LITTLEBOURNE HOUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23528, 17 June 1938, Page 14

LITTLEBOURNE HOUSE

10 Fllh KUITOB Sir, —I must thank “ 17105 ” for his few words of approval of my suggestion that Littlebourne House should be used as a War Veterans’ Home. It was nice of him to refer to the commendation of my suggestion from his old comrades of the trenches, for I find that my experience amongst my old Digger friends is the same as his. They definitely approve of my suggestion and say the time is fast approaching when such an institution will be required in our midst. These words of approval come from Diggers of all ranks and in all vocations of civil life to-day, J , ... I note in your issue of to-day that “Citizen” heartily disapproves of my suggestion. He prefers that the property should be used for the original purpose for which it was gifted to the city— a vice-regal residence —even if, as he says, it is only, “for a short period once in a while.” I would ask “ Citizen ” why this has not been done

in past? The City Council has had the property on its hands for some years now and it must have had very good reasons for not having put the property to this use. Does " Citizen realise the costliness of his socialclimbing proclivities? I have a shrewd idea that the council is well aware that the cost is wellnigh prohibitive, and that it dare not ask the ratepayers approval for such heavy expenditure for “a few days once in a while. I would respectfully suggest to Citizen” that he go carefully into the cost of his suggestion and endeavour to organise a scheme to carry it out amongst our well-to-do citizens and see how far he would get in the matter. I would also ask him to compare the cost of his suggestion with the much more modest outlay mat would be required for a Diggers Rest Home. If he fails to do that, I would respectfully suggest that he gracefully retire from this controversy in favour of others with more modest tendencies, for I certainly think that ratepayers who desire to bask in viceregal splendour should not shirk a lavish use of their cheque books In order to make such a suggestion possible. Or may I be pardoned for asking him to nominate the “other class of citizens who deserve well of the community.” This statement is generalising pure and simple, and leads to nowhere in particular, whilst my suggestion is definite and specific. Surely a contrast, is it not? —I am, etc., F. D. Gaflaney. June 16.