CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 5, 6 July 1921, Page 5

CIVIC AFFAIRS

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir, —May I, as a ratepayer, be permitted to express satisfaction at the attitude taken up by the Mayor with regard to city finances? At the present time hard-working, economical members of the community, who have striven to acquire a home, and are endeuvounng to bring up a family therein, are invited to pay for playgrounds and amusements for those who are betteT able to finance such things., themselves. We have little time or' energy for play or amusement, but have to find an everincreasing sum. for what? In order that those who have the leisure, which we lack, should, be provided with recreation at a nominal charge. I refer, inter alia, to the thousands of young unmarried men and women who draw salaries almost, perhaps quite, equal to those | earned by. their elders, and have not I a quarter of the responsibilities of the hooseholdoT. Is it not time that the council should prepare to jettison some of its expensive toys? Take, for instance, the Zoo. While not intending to cast any aspersion upon the management, which is, I believe, as efficient as possible under the circumstances, is it humane to keep theee unfortunate birds and animals penned up in small enclosures, often amid uncongenial surroundings and in an unsuitable climate? The admittedly high death-rate at the Zoo speaks volumes. As an active member of the S.P.C.A. I cannot help marvelling that the general public can contemplate .with equanimity such animals as the. beautiful leopards living year after year in such cramped quarters. Surely if this collection of unhappy creatures does not even pay its way it • may be dispensed with. Legislation is now proposed in England for*-the abolition of 'exhibitions of trained animals, and I hope that in time public Opinion may turn atfainet the maintenance of wild • animals in captivity. Much mig-ht be said regarding the wisdom (or unwisdom) of spending largo sinus on various seaside resorts "in order to make them more attractive to the public."—l am, etc. ECONOMY. 4th July.