Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 642, 19 April 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

“BARGAINS IN HOUSES” Sir, Your article on the above subject is one that must interest every houseowner, for it is truly impossible for such persons to get anything like the price their houses cost before unimproved rating was adopted. Not only are properties unsaleable at anything like the price that was paid for them before the advent of unimproved rating, but money-lenders are chary of lending money with house property as security and prefer commercial shares instead. It is deceitful to gull people into voting for unimproved land rating without telling them that a slump in house property will follow. DLORAH. ELLERSLIE ROADS Sir, — I—also a ratepayer of Ellerslie—have long felt that the local administration of affairs by the Town Board warrants a drastic change. I endorse “Glasgow Road’s” remarks. The rates each year have been increased, but there is, and has been, nothing to show for it. Glasgow Road, notwithstanding the amount of traffic thereon, has remained, year in and year out, shamefully neglected, and an eyesore to the residents and the public generally. What is being- done with the revenue? Are the people of Ellerslie simply content to remain dormant anti allow things to continue as they are? The time is not far distant when the local inhabitant must realise the unsatisfactory position, and a full inquiry long overdue will naturally have to be made. RATEPAYER. REPUDIATION Sir.— Repudiation, despite its disreputable associations, has no inherent ethical meaning. The moral right of one to repudiate what another has done depends upon the nature of the particular transaction. And what is morally right is always a matter of judgment, which varies according to the criteria and judges. In a given case one may judge it morally wrong not to repudiate what another has done; though this does not necessarily imply that he judges that the other did wrong—it may be no more than a recognition that circumstances have since changed, or that he is a different person and in a different position from the one who performed the repudiated action. Although we distinguish between legal and moral rights and wrongs, we feel under no moral obligation to support legislation which we do not regard as morally right. Likewise, we feel no moral compulsion to uphold international agreements which do not commend themselves in some degree to our sense of justice. The unwritten law. or the law inscribed upon our hearts, we feel to have the greatest compelling power over us. Repudiation by one Government of what a former Government has agreed with another country is not “dangerous” unless also unjust. But it may be dangerous not to repudiate an international agreement which is unjust. All are essentially provisional. It is impossible to conceive of any agreement of an absolute nature.

When provisions are not expressed they must be taken as understood and implied. So Mr. Philip Snowden’s speech is not so “amazing” nor so ••dangerous” as some have supposed. In fact, he has only voiced what thoughtful persons have understood all the time. That the representatives of any democratic country are but imperfectly representative goes without saying, and the constitutional right of. a party which may subsequently be in power to amend or repeal agreements entered into by another party previously in power can hardly be denied. So Republican Senators repudiated agreements signed for America by a Democratic President. But no change of international agreements may be satisfactorily effected without due regard to the rights of all parties. A Labour Government in Britain could no more nullify the existing agreements with France and Italy, except by diplomatic negotiations* than could a Conservative Government. Whichever party comes into power, it must seek a more satisfactory settlement of international financial obligations than the present arrangements. We should be just to our own people before we are generous to foreigners. On that point Mr. Snowden is right and should be supported. J. G. HUGHES. MORE GEOGRAPHY Sir, Why should geography receive more attention in our schools and colleges? The standard of education is better today than ever it was, and we may well assume that geography is fairly and rightly proportioned. “Dominie” is a little captious, and his list of "Do you know’s” constitutes an old trick. ” In every branch of elementary learning it is possible to compile a host of questions which none but a specialist in that particular subject could answer As a fact, most educationists will agree, I think, that the broad outlines of geography are all that is necessary for the battle of life in even the most highly qualified spheres. The point is that the purchase of a good os atlas and index places at one’s command more geographical knowledge than ho could commit to memory in a year ol bunduys. With other branches of education, actual learning and memory training is necessary. Let our become more proficient in Lnglish—a subject that is sadly Iraphy V6n at th ° expense of Stofather william. THAT SMALL JOB Sir,— ilig l a n mtu?' rS 1 rememb er reading a little anecdote about a number -sSande^onAV^i" 8 t 0 g6t the into E3S-SS= enabled them to get the 3 aTo n b y thr £ oih boy’s exa’mnf? e *"ulate the small example and lend a little assist-

ance to our less fortunate fellows. Nearly every man, especially those who have homes of their own, has, at some time or another, something around the place which badly needs attention, a bit of digging, carpentering, painting, concreting, or what not. Many who could well afford to pay for these jobs will essay the tasks themselves ratherthan pay a few shillings for the necessary labour. At this time when all kinds of labour are freely offering it would be well if citizens generally would look round for a likely man to do the odd tasks around the house, even at a little sacrifice to themselves. Personally, though I am fairly handy with all kinds of tools, I always find some man who happens to be out of a job when there is anything I wan: done. Like many others my means art strictly limited, but, in giving a jot that I could quite easily do myseh to another I feel a certain satisfaction in the knowledge that I am contributing in however small a measure to tfct solution of one of the most pressing problems of our own times. J.MJ.