Citizens Say —

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 615, 18 March 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

WEARISOME TEST CRICKET Sir, — Everybody is talking' about the slow rate of scoring in the Final Test, but nobody seems to realise that the principal fault lies with the Australians. An analysis of the match shows that a total of 1,554 runs was scored in eight days, the total playing time being 33i hours. Australia scored 77S runs in 1,130 minutes, an average rate of 41 runs an hour. England scored 776 runs in SBl minutes, an average rate of 53 runs an hour, or, roughly, 25 per 'cent, faster than Australia. Even when in a winning position, it took the Australians from Thursday night till Saturday afternoon to get 287 runs to win. However, it is nice to know that the Australian spectators recovered their good humour by the end of the game, as they usually do when WISDEN. U.S. TARIFF BARRIER Sir, —• It is pleasing to note that the nations of the world are uniting in an attempt to break down the skyscraper tariff wall which America has built around her frontiers to keep both the produce and people of other countries from entering Uncle Sam’s sacred country, and sharing in its vaunted prosperity. All the U.S.A. wishes to do is to sell goods, food and raw materials to other countries, or lend them its hoarded gold lying idle in reserve banks, but no other country can exchange with America except under almost impossible conditions. America may have won the war and is now out to win the world’s wealth. By means of the immigration quota restrictions New Zealanders going to assured positions in America have been held up at quarantine stations, and then compelled to return here. Uncle Sam wants to sell us motors, typewriters, gramophones, radio outfits and so on. but puts up a lofty barrier against our dairy produce and wool, which prevents us paying our debt or balancing our trade account. Patriotic New Zealanders will buy only New Zealand goods where possible, and only British-made where local ones are unprocurable "COMMON SENSE.” OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS Sir, — According to a report in the Christ- ! church “Press” of Wednesday, March | 6\ the Auckland headmasters have decided that the closed type of school, as now designed by the Education Department, is preferable to the open-air type, both from a hygienic and an educational point of view. They appear

to have arrived at their decision for two reasons: (1) Because some of the headmasters who had taught in the new type of school said that this type could not be improved upon; and (2) "because the architect to the Education Board in Auckland had promised new improvements in buildings to be i erected in the future. These headmas- | ters have had no working experience of open-air schools, and it is improbable that they have ever seen one in use. They have pronounced against open-air schools without having experience of them. Further, they have expressed views on eye-strain, lighting . . subject - on which they i . re scarcely qualified to speak, and I their opinions are contrary to those of

medical men who have paid careful attention to these matters. Open-air schools involve important principles, which benefit not only the physical side of school life, but every other side as well, and one feels that the Auckland headmasters have arrived at their conclusions with a very imperfect knowledge of the issues. The Open-air Schools’ League would like respectfully to suggest to them that they should free themselves from departmental influence on this question, and with open and critical minds hear what their colleagues in Christchurch, who have worked in open-air schools, have to say about them. The headmasters of Spreydon, Fendalton. Elmwood. Cashmere and others in and around Christchurch could supply them with first-hand knowledge. The Open-air Schools’ League feels bound to reply when open-air principles are challenged. These principles are steadily gaining ground. They must do so because they are so obviously right. But there is still work to be done to overcome prejudice, timidity, and the natural conservativeness of man. J. S. DA WE, Hon. Secretary Open-air Schools’ League, Christchurch. March 14 : 1929. POWER BOARD ACCOUNTS Sir, — May I inquire why consumers in outlying districts of the Franklin ElectricPower Board’s activities have now been deprived of facilities provided for paying their quarterly accounts, and are forced to remit to the board’s office at Pukekohe? As the question affects the great majority of the board’s consumers, I would urge consumers to use j every influence in their power to have : the old arrangement put again in j force. The board cannot expect to 1 have their accounts collected free of j cost, but it says little for the business | capacity of some of its members if they | think they can collect the board’s ac- ! counts more cheaply than through the I system previously in vogue. In any i case, the convenience of consumers, j seeing they foot the bill, should certainly have consideration. EFFICIENT SERVICE. ONEHUNGA ROADS Sir. The roads in the residential quarters of Onehunga can only be referred to as deplorable. Norman’s Hill Road. Trafalgar Street. Arthur Street West, Grev Street West, Church Street West. Princess Street and Symonds Street are in a lamentable condition, loose metal lying about everywhere. Nobody apparently cares. We continually hear the slogans, ‘“Advance Onehunga,” "Welcome to Onehunga,” but it can be said that the roads are a disgrace to a borough the size of Onehunga. Some months ago a petition from residents in Arthur Street West was forwarded to the town cleyk asking for improvements to the footpaths in that locality.. (The men and plant were work- ! ing in the vicinity at the time.) This j petition was not even acknowledged. and was, presumably, forwarded to the j waste-paper basket. ; It is to be hoped that the present council will not seek re-election at j the forthcoming municipal The Mayor already has signified his in(Gontintied in *cxt column.).

tention of retiring, but before he goe* the residents of Norman’s Hill would like to invite him and his colleague* to walk up the hill and also along Trafalgar Street West, preferably after dark, so that they might realise their accomplishment of—nothing. Oneliunga ratepayers should have an association to safeguard their interests, and until this is accomplished the chances of improvements to the roads are very remote. “QUI-VIVEL” PROPHETS OR GUESSERS? Sir, — Recently a weather expert lectured in Auckland, and claimed that weather forecasting had reached a stage when the weather could be accurately foretold for a day or two ahead. As an amateur gardener, I take a keen interest in the rainfall, but the performances of the weathr prophets of late suggest to me that they know as much about the subject as an ancient neighbour, who claims that his corns are an infallible guide to changes in the weather.

On March 1 the official prophet promised us showers. Nothing happened. On March 2 he said “widespread ram likely in two days.” Nothing happened. On March 4 he said, “General ram developing.” There wasn’t any. On March 6 he evidently thought he would try something else, and promised fine weather. Fourteen poin|of rain fell, to be followed next day o > over half an inch. On March 8 he tried to get m step once again, and predicted “further rain.” It amounted to five points. For the following week up to Saturday last the weather was fine. There was no hint of a chans* in the Saturday forecasts, yet by n» day on Sunday rain set in. and by evening there was a downpour t lasted nearly all night. The Sunday trippers who. accoramto the Saturday night forecast in Sun, were entitled to count on a nn day, probably share my own vi f, w . _ w what the weather prophets don t k about the weather would fill a boon. SCEPTICAL.