THE POST OFFICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21688, 5 July 1932, Page 9

THE POST OFFICE

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —The well-organised “Back to Dunedin Week" marks another step in the history of our city. Tribute has been, paid to the early city fathers to whose vision and foresight we owe so much. The oft-repeated phrase, “These men were builders,” was no empty form of words. Shen our sons stage a “ Back to Dunin Week” 30 years hence we, their fathers, will. be known . as “foundation builders,” or, more likely, as “Also starters.” The civic centre shows a monument in concrete well and truly laid. Our main highway has another concrete monument ready for our sons to build —a school for their offspring. The army of unemployed in our own city is alarming proof to my mind of the lack of a sound local conservative policy. I am not going to indulge in any sob stories. I can be cold and indifferent to the man who does not want work, but neither I, nor any other right-thinking man or woman could be cold and indifferent to the man who has no choice, who has a family to; look* after, and who, to a certain extent, through the lack of leadership, is out of a job. I realise that world-wide conditions have got to improve before we in New Zealand can return to the days of prosperity, but I also realise that we would be failing in our duty if we stood idly by without making some attempt to use our resource •, for the creation of a sound local programme of work. The stone walls, the grass grubbing, the levelling of small patches of ground referred to by a Dunedin builder in to-day’s Times sounds so pitiful. Surely the building of a permanent asset —like the Post Office, the laving of good concrete roads (some of Dunedin city roads have been rightly described as “the world's worst”) —to-men-tion two proposals, would be a sounder business policy. < A few days ago Mi* P. M'Skimmmg, the member for Clutha, exploded a myth regarding the funds available for erecting a Post'Office on one of the foundations I have referred to. To-days’ Times has an interview which I consider is one of the most damning criticisms against the policy of drift which seems to have our citizens in its grip. No thinking, man or woman in Dunedin to-dav > can afford to ignore the existing condition*. We are being compelled to admit that our national and local leaders have failed to deal with the present situation. So far they have avoided it, or, it* seems to me, have not exerted their intelligence in the direction of some constructive plan. I have to-day written to his Worship the Mayor, asking, him to call a meeting of citizens who are interested, first, in the erection of the Post Office, and also in the preparation of some sound scheme for the better employment of our unemployed. The time is opportune. _ There, surely, must be men with _ vision and courage who are prepared, with or without reward, for the good of their city and for the sake of the army of suffering men. women, and children, to come forward and offer their time and their services.—l am, etc.. Arthur A. Paape. Dunedin, July 4.