THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21985, 21 June 1933, Page 4

THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS

. (TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —The speeches made and the resolution carried at the meeting held iri the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon do more credit to the hearts than to the heads of those who attended. Most of our trouble is due to our having mis-spent our money, and the latest piece of .folly that ia proposed is to raise £IO,OOO and give it away. I am surprised that this suggestion was tolerated when you think what good could be done with this amount of money. There je no doubt that if these methods are continued they will have, a' most demoralising effect on the community. Personally, if I. had any money to give away I would perfer to do it myself without the assistance of either Dean Cruickshank or Conncillor MTndoe. I am also surprised at Councillor F. Jones, M.P., supporting such a proposition. Numbers of his constituents are living in hovels, and he now proposes to raise £IO,OOO and, instead of spending it to improve the lot of these unfdrtunate people, he proposes to give it away Our leaders seem to be lacking iu both initiative and common sense. Future generations will be surprised that we have spent such enormous sums and have regeived n 6 adequate returns tor th With your permission, Sir, I would make another suggestion how we could spend the money to better advantage and to the benefit of the community as a whole. My proposal is that a road be constructed from the junction of Whart street and Anderson’s Bay road to the junction of Anderson’s Bay road and Koval crescent, St. Kilda— in place of the present Tahuna Park railway line, and that the engine sheds be removed to some

of the reclaimed ground at Black J ack's Point. The advantages of this proposal are obvious. A lot of valuable land could be used to much better purpose and the endowments of the Harbour Board would be enhanced in value immediately. Where the ' present Kensington _ timber yard stands the land could be immediately let and so produce revenue. I would suggest that the Government, the City Council, and the Harbour Board combine and carry out the scheme I have suggested, to the great advantage of the city as a whole. It would largely solve our unemployment problem.—l am, etc., P. W. Shacklock. Dunedin, June 20.