LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1674, 26 June 1919, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE CHARMED CIRCLE. To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, — I notice by your yesterday's issue that the North Canterbury Farmers' Union has failed to elicit from the Imperial Government Supplies Department the information it requires re storage capacity of freezing works and the actual number of carcases in store. The Hon. D. M. Guthrie, ActingMinister in charge, declines to give the information, on the ground that it is obtained by the department "confidentially."

This is sheer humbug, and only another sample of the way in which the inquiring public is daily gulled by Government officials. This method is the sure shield.

The meat in si ore is the absolute property of the Imperial Government. The storaga capacity of the works is published in half-a-dozen different media already. How, then, could the supplying of the information asked for be construed into a breach of confidence of the freezing companies? This is the sort of thing that one is up against every day in dealing with officialism. Unless you happen, in this Dominion, to be within the charmed circle, in commerce, stock, shipping, coal, eto., any foolish excuse is considered sufficient satisfaction to inquiry. Heaped up exasperation will break out in a day of wrath. Those Augean stables need cleansing.—T am, elc DAMOCLES. June 26. POIjSTT FOR TCWN-PLANNEES. To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —In view of the interest at present I'cing taken in town-planning and the housing problem, the publication of the following clauses from the constitution of the English Garden City Association might be of special interest to the committees now being formed in (he various district: 1 . OBJIX'TS: "To promote the relief of overcrowded areas and to soenre a wider distribution of the population over (he land. "Primarily, by advocating and assisting in the establishment of garden cities (en the principle suggested in Howard's 'Garden Cities of To-morrow'), designed from (lie outset to secure healthful and adequate housing for the whole population, and in which the inhabitants shall hceoino in a collective capacity the owners of the sites, subject to toll recognition of public as well as individual re-

"Secondarily, by encouraging the lendency of mamifaetmors to remove their works from congested areas to (lie country; liy co-operating and advising with such (inns, public bodies, and other assoi-ial ions to secure better housing accommodation for work-people near to their places of employment, by taking steps to promote effective legislation with this end in view, and by generally advocating the ordered design and development of towns."— I am, etc., IT. ODELL.