VOICE OE THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1935, Page 7

VOICE OE THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS NEW PLYMOUTH’S WATERFRONT. . .—-■ NEW ARRIVAL'S IMPRESSIONS. (To the Editor). Sir,—l went down recently to the port for the first time since my arrival in New Plymouth and when there became particularly attracted by the possibilities of making the city’s waterfront asset one of the finest in the Dominion. Thinking along those lines these two Questions occurred to me: “Why have these valuable city assets been so sadly neglected?" and “What have the citizens of New Ply- 1 mouth been doing during the past years towards urging the city fathers to develop them?"

Naturally as a recent arrival I could not answer them, and was very pleased to read your editorial on this important subject. I trust that you will continue in your efforts to so mould public opinion on this subject that it will result in the required action being taken by the people of this city. From the information I have received I have come to the conclusion that the time is long since past when action of a more pronounced and definite character should be taken to enforce an early development of these particular assets—assets which any city in the world would be . proud to possess. The extract referred to in the letter by-“ Look Ahead” has in it, in my opinion, a suggestion worthy of further consideration. I refer to the suggestion of a committee being formed, for if a really live committee comprising citizens having a definite and stable status in the community were formed at a public meeting' and a practical plan of operations and activities were there decided upon; I believe that something of a worthwhile nature would be accomplished. At any rate the present “wait and see” policy will not carry us very far. I realise quite well that there are numerous obstacles in the: way of speedy development, but these should be but spurs to greater effort It must be. remembered that New Plymouth has certainly, not the obstacles confronting it as, for instance, Napier had either before or after the earthquake there, and if the people of that city can enforce the development of their seaside assets to the extent they have done why cannot the people of New Plymouth do likewise? In conclusion I trust that someone more versed in these matters than I am at the moment, and with a more able pen than mine, will continue this correspondence along the lines I have indicated, and if this letter results in bringing forward some scheme of a practical and constructive nature then my object in writing this has been accomplished.—l am, etc., EDWARD H., SUTHERLAND. New Plymouth, March 2. NEW PLYMOUTH SHOPS. (To the Editor). ’ Sir,—With reference to the correspondence regarding New Plymouth shop assistants I would like to say that I have travelled all over the world for the past 30 years and I have, during my visits to New Plymouth, done a considerable amount of shopping. I have always been treated by the young Women (or men) shop assistants with the utmost courtesy, and received all the attention one could wish for.—l am, etc., - TROUT. New Plymouth, March 1. FLOGGING AS A PUNISHMENT. (To the Editor). Sir,—l would be pleased if you would publish a short addition to my letter of February 27 on the above Subject. The writers of the letter in your issue of that date, that called forth my brief reply, state that “to flog a man does not prevent him repeating the crime,” thereby’ saying in other words that flogging is no deterrent, and that criminals have but little fear of the “cat.” To prove what absolute nonsense such a Statement is, I refer your readers to your issue of February 4, under the heading, “Convict hangs himself rather than face the ‘cat.’ ” —I am, etc.. ' • NO MAUDLIN SENTIMENTALIST. New Plymouth, March 1. PLUNKET SOCIETY’S WORK. (To the Editor). Sir, —I should like to draw the attention of the people of New Plymouth and district to the policy of the Rlunket Society in driving well known infant foods as much as possible off the market by insisting on the use of their own patent fdods, supplemented by water. The society tells me it can only be done by the aid of the Government subsidy, amounting to £lOB per nurse. A large number of us consider that we are already suffering from overtaxation, and it seems reasonable to suggest that there cannot be very many in the community unable to read the directions in the Plunket manual. So why should they be allowed to give free advice to all, whilst the hospital is charging more than double the fees before the war?—l am, etc., ANNE M. THOMSON. New Plymouth, March 1.