AUCKLAND LETTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 June 1923, Page 7

AUCKLAND LETTER

“NO MORE WAR.” (Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, June 22. Is it possible that the doubtless well-meaning persons who are arranging for a “no more war” demonstration in Auckland on the 29th really believe that their efforts in the cause of peace can achieve any other result than to cover themselves with ridicule? The objects of the demonstration, we are told, are to include war prevention, the settlement of international disputes without an appeal to arms, and complete national disarmament. A somewhat ambitious programme for a small section of the population of a small city at the uttermost ends of the earth to formulate. And of what is the “demonstration” to consist?—-a procession along Queen Street, (headed by a brass band) to the domain, speechifying, possibly the waving of “peace banners,” and the passing of resolutions calling upon the Great Powers to “stop it at once?” Doubtless the Great Powers (when they have ascertained where Auckland is) will hasten to obey the behest. Meanwhile I note that the City Council was rude enough to ignore the invitation of the promoters of the demonstration conference to attend that function on Tuesday afternoon last. Said invitation was merely “received.” So I should think. THE WATERFRONT RAILWAY. It is announced that in the event of legislation authorising the construction of the railway along Quay Street, to connect the wharves being passed two years will certainly elapse before the line is in operation. Most people would be glad to have the period extended to twenty-two years. But the people of Auckland are strangely apathetic in regard to all public matters. What is everybody’s business is nobody’s business. Witness the result of the voting at the various polls held from time to time in this city, where only a fraction of those qualified to vote will take the trouble to do so no matter how importions the question at issue may happen to be. There can be little doubt that the waterfront railway

scheme is viewed by the great bulk of Auckland residents with the strongest disfavour. There is yet time for the public to protest and to fight the proposal. Will it protest? Not a bit of it. AUCKLAND RAILWAY STATION Mr. Parry, Member for Auckland Central, is to be commended for his efforts to induce the powers that be at Wellington to have the Auckland railway station, as he puts it, “rebuilt on lines compatible with the growing commercial and industrial needs of the city.” But lam afraid when the matter crops up for discussion in the House that it will be a case, to use the banking formula, of “N.S.F.” The present, apology for a station has been doing duty so long that most people have forgotten when it was built. Dingy, dreary, forbidding, inconvenient and ages behind the times it is the laughing-stock of new arrivals and the despair of the citizens. OUR LUNACY LAWS The recent agitation anent our lunacy laws, and their utter inadequacy together with the abuses that have been shown to exist in connection with mental patients has had one tangible result, anyhow,—it has stirred up a Member of the House to ask the Government to take action. It is sincerely, to be hoped that it will do so. There are people here in Auckland who believe very strongly—rightly or wrongly—that sane persons are sometimes committed to mental hospitals, and also that the treatment meted out to inmates of these places is not invariably all that it ought to be. Also that the present method of making committals to asylums is open to the gravest objection. EATING-HOUSE THIEVES When an individual lunches or dines at a public restaurant at the cost perhaps of eighteen pence or one and nine, and appropriates some article of table-ware worth a good deal more than the price of the meal, there is not much profit in the transaction for the restauranteur. Just recently the proprietor of a re-freshment-house in the heart of the city lost, withing three or four weeks silverware valued at ;ClO, and enquiry has satisfied me that his experience is by no means an uncommon one. It seems almost incredible that well-dressed and apparently well-to-do persons can reconcile it to their consciences to practice such barefaced robbery. But the fact remains that they do. And yet not a single arrest seems to have been reported so. far. Surely it should be worth the while of the authorities to station a smart detective amongst the luncliers or diners at some of these popular restaurants until a few of the contemptible thieves are caught and made examples.