Page 17 Advertisements Column 2

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19623, 5 May 1938, Page 17

Readers' Opinions Letters To The Editor Letters intended for publication should lie brief and confined to subjects of general public interest. The name and address of correspondents should be enclosed, not necessarily for publication, but as evidence of good faith. Aged People Sir,—The approach of Mother's Day naturally reminds one of those who trod the ways of life before us, or who were our companions in days of long ago. I am looking back myself. During the last 12 months five of my aged male friends have passed away from my small, and always narrowing circle in Gisbome. They were all past the prime of life; three being SO years or more, and the other two, nearly 70. One had been a farmer or station assistant; the second, a drover, butcher and firewood dealer; number three, a gold digger and slaughterman; four was a seaman, tally clerk and teacher of navigation; and the fifth, a draughtsman and architect. This simple narration suggests a considerable variety of struggle, occupation and incident in colonial life; and it also suggests how great must be the loneliness of those who are still left. So many gone, so few remain. All hail the Early Settlers Association, Mothers Day, and all attempts to brighten the lives and give good fellowship to the agt-"l—Yours, etc., EIGHTY-FOUR.

Boroueh Elections Sir,—ln the Labour Party's policy of 11 points for the Borough Council there is little that is definite, little that one can bite on. The candidates in their first point will give "full attention'" to something, in the second "immediate attention," in the third "every attention" and in the fourth 'every encouragement." Then we have such general or indefinite expressions as "seriously consider," "as low as possible,'' "as.far as possible," "maximum satisfaction," "sympathetic cooperation," "fullest co-operation," and other fine-sounding but vague expressions—so many, indeed, that one can only assume that whoever drafted the policy deliberately designed to produce one that would sound all right but would commit the party to little or nothing, and which would not lead to awkward questions in the future. The draftsman would know that a dissatisfied elector can not very well say "you promised to give full attention to the importance of hygiene and have not done so." "Full attention to the importance of anything—just imagine it. True, we have a promise to submit at least two alternative water supply schemes before the ratepayers. Had this promise been earlier it would have been better received, but it has been made late—only one week before the elections; it gives rise to a suspicion that it has been conceded unwillingly id consequence of Mr. Bull's criticism, that it has been extracted. And we therefore examine the promise more critically. Why are the natural words "submit to the ratepayers" not used if the ratepayers are to have a choice at a poll? Why "submit before the ratepayers?" Does this mean only a discussion before the ratepayers? Presumably of the "at least two alternative schemes" the Waipaoa will be one. Can the Labour Party not make up its mind to abandon this obnoxious scheme?— Yours, etc., CITIZEN.