Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 689, 14 June 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

INFORMATION SOUGHT Sir, I wonder if any of your readers could tell me the date of the arrival of the American Fleet in Auckland in 1908. I would be pleased to learn the exact date. Also, could anyone inform me through your columns of the approximate date when a German (or Bavarian) band played on Campbell’s Point, Parnell? It played on summer evenings right down on the point itself. I would b,e grateful for this information. A.E. THE PRICE OF WATER Sir, — One of the reasons given for the increase in the price of water is that several of the outside bodies have joined the city and the city has ceased to make a profit out of them. So. to square matters up, the City will increase the price to the other outside bodies and make more profit still out of them. What is wanted is a Metropolitan Water Board to take the whole scheme over, just as the Power Board took over the electric business. In this way the people might have water at bare cost. Water is now getting so dear that I am putting in tanks. A tank will pay for itself in two years. E. STEVENSON. A CHIVALROUS ACT Sir,— A lot of humbug and one-sided reasoning is in evidence in the correspondence regarding the visit of the Emden. If it were possible for some of your correspondents to view the exploits of the original Emden with an unjaundiced eye, it is safe to say that thev would admit that had she been an English ship in similar circumstances she would have been an object of adulation. Those of us who were in the Main Body convoy when the Sydney left on her fast run to Cocos Island were mighty relieved to hear the next day that she had put “paid" to the Emden’s account, but neither where we slow to admire the Emden’s gallant but hopeless fight against huge odds. Let us be fair and admit that there were good and bad on both sides, and also make a large allowance for Northeliffe's propaganda. May I quote a little incident to prove that there were grounds for Captain

Bean's claim: This occurred during the advance of the N.Z.M.R. Brigade in Syria. The Turks and German specialists had evacuated Romani or Katia, I forget which, and on leaving had left over an infected well this notice: Caution! Cholera! “Best Wishes and Greetings from the German Field Ambulance.” A Wellington water-cart had -drawn up to fill at the well when the notice was discovered, and it was held up against the wheel of the water-cart and photographed. I have a print still in my possession: so here is one bright spot amid the welter of invective. CHAS. BAILEY. Devonport. COURTESY ONLY Sir.— In your report of the meeting held on Tuesday in connection with the visit of the Emden to these shores, one gentleman referred to as “A Younß New Zealander” spoke about “fanatics rushing to the Press to voice their objections.” I would remind “Young New Zealand” of the fact that two meetings have been held in connection with the Emden’s visit, and, according to Press reports, a grand total of 70 people attended both. Surely not a huge number for a city the size of Auckland, but then the other hundred thousand-odd of the population are probably less enthusiastic about a welcome, or making arrangements for the same, than “Young New Zealander.” His quotation of 1 per cent, as being averse from the serio-comic welcome and its attendant round of gaieties is a fantastic figure of his own imagination. If the warships’ tour is a goodwill visit on behalf of the German Government, why send a boat called Emden to these parts, and why send as an am- ■ bassador of goodwill an ex-U-boat commander? We owe the Germans courtesy only, and that our visitors will surely receive. So why continue with the farce of a half-hearted reception of any kind? ANOTHER YOUNG NEW ZEA LA NDER. BURY ALL ENMITY! Sir.— _J\h> not bury all war feeling, ami : give the German visitors a friend!v welcome.' Whichever nation began tlie war, ail nations helped to cause ?, Uf?h th ? str «SSle for markets. | and all are snaring the suffering in 1 v ‘ ar s Wake. To escape a repetition of

the horror, it is very necessary to tablish a friendly alliance of workers of all countries, ana Emden’s visit gives us an opportunity to move a step forward in tha*. air tion. WILLIAM PERRY. Great Barrier Island. “A TRIP FROM TILBURY” S *At different times I have seen much adverse criticism of the programmsupplied by IYA, and I plead guiny to having been in complete agreem with those who stated that the a * ago listener did not want too n* high-class music, which seemed to the predominating feature of most the programmes rendered. Howe* I will be pleased if I may through your columns, the enjoym experienced by myself and family the programme just concluded, Trip From Tilbury,” rendered by Radio Scamps. I. for one, hope it not be long before we can to another such programme, as i doubtless very many others—-can preciate that sort of en term inn*? 1 more fully than a “highbrow” pert on ance, however excellent the latter be to some. „„ vir D TILBURY LISTE>E».