Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

THE VETERANS’ HOME Sir, — Our attention has been called to a letter in THE SUN regarding the Veterans’ Home. We, the undersigned, strongly object to the statements contained therein as being contrary to fact. Fires are entirely under our own control. We light them when we want them and there is unlimited fuel. We have more comforts and less restrictions probably than any other home. Remember, Mr. Editor, that there are old soldiers and old soldiers. We cordially invite you to visit the home and see for yourself. W. B. MORTON, J. F. McCALLUM, C. MACH IN, A. COOK, J. 1). PINCOTT. GEORGE TAYLOR, J. MEEHAN, H. HOWELL, R. B. BERSKELL, P. B. BALLANTINE, Residents in the Veterans’ Home.

THEATRE SEATS Sir, — Is it not time the voice of the playgoing public was raised in protest at the exploitation of the stalls seats in Kis Majesty’s Theatre? For a little extra comfort in a plush seat in the orchestral stalls, one is charged 8s plus tax. Why is it, then, that when the booking of these seats is complete, the management carries on the reservation, at the same price, of the inferior seats? Is it fair to the patron, who can pay for a good seat, and does not get one, and is it fair to the occupant of the stalls seat, who finds a seat little better than the gallery? Is it safe to compare our latest picture houses with our leading theatre, in either music or comfort? R. MACDONALD (M.R.). “It all comes down to a question of supply and demand,” said the Auckland manager for J. C. Williamson, Ltd. (Mr. John Farrell), when he was shown the above letter. “Only on rare occasions is the demand so great that the back seats are booked at the same price as the plush ones. In the majority of theatrical seasons, people who have paid for back stalls are allowed to occupy plush seats. This has been happening in Auckland for a long time past. However, in the near future the theatre is to be reseated, and there will be no cause for complaint.”—Ed. THE SUN. QUESTIONS FOR MR. ALLUM Sir, — $ As I shall be unable to attend the City Council’s meeting at the Eemuera Library on Wednesday night, 1 should be glad to ask Mr. Allum the three following questions through THE SUN: 1. Since the Wellington tramways allow a 25 per cent, reduction for concession cards on their maximum fare of 4d, and still show a profit, and the Railway Department allows a 33 1-3 per cent, concession on the fare from Remuera to Auckland, making the fare 2d, as against the tram fare of 3.68 d, how can Mr. Allum justify the antagonising of the council’s regular customers by the practical abolition of concession cards or contend that such an unusual policy will bring an increased revenue? 2. All parties now appear to agree in condemning the mismanagement of the trams by the late council, but since the present council consists of practically the same members (including Mr. Allum), what guarantee have the j ratepayers that the £500,000 loan will not be squandered in the same way, ! particularly as the council is virtually [ exempt from the control of the Audi-

tor-General, the late councillors having been relieved of liability for their action by a special Act of Parliament? 3. Since the transport monopoly was granted to the council on the express undertaking of its representatives that the fares would not be raised, is it not possible that the monopoly will be withdrawn now that the maximum fare has been nearly doubled, and most fares raised considerably above those of the pre-bus period? K. M. GRIFFIN. T.B. SHELTERS Sir, It seems once more the public should be asked to show sympathy and help in keeping those shelters our stricken soldiers plead for. It is intolerable to think a body of men such as the City Council cannot or will not hold their hands off that one spot. It was publicly stated some years ago that the trifling sum of «£ 50,000 (or thereabouts) of patriotic funds, subscribed by the public, was invested in the City Markets of all places. Is it still there? If so, can it not be withdra\v r n and utilised in providing employment for ex-service me?i, and in giving those in need of it a shelter of their own? Now is the time for fit ex-service men to come to the rescue of their stricken comrades. LAURRETTE CAMBRIDGE. IMMATURE CALVES Sir, — As a member of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, I was much interested and not a little shocked in reading the article in Saturday’s SUN on the “Grim Trade in Veal.” I am not so much perturbed about the menace to New Zealand’s export trade as about the shocking and needless cruelty to newly-born calves as is evidently far too often exercised and is testified to by your representative. Three days of cruel suffering, ranging from a mild, sickly trembling feeling of emptiness to the cruel pains —not to say agony at that immature stage of life—of hunger, cold and starvation. The former prevalent method of despatching the newly-born calf more or less mercifully was kindness compared to this. Seeing that the New Zealand Department of Agriculture has guaranteed the English authorities that “all calves must not be less than three days old when killed and must have been properly fed and - nourished from birth,” surely there shoujd be no great difficulty in preventing such gross inhumanity and crueltv to these defenceless and utterly harmless creatures? I trust that the S.P.C.A. in all centres will get to work at once and use every influence to have the Minister of the department concerned see that the officers of his department take proper and active steps to fulfil the guarantee mentioned. MERCY AND KINDNESS BEFORE GAIN. HIDEOUS TRADE IN VEAL

It was with interest and deep thought I read two articles in vour paper THE SUN last week. You are to be congratulated by bringing these cases before the public, because it is only through publicity that such cruelty and suffering caused to animals will ever be remedied. The first was the case of a farmer allowing cattle to be driven suffering from rooten hooves. A witness said:

“A farmer had to get all he could <*■ of his farm to make ends meet matter the pain caused the animj* Retribution quickly followed in a nsof £2O. The other was the hom£ trade in veal. I am sure a num* of people must have been ■urpn* 1 and horrified when reading the account of the emaciated condition those calves sent to the slaugntfhouse; some sent, too, just as ao* life started. Is this, also, stance “that farmers must get all can out of their farms to make & meets?” "Why is it that the ment is not being kept lor the day-old and well - nourished ealveeit is the case of the few shilling* “what the eye does not see, the docs not grieve,” for it is about J “the eye saw and the heart If there were two or three dogs **■ the city in such condition, there be letters of strong protest such treatment. Then why not • same on behalf of these calves, do not come in close them, so—presumably —“why It is to be hoped that someou* -v look well into the question thorowj and not let such a state of thin?* tinue? lkobU WHITE NEW ZEALAND LEA<$ Sir, — . r jjt Authorised by my cxecutrv • your permission to reply bne?. ; letter appearing in a recent THE SUN under the above and over the signature of a ~. ■T. C. Groves, who signs ganising secretary for New Mr. Groves, on account « reports bearing on a P"** 0 ; c charge in which an ex-emplo>« association was involved, s “j 6 nn biffgrave reflection” might be «** pdself and his organisation b> sible confusion with the Natives’ Association. I have looked through suen and I find that they contain n »f tion whatsoever of the \\ Zealand League, but a c f rt *L r rf*« Asiatic Society” is namc ?; kpli bood. * I submit there is more H* dbfcP account of its name, aim anu of the league being confus w society, than with the ass which I have the honour w* A*' For the New Zealand **** he jd; sociation is not a body P 1" sC gt * , ing restrictive views ” f olirf .gf is essentially one out to cr { develop New Zealand lhdt <arne ! literature, while at “i* In n* I *** watching the interests o reborn New Zealanders witl#> UI sard to caste, creed or Accordingly, on ‘ pu dia* e .*^ ciation I wish also to m possible connection "bic imn&Z ! view of Mr. <: roves’s letter be rm to exist between the #S--Natives’ Association and «■ Xew Zealand League. X. S. CASSBEB&gtfI* I Sec., X.Z. Natives J-* 1