Citizens Say—~

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 331, 17 April 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say—~

(To the Editor.)

THE AUTOCRAT OF THE BUS Sir.— As a means of discouraging incivility in either bus or tram, may I suggest that on one particular day cf the year a ballot box be placed in the conveyance, permitting the general public to record a vote as to the civility or otherwise of those engaged in their running? Personally, I find incivility at present a negligible quantity. Still, even so, it should be eradicated. Incidentally for general good conduct of employees, we using the Passenger Transport buses can only speak most favourably. Private ownership, of course. ARTHUR CUMMINGS. WHAT NEXT? Sir, What is pur city coming to? Why is it that for every project the Auckland City Council has in mind it is necessary to raise a loan? It is fully time this sort of thing came to a halt and the parties responsible l'or such unwanted borrowing and waste of the public s money were ejected from office. Whoever heard of such a scandal —a proposed loan in two issues of £30,000 for building and improving baths in this city, £22,500 and £7,500 to be spent on Point Chevalier baths and present cxistimr baths respectively. Why not hand the affairs of Auckland City to a competent control board? First there was the Civic Square blunder, followed closely by the entire entanglement of the city’s transportation system, which has continued to this day. This is not all, for the water supply always has been a nightmare to the council. And now there is the city baths’ expenditure, the thought of which makes one wonder what will happen next. Furthermore, if the Auckland City Council cannot manage its affairs without raising loans for every little thing that comes -along, well, turn these projects over to private enterprise. ABSOLUTELY FED UP.

CIVIC GOVERNMENT Sir, — In view of the widespread discontent with the present City Council, and in the hope of avoiding a repetition of what occurred at the last election when the elector was dazed with sixty or seventy names “nearly all totally unknown to 95 per cent, of the electors” permit me to suggest that a definite “ticket” be run in opposition to the present council and its methods, the “ticket” to include the same number of candidates as there are seats on the council. A copy of the ticket and a brief outline of policy should be placed in the hands of every elector. I think someone should call a meeting without delay and invite all prospective candidates to come along and help frame a common policy. The following would be the main planks in such a platform: (1) Establishment of a transport board to take over and control an area of about 20 miles round the city and to see that quick, cheap transport and the public right to the use of the roads is re-estab-ished: (2) to see that any loss or inconvenience in connection with the diminishing asset of the trams is borne by the whole population and

not loaded on suburbanites, who had nothing to do with the preposterous tramway purchase; (3) establishment of a water board to take over the present dams, plant and reticulation the whole metropolis to own and control its own water supply and getting its water at cost price, plus sinking fund on loans. Other minor such as electoral reform, deserve a place too. - E. STEVENSON. SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND SPORT Sir,— Mr. Kalaugher is to be commended for convening a meeting of representatives of secondary schools, to discuss the formation of a secondary schools’ athletic association. Now that the principals of the secondary schools are to consider the matter it is to be hoped that the individual trophy idea will be discountenanced The encouragement of the individual champion element in schools is a mistake. What is wanted is a series of team events so that the average vouth is afforded an onnortunity to “find” !! mS^1 athletic work for youths at school should be considered from the point of view of physical fitness; therefore, every boy should be encouraged. For instance, the 100yds championship could be judged on the average of a number of runners from the fastest to the slowest; and so with other events. Very little advantage is o ained by holding individual championship meetings. lt> is more pedagogic to encourage the average boy to cultivate a liking for sport and a pride in physical fitness than to encourage one or two outstanding performers. In the class-room of a good teacher the main aim should be to encourage the backward pupil to score a As in the class-room. The 'hric. b K ln the Paying Held. JthiPtA b ?- , y v. b ° y and the “wonder” athlet:© will both assert themselves from 'th7teacher. 1 encoura sement fitness. WAR AND EVOLUTION Sir,— is A taki^ ia V me ? Wellington clergyman IS taking to task his fellow-Church-me,n Auckland who are dating to divine la 6 S F- r L t and letter of with winch is in direct conflict ourl am f , made law ’ Ha endeavthat’ the tortuous argument, to show nott-ni” comman dment, “Thou shah d?J certain ® ans “ Thou Shalt kill under certain circumstances,” but let 1' im a ® 5 e WiU by spurious ithose four words still re™a‘,df"aked , and unashamed, and unjoin w~„? hou Shalt not kill.” erh Jn ni’l "! 0 ' 1 friend is not at libr.f tnl Pl? ase himself as to which part hi hG , Eha " take and which whrfli ir discard - He must take the Bible is F thW 6 ’ and if ’ as he says, the as an hnn h t su P rem c standard, then, text WW he must take that I*! it T wtf h Sh , alt not hill,” and supn°ace U hii nS and nail - He must not four wnrd interpretation on those meant” 3 and say ’ “ This is what is ftriW-f men in Auckland who take those four words as written prove that Irute Is in 110 " fr 2 m the übjssmal men whn advanced stage, and butcherv arWe Justify human all cleravio far ' far otherwise. If an clergj men pursued with a ajngh