CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 137, 11 June 1915, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

PUBLIC FUNDS THE- MAYOR'S POSITION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I must earnestly disclaim any in- , tention of personally attacking the Mayor or casting any reflection whatever upon him with regard to the public funds. Owing very much to the zeal and activities of Mi. and Mrs. J. P. Luke the funds centred in the Town Hall attain a magnitude hitherto unknown, and my desire as a citizen, along with many others, was to learn that these were to be placed on a businesslike footing in relation to both the public and the City Corporation. The collection of funds at the Town Hall in the Mayor's name by the Town Clerk and his officers surely implies a civic responsibility for their control and administration, which is at present somewhat anomalous and vaguely understood. The various "Mayor's" funds, "old" and " new," appear after all to be created and controlled without the responsible guidance of the council, the City Solicitor, Treasurer, and the City Auditors. The Mayor, himself the busiest of men, should not, I think, be placed in a position of holding trust accounts apart from them, and that not because anyone for a moment doubts his honesty or uprightness, for no one is more widely respected. My remarks, which you have entirely misconstrued, deal with the official aspect of the matter on broad business lines — and I did not ask for details of the various funds. Mr. Luke does not answer my questions, which, though I must admit were hurriedly written and rather crudely expressed, are nevertheless, I submit, clear and to the point. — I am, etc., D. C. BATES. 10th June, 1915. .A PLEA FOR THE TROOP HORSES TO THS EDITOR. Sir, — As a lover of our dumb friend, tho horso, I have scanned the papers daiYy for news of the horses and their life on board the transports and in the country to which they have been sent. So f&T these faithful friends of man appeal" to have been overlooked From the time they board the transports and leave owv shores nothing more is heard of them. They have a long and tedious journey before them, and their sufferings in fthiS cramped quarters on board ship muat be acute. In Australia a band of -\vc\rkers suoply tho transports with linseod, oatmeal, chloroform, bandages, and oAher comforts. The bandages used aro four inches wide and six yards long, with a piece of tape twentyfour inches JoOg sewn to one end. I am sure fcher.e are many animal-lovers who would gHa'Jy do alf they could tc lessen the sufferings of the troop horses, if the matter \wrre only made public. I hope some ahliAr pen than mine will take this matter, u'.p. — I am, etc., V. PALMER Wellington, lOtli June, 1915. THE NEWTttWN MUSEUM TO THB KrtlTOR. Sir, — Admitting tbe* above i« at » "dead end," is it no\\ possible that tho same could be placed at a "live end '"! I would like to suggest nhat the Museum be removed to the terminus, and that a temporary wooden buiVcHng be erected within the grounds oi' the Zoo, say upon the site where the present nursery is situated, and I ventage to say in 6uch case the Museum would be reasonably patronised, and wou'M greatly increase the tramway receipt Unfortunately, the present site is ,not suitable, and it is a great pity it wad tSver placed there. We, however, must ■not forget the Newtown Museum is no.t the only resort which docs not pay Us "way; for instance, the organ recitals, the Art Gallery, and, pofsibly, the Fish Market, and others. In Sydney, the Ar\> Gallery in the Domain, or Park, alw.ays appeared to be a- great success, and' I venture to say if the Museum was placed in the Zoo grounds it would be .a success. In conclusion, I shall be very sorry to see the fine collection closed for ever. — I am, etc., J.L.\V, ' 9th June, 1915. THEN AND NOW TO THB EDITOR. Sir. — Several times since the BritisTv Navy has "bottled up" the German fleet, the German Government has protested against Britain attempting to starve the German nation by cutting off the supplies of foodstuffs. But what did the Germans do in the Franco-Prus-sian War in 1870-71, when Paris was besieged, and its inhabitants starved into submission? $ The Parisians were reduced ;to sore straits ; amongst other things, i they were compelled to eat rats to preserve life ! When Bismarck was appealed to, to have mercy on the besieged Parisians, he replied with characteristic German brutality, "No ! Let them ' stew in their own juice!" — I am, etc., DINNA FORGET. 9th June, 1915.