THE GUNS IN THE RESERVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23055, 4 December 1936, Page 8

THE GUNS IN THE RESERVES

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l think that the correspondence that has arisen owing to the council's removal of the guns in the Queen's Gardens and burying them under the soil has shown that this absurd proceeding has met with the disapproval of the great majority of Dunedin's citizens. It seems preposterous that the council, through the vote of the Labour members, should be able to do this thing which is opposed to the wishes of, I am sure, 90 per cent, of the voters in Dunedin. It is fortunate for Councillors Batchelor. Silverstone, and their fellow-Labour members that the municipal elections do not take place for another 16 months or so. It is not surprising In the circumstances that the Labour members did not favour a reversion of the municipal term to two years instead of three years. The time will come, however, when they will have to face the music, and the result of the next election will probably make Councillor Batchelor feel so sick that he will wish that he had let our guns alone. I call them our guns because I consider they belonged to the citizens as a whole, as the reserves do, and no council should have dared to interfere with them. I think that if our Prime Minister. Mr Savage, knew the harm that was being done to his party in Dunedin by the action of some of *tiis supporters in the City Council he would endeavour to put a restraining hand on what is at present being done as regards the removal of the guns. The election cry at the next municipal elections at any rate will be " Remember the Guns."—l am, etc., Pro Patria. December 3. Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note. As these guns 'neath the green turf were buried. No councillor moved a farewell vote, With such indecent haste were they hurried. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—lt is too late to remedy the oversight, above-mentioned, but I would suggest that a model of the guns be placed on the council table and an enlarged copy of the photos of the interment be added to the mural decorations. Further, I would suggest that the chairman of the Reserves Committee arrange for the planting of a cider gum (Eucalyptus Gunnri) on each unhallowed grave, to serve as a memorial to our old familiar friends Should Councillor Batchelor who, of course, would be present, have any difficulty (save the mark!) in giving a suitable oration, he might find the following quotations helpful:— It was great pity, so it was, that villainous saltpetre should be digged out of the bowels of the harmless

earth, which many a gqod tall fellow had destroyed so cowardly, and but for these vile guns he would himself have been a soldier.—Henry IV, Part 1. Hear the rumbling of the guns. Iron guns, iron guns, In the silence of the night How we shiver with affright At the melancholy menace of their tone. For every sound that floats From the rust within their throats Is a groan. —From " The Bells," slightly altered. —I am, etc., W. T. Tuapeka Mouth. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—lt Is to be regretted that your various correspondents are so much perturbed over the decision of the Dunedin City Council to remove the old guns from the city reserves. I hope I am wrong in assuming that this is because the guns are a handy weapon with which to chastise the City Council, on account of the political views held by some of the members, rather than because there is any great reverence for the old guns. This is, however, by the way—l have a suggestion to offer which, if acted upon, would at least restore the peace of mind to two of your correspondents, writing from Roxburgh and Wedderburn. The suggestion is that the City Council's approval should be sought to have the guns transferred to the sports ground of Roxburgh and Wedderburn on a 50—50 basis. The two correspondents referred to might then sleep well and be for ever after happy.—l am, etc., Peaceful.