Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 655, 6 May 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

THE MAYORAL ELECTION Sir,— If the vote taken on Wednesday had been taken from the ratepayers only I will make the assertion that the two lowest on the poll for Mayoral honours would have been the two highest. The man who is the most likely candidate to borrow large sums of money and scatter it about will always get the parliamentary voters’ support. Many ratepayers consider it only a waste of time to go to the poll, as it is impossible to improve things under present conditions. The Act that brings this state of affairs to pass was one of the worst pieces of legislation put on the Statute Book by the Seddon Government, and should be repealed as soon as possible. LIBERAL. “THE TWO MUSKETEERS” Sir, — I see our new councillor, Mr. J. R. Lundon, doesn’t intend to let the grass grow under his feet. As the self-ap-pointed protectors of the people, Mr. Lundon and Mr. W. H. Murray are going to shake the sacred personages of the Transport Board at a public meeting this evening. Mr. Lundon has been a councillor for five minutes, but he is aiming at cleaning up the city. Or, perhaps, in view of Mr. J. A. C. Allum’s resignation from the Transport Board, following on his defeat at the municipal elections, Mr. Lundon thinks there is a chance of either himself or Mr. W. H. Murray being appointed to fill the vacancy. There is, of course, little likelihood of such an appointment being made by our City Council, but the thought of it has given me quite a turn. Let Messrs. Lundon and Murray confine their attention to City Council work—about which they still have much to learn—and leave the Transport Board to amble along peacefully and efficiently, uninterrupted by “Two Musketeers.” P.A. AN OBVIOUS CURE Sir, — In a recent issue of The Sun Mr. W. D. Munn asserts that all the talk regarding unemployment misses the main point and says that a cure is wanted, not relief: genuine workers want permanent employment, not temporary jobs. He says the required cure is so obvious that it must have been overlooked for that very reason. The remedy is to support local industry, and he suggests that if everyone followed his example unemployment would be non-existent in New Zealand within 12 months. He says that everything he wears is made in New Zealanrl. and that the same policy is carried out, as far as possible, in his business management and also in connection with his home. What is the cause of unemployment? “Commercial stagnation,” says one. and he hits the nail squarely on ttm head. No need to enumerate other and equally serious causes. The question before us is how to “help ourselves” out of this stagnation. It requires united effort, and therefore means organisation, but we can all tke immediate and independent action. We must wake up to the fact that our manufacturing industries are capable of absorbing all the labour that is now going begging if the public combines to support them by asking for New Zealand-made articles whenever purchases are made. This is the only way to get to know' the extent and variety and high quality of rthe articles that are made in New Zea-

land. Ask for them. Follow Mr. Munn’s example. Let New Zealanders wear only New Zealand-made clothes and use everything else that they can discover that is made in New Zealand. If they give preference always to locally-made goods they will be surprised how quickly the Dominion will throw off depression and unemployment. New industries would quickly spring up everywhere and money would be taken out of the banks and put into legitimate circulation for commercial purposes. Every trade and industry and business in the country would benefit by this proper circulation of capital that is now locked up. Let us get it into our heads that our primary producers are carrying far more than their fair share of the community burden. They require help from manufacturing industries whether they realise it or not. I know I am safe in saying that we must build up a strong position industrially, sufficient, at least, for our own requirements. Our manufacturers are now producing goods that compare favourably with the best of the kind obtainable in any part of the world. . We should be proud of them. All that has been done in the past, however, should be a. bagatelle compared with what will be accomplished in a few years if our people emulate even Australia, where conditions were, at one time, similar to our own, by getting enthusiastic over locally-made products and insisting on buying them—regardless of cost. “New Zealand Goods for New Zealanders” should be our motto. That is the obvious cure for unemployment. JOHN F. BAILER LIMITED SLEEPERS Sir,— Travellers in New Zealand now' have, for the most part, kindly comment to make concerning the services offered by the Railway Department. During the past year or tw'o public convenience has been carefully studied, but even now there is still room for minor improvement. For example, the sleeping accommodation on the Limited might be made greater. The comfort of the de luxe carriages is great, but there is really only room for one passenger in each sleeping compartment. Dressing and undressing are operations, that can only be carried out by mutual arrangement, because, in truth, there is not spare room enough for the swinging of a cat, or even a smaller animal for that matter. This lack of space and its consequent discomfort may account for the fact that the de luxe carriages are rarely full except in rush times, when all accommodation is at a premium. As things are at present, the more comfortable accommodation is offered in the ordinary sleepers. Perhaps the de luxe travelling could be made more popular by price reduction in the slack travelling season. DRUMMER. THE AUCKLAND SAVINGS BANK Sir,— In the course of & statement having regard to last year’s business. Sir E pas *-President of the Auckland Savings Bank, defining the Dosition of that institution, stated that the depositors in the Auckland Savings Bank were on the same footing as df! positors m any other bank—“no less and no more.” Will you, sir, kindly inform me who ow ns, or who is entitled to, the great sum of £5,250,000 of reserve? i he de P°s'tors and people of kl ?,: U k r ‘ o c 2 ntrol °ver such monev .and, furttLSA have the depositors or

the general public any vote for the election of or control of trustees? Who nominates the trustees, and how are they elected? A DEPOSITOR. Mr. Anderson is quite right in stating that the depositors are exactly in the same position as the depositors of any other bank. They have no claim on the bank other than the amount standing to their credit, plus interest. The whole position of the institution is governed by th« Savings Bank Act, a copy of w'hich '-an be purchased for Is. The depositors have no control over the institution. Eacr trustee is appointed for his lifetime b' the Government, acting on behalf of positors. Ti e control of the bank ana deposits is nominally vested in the trustees, whose actions are governed by the Act. The reserve fund is merely a security for the depoaitors. The greater tne fund, the safer the deposits.—Editor. Tn« Sun.