LETTERS TO EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 79, 27 December 1928, Page 10

LETTERS TO EDITOR

CABINET MINISTER’S DIVINE CALL

Sir, —You report to-day that a certain Cabinet Minister stated in public that he regarded his rank as a divine call to service, and that the audience, hearing this, literally gasped. .Surely, the surprising thing is that in a Christian country, anyone should think the statement to be remarkable. Many of the voters prayed that God would direct the last election, and they will believe that they have not prayed in vain. It is generally accepted that a minister of religion may receive a divine call to service, why not a Minister of Health? Health is a question of cleanliness, and cleanliness is next to godliness. Moses, the legislator, received a divine call as distinct as that of Aaroii, the priest, or Isaiah, the prophet. If Parliaments .open with prayer, is it not a confession that ail the members need, and should, look for divine guidance to serve the nation aright. It was said that Mr. Gladstone was in the habit of bowing his head for a moment before he began a public speech. President Lincoln, in a national ■ crisis, when human wisdom seemed not enough, left his office and called on the preacher. Henry Ward Beecher, to pray with him for divine guidance. “Happy the nation whose politicians know their God,” anil are confident that by divine assistance they will be able “to do exploits.”—l am, etc., DEO VOLENTE. Wellington, December 24. FIRE INSURANCE COSTS Sir, —It is interesting to learn that the State Fire Office has decided, on the results of the past year, to continue the “bonus” of twelve and a half per cent off the premiums charged. This 'Socalled "bonus,” really a small discount, was first introduced on August 1, 1923, and was then fifteen per cent., an amount ■whici should and could easily have been increased year by year with safety to the office and justice to the public. As evervone familiar wit.h fire insurance practice knows, the rates charged in New Zealand could be reduced by forty per cent., and still allow for fair profits after paying all claims,- expenses, and providing reserves. The cost of fire insurance is a very serious matter to everyone. It affects not only every business man and householder, but every purchaser of goods, however small the purchase, as every trader is compelled to pass on the cost of his fire insurance to the customer. —I am. etc., UNDERWRITER. Wellington, December 20.

[The above letter was referred to a prominent insurance official who stated that the fire loss ratio for New Zealand in 1927 as compared with 1923 showed an increase of over 20s. per cent. The results for 1928, lie stated, would show a still greater increase. On these results, he added, it was obvious that a bonus of 124 per cent, for the coming year was actually equal to a bonus of 324 per cent, as compared with 1923. In’the intervening years the loss ratios compared with 1923 increased as follows: —1924, increase of 15 per cent.; 1925, increase of 2 per cent.; 1926, increase of 15 per cent.;; 1927, increase of 21 per cent. It was quite certain that the insurance companies, as a whole, would make no underwriting profit in 1928, concluded the official.] ADVERTISEMENTS ON CITY HOARDINGS Sir—lt is time ft stricter supervision was exercised over the picture advertisements that appear on the hoardings throughout the town.' I often wonder why our different women’s societies do not take this question up and insist on clean, attractive advertisements appearing, or else none at all. Instead of drawing patronage, m nine cases out of ten they turn it away.—l aU *’ etC ’’ AN ONLOOKER. Wellington, December 14. WELLINGTON FOOTPATHS Sir, —A great deal has recently been said and written on the beauteousness of Wellington and its surroundings, but before the people of the city can lay claim to its being equal, to say nothing about its being better, than the other chief centres of the Dominion, there are two matters that require attention, viz., better footpaths and the cleaning up of unsightly places. The Mayor of the city, speaking at the annual meeting of the Civic League, stated that “the roads and footpaths were now better than any other in New Zealand.” I agree with him in respect to the roads; I totally disagree with him in respect to the footpaths. I am a great 'walker, and know the footpaths of Wellington as well as those in all the other' towns of the Dominion, and I have no hesitancy in saying that the Wellington footpaths are easily the worst in the Dominion. They are frequently spoken of disparagingly by visitors to the city. Take the Thorndon end of the town for an example, with which I am more familiar. There is not one footpath from the Parliament Buildings to the Tinakori Hills but what is in bad repair. The most important are those in Tinakori Road, which are greatly used by visitors to the Botanical Gardens. The southern path was broken up two years ago in laying down some gas mains,’ and has never been repaired. The northern one is so uneven and broken in places that one haste watch his every step. The other footpaths in the district are no better. There is no pleasure in using the footpaths at this end of the town, and I will be surprised if the ratepayers of the Thorndon district have ndt something to say. about them when the next loan is spoken of. In other towns when a new building is erected or the paths broken up for any purpose, as soon as the job is finished the footpaths ar? immediately attended to. Not so*in Wellington, where it takes from three months to in some cases as many years before repairs are carried out. This ought not to be. Then speaking of unsightly places, where is there in any town in New Zealand a more unsightly place than Fitzherbert Terrace? Again, take Grant Road, a favourite walk plong the foot of the Tinakori Hills. Some parts are well planted find pleasant to the eye, but in the most prominent part at the bend of the Wadestown Road, which is used by thousands of the townspeople and visitars, there is a paddock used as a hospital for sick horses, and the sooner the Corporation forgo the miserable amount of rent they get for it and complete the planting of the foothills the better it will be for the name of the town.

Before Wellington can lay claim to the name of “The City Beautiful,” she has some town planning ahead of her. The Mayor also remarked that “Every district except Roseneath had a play area in its own vicinity, so that children could play their games almost outside their back door.” There are no play areas in Thermion. —I am, etc., A GOOD WALKER. Wellington, December 14.