Street meeting.—l am, etc., R. A. CAMERON. [Wo are pleased to note that Dr. Cameron has given" the matter attention. We do not advocate the tatting over of slum quarters and (he erection of municipal dwellings; our contention is that the existing law should be amended so ns to strengthen the hands of the municipality in the matter of enforcing proper sanitary conditions.]