VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1934, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS LANDING OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS incident on te arei road. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Kindly allow me a little space to bring before your many readers an incident which happened on Te Arei Road on Saturday evening a short time before the arrival of the Southern Cross. Many motor-cars were parked on this roadside, there being no notice displayed prohibiting parking there; and all cars were completely off the metal and on the grass on the opposite side from the aerodrome. A man in a small car passed slowly down the line of cars, informing those in charge that they could not remain there. Some moved, and some did not. Shortly after the same man, wearing the badge of the inspector of the Taranaki County Council, egme walking down the line of cars (probably 15 or 20) and politely asked whether the drivers intended to move, or not. Had the inspector any authority to order motor vehicles off this road when they were not obstructing traffic in any shape or»form, or was it a little highhanded officialdom to try and swell the gate takings at the aerodrome? I might mention that the inspector admitted he could not make anyone move, but could take action against them, I think, in fairness to all motorists concerned, the matter should be cleared up, as it appeared as though someone was trying to exercise a little too much authority. Trusting the powers that be will come to light with an explanation and clear the air.—l am, etc., MOTORIST. Stratford, January 14. [According to the revised motor regulations issued a few years ago a motorist must obey an inspector, and must move his car when told to on any public highway. The inspector and any appointed assistants have full control over traffic. The county inspector explains that Te Arei Road was for the day the main road south, and cars parked there were a definite obstruction to traffic—Ed.] HAWKE CUP SELECTION. (To the Editor.) Sir,—ln reply to “King Willow’s” letter in your issue of January 15, I would like to say that my letter was not written in an official capacity as manager of the Hawke Cup match (as the appointment was only for the match), but personally, as I saw that “Cover Point” was trying to influence the selectors against Lash, which I considered was an injustice and presumption on “Cover Point’s” part when two reliable selectors had been appointed to pick the team. Lash’s showing in both matches can stand all possible fair criticism without doing him any harm.

I hope I wmxld be the last to try and influence a selector, and I wish to see the team picked on its merits, not by “Cover Point,” as he has attempted to do, which might influence the selectors. I will leave it to all interested in cricket to judge who has shown “a lack of wis-, dom”—the writer’s defence of an injustice to Lash, or “Cover Point’s” and “King Willow’s” writings under a nom de plume.—l am, etc.,

E. L. MASON. New Plymouth, January 14...

[Mr. Mason has apparently allowed his feelings to influence his judgment when he states that “Cover Point” was trying to influence .. the selectors against Lash. Such an allegation against the cricket writer of the Daily News is entirely unwarranted. The correspondence columns of this paper are open for the expression of opinion by readers, and the News does not identify itself in any way with the opinions expressed. “King Willow” has no connection whatever with “Cover Point,” whose identity is quite well known to players of cricket, at any rate in North Taranaki. Mr. Mason ought to know that it is not the business of sporting writers in newspapers to influence selectors. They give what they consider to be the correct judgment on matters pertaining to the sport in which they are interested, for the benefit of readers who have not the same opportunity that they themselves have of personal attendance at the various matches and sports gatherings. To insinuate that in so doing they are attempting to influence the selectors indicates an entirely wrong conception of the functions of special newspaper writers such as “Cover Point.”—Ed.] WOOL AND SCRAP METAL. (To the Editor.) Sir,—“Colonel Bogey,” in this morning’s Daily News voiced a thought that is becoming increasingly common as the result of recent rumours. People are saying on the authority of their neighbours that the wool is all being bought by subsidised buyers to be made into uniforms, and .others quote the loads of scrap metal that have of’ recent months gone to Japan. But has not “Coloney Bogey” duffed his approach? Japan is a country of vast millions which has recently created within itself an economic earthquake and disgorged some of its cramping population into Manchukuo. The newspapers are devoting much time and attention to the menace of Japanese trade. Well, the Japs have to have materials for their manufactures, and in view of the flood of Japanese articles on the world’s markets they must be receiving a tidy little income, which they are spending in the best possible way for the world. As for war, who would fight whom? The countries of significance are Japan, Germany, France, China, England, America, Italy and Russia, and of these it is inconceivable that the United States or England would start war. Russia is by no means ready to do so, and would avoid any conflagration by hook or by by crook. France’s policy is one of defence and suspicion, and China’s policy is of little account at the present time. Italy might bare her fangs at Jugo-Slavia and begin another European flare-up, and Hitler may be the menace he is made out to be, rather than the Man of a Century and the over-enthusiastic patriot I think he is, but what have -Italian and German affairs to do with Japan?

Japan has expanded into Manchukuo, and is not likely to seek war with the United States over California. As yet Japan has not evidenced undue interest in Empire possessions in the Pacific, and if these so-called warlike preparations are. directed against Russia, well, the result will probably be “game abandoned at half-time, with Japan holding an unassailable lead.” Russia is not a fighting force at present, least of all if the scene of operations is to be eastern Siberia. So what has “Colonel Bogey” to say in extenuation of his rush into print?—l am, etc., CAVALCADE. Stratford, January 15.