PUBLIC OPINION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12507, 24 July 1926, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

WELLINGTON IN THE WET (To tlie Editor, “N.Z. Times/’) Sir,—Wellington is gradually becoming a more untidy, unclean, and grimy looking city. Every morning bits of rubbish, cigarette boxes, dirt, and germ-infested stuff are swept into the roadway across the pathß, from various shops. To make matters worse this sweeping process goes on after people have started to move about in tho city. Ladies get the benefit of this; children get it. We all suffer and breath in this beautiful filthy stuff. Pavements m Willis street from Stewart Dawson’s corner 14) past AVardells and beyond the “Evening Post” are in a deplorable condition; and on wet days it is a positive nightmare to walk along on the pavement. Concrete blocks out of “true” ; holes filled with slush and muck; here we are in the capital city, floundering along in this sort of quagmire. Isn’t it delightful? What of the youngsters, with their thin shoes? What of the folk who have to sit in their boots or shoes, sodden with moisture all day long? The state of some of the verandahs is appalling. Leaky verandahs; broken and rotten spouting with water pouring all over the place; a deluge in various places across the footpaths on wet days. Is there no by-law to enforce? What htts become of the Department of tho City Council governing this sort of thing? Then again, we have a delightful suburb named Seatoun, with beautiful homes and no footpaths * for the most part; just holes in the roads, slush and muck for the citizens to walk on; and every car is liable to splash those unfortunate pedestrians. It’s great how things mo done here for tho rates we pay. Tlie sooner the Out lying Districts Committee is brought into being again the better. t tried some time back to get the council to put on crossing sweepers with a broom each, to sweep the main crossings every half-hour or so during muddy weather in the city streets, so as to give pedestrians a ; chance to get across the streets with the least amount of mud about their feet as possible; cannot this be doneP I am, etc “PRO-BONO-PUBLICO.” Wellington. compulsorylialfloliday for FARM WORKERS (To the Editor, “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —I see in tlie “Times” that Mr Glenn, M.P. for Rangitikei, is asking in the House about a compulsory Saturday half-holiday for ships. I think that he being a farmer should interest himself more with a compulsory half holiday for the farm workers. As we never get asked to run into town to do our shopping, although our employer runs into town about twice a week. I think we in the country have as much right to a half-holiday as any other worker. If the farmers want to keep- tne young and best workers in the country they must do something to induce them to stay; not make it one continual work and bed. If this goes on, the farmers will only be able to got men to work for them who are wasters in the town.—l am. etc., FAIR ALL ROUND. Hunterville. “cmT (To the Editor, “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —It the retailers would carry on their trade with a reasonable profit,* then few people would send direct to England for goods. I have sent Home off and on for the last 24 years, but recently have obtained most of my wearing apoarel, including underwear. From Home, thereby saving from £75 to £IOO a year For example, a certain article costing 11s Gd landed here, including Custom duty and postage, is sold here for £1 11s Cd. and purchased no doubt by the retailers for about Bs—a case of over 200 per cent, profit. Can they deny this?—l am, etc., TJBIQEE. July 23rd. 1926.