Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1043, 6 August 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

TOP-DECKERS Sir, — Surely it is time that the Auckland i Transport Board built a few “topdecker” tramcars for use in the City, thus following the progressive lead of Cnristchurch. Auckland’s good climate in summer would make the move a popular one and at the same time relieve the congestion In cars. FRESH AIR. THE NUDE IN ART Sir,— I read with some little amusement the protest of a number of Maoris at the proposal to sell little figures of a nude Maori girl to tourists. It was claimed that this would create a false impression and lead to the belief abroad that Maoris were in the habit of “posing in the altogether.” Was there ever such nonsense? In the first place the nude has its recognised niche in the art world and there is nothing more glorious in the world than youthful beauty represented in this fashion. As a matter of fact the Maori wears too many clothes. Could anything be more incongruous than the spectacle of Maori braves dancing in a wild war movement and revealing, beneath the piu-piu, instead of magnificent thews, a pair of tucked-up trousers? Take the guides at Rotorua who conduct tourists over the thermal wonderland in modern dress, with high-heeled shoes, a canary-coloured jumper, and, possibly, carrying a sunshade. How much more effective it would be if they wore their correct native costume and had bare feet? Of course, I do not suggest the native costume for all occasions. I have the greatest respect and admiration for the Maori as- a citizen, and he or she has a perfect right to wear whatever form of clothing most appeals. But I do think that on ceremonial occasions the Maori, through mock modesty, detracts from the charm of what is usually an interesting performance. As for this nudity business. I repeat it is too silly for words. MARAE. £ CHILD WELFARE Sir.— Tho present total of State children is said to be at least 10.000. In 192 S it was 7,000. From 1926, the figures show a phenomenal increase over those previous to, and up .to, that year when the 1925-26 Amendments first came into operation. These figures do not prove the increase of juvenile crime but help to explain the ease with which children are falling under the control of those appointed to administer this Act. If the Press were not excluded from the Children's Courts we would at least know whether pun-

ishment fitting the crime had been given and would probably find “increasing juvenile crime” to be a bogy, it is no use blaming the Minister in charge, or the Director, for the manner in which the provisions of the Act are being carried out. The superintendent apparently lias supreme power vested in him by the 1925-26 Amendments. TIMOLEON. OPEN MARKETS Sir, — I must exercise my I'igUt of reply to Mr. Turner who has termed open markets absurd. Open markets may cater for all life's necessities and luxuries. Badly managed, they may become failures, not financially but in practice. This happened in Harrogate, as well as in Auckland, and can be easily avoided and of this more anon. Meantime fruit, a prime necessity, is far too dear to the public. In America I have many relatives, over forty in California and some of the oranges eaten in Auckland are grown by them. America is the country, par excellence, which endeavoured to do away with markets. Capital in America has fought for control of most industries. Huge fortunes have been mode there out of fruit, but not by either the grower or the distributor, though orchards run up to four thousand acres. Some years ago the middleman got such a stranglehold on the trade that he fixed the price to both grower and storekeeper. He financed crops months ahead and the storekeeper also. Ruthless and bitter fights did save orchardists from utter poverty and co-oper-ation on a scale impossible in New Zealand is now flourishing. No. we have no wish to copy American middlemen. In all countries of the world, bar U.S.A., are markets. Wisely managed they are for the people who matter —the consumer and the producer. The middleman is an outsider. In export he' might be useful but we are not discussing this. Mr. Turner has in The Sun condemned a system that is in vogue in the finest countries in the world —England. France, Germany. Belgium, etc., where these people persist in maintaining thousands and thousands of open markets. Now let us look at the facts. To I begin with, the inauguration of our present markets has been accompanied by placing the fruit trade in the hands of the Chinese. The Chinese are complaisant. cheerfully pay big rents and work well with the present markets. According to our statistics we are eating very little fruit and the fact is we cannot afford it. And yet every bov ought to have bis pockets stuffed with apples! This is a truly absurd situation. I have seen apples selected an A packed in an orchard by employees o f the market and the finest apples pitched out and bruised, tons of them, because they had a trace of black spot. This

black-spot ted fruit is doubtful fW short-time cool storage, but it is second to none for ordinary use and tn-* fruit was classed as only f*t for P l ** A man from Henderson sent In ■o® cases of Salome and after paying ous fees he received ninepence i®*’ Ninepence for 40lbs. of apples’ would he have got in the open roar V i Y| Eat more fruit? Every doctor echo that, but it is more than absu it is wicked folly, to raise barners v price so that growers arc ploughing' 1 ” good food. The economics of “nar are not based upon _ the miking ‘ fortunes or the provision of emp ? mem but upon supplying wants are supplied well and ch P _ then employment and fortune wm low. For this Dominion the fines* bv ample is set. not by America. a small community, and an iwaDo ours—Jersev. When Jersey was up. it built a market and harbour. Its export trade is no * T for the size of the island J • their housewives’ requirements • built a market. A wise, people. Nothing is more rumous _ _ to lyt any local JUi* to monopolised. No ore hardist n attend markets to sell his frui - -jg are willing neighbours, earner*. • • there would Boon be itinerant going round picking Up rcmW»ii that nothing would he wasted. - the position is absurd. The .w bus all tlie labour of Frowto* £ smallest return for h.s work a consumer cannot get an «. vegetables, and other produce cheap rate, but jnost of it ** k?t and not even St. Heliers.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS^ “City." —Regret that your letter too late for publication. publish letters referring to the actual voting day.—Ed. Tiw