CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3368, 7 November 1911, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

WH ATA UPOKO RAILWAY RESERVE.

[TO THE EUITOB.J gi r —Your correspondent “Highway” has written you a very interesting letter upon this subject. Before dealing with what he says 1 would like to ask him il he has ever really studied the residential conditions that acciue in l ar rre cities. It would really seem as if Highway” lias always lived m a small town. Like myself, he does, however, I am glad to see, take a keen interest in town planning. But what do his proposals involve ? As you may perhaps know, Mr Editor, I can quite fairly disclaim any personal interest in the disposition of this reserve. Briefly stated “Highway” would like to see spaces similar to this in all town blocks. No doubt they would serve as ‘ ‘lungs’ , And would be convenient as a means of ingress and egress to the back of properties. But has “Highway” ever studied the disadvantages of such a system. In the first place if a town w ere laid out in this style it would be far too much spread out, and would cost far too much to road, etc., even although the reserves were- left untouched. Then, further, who wants a right-of-way running at the back of their place, seeing that it would not be a private road, but would be o]>en to prowlers as well as honest people. Is it not the case also that we always find slums where we have narrow streets. Of course “Highway” may say that no one could buy a section facing such a reserve or space, seeing that it would lint be the regulation width. That is quite true, but this would not present the owners of the sections, abutting on the reserve turning it into a slum locality, for they need not see the tin-pot shanties they might erect on them. —I ang etc., “ANTI-HUMBUG.” THE MAORI COUNCILS. [TO THE EDITOB.J Sir, —Upon reference to the Year Book for 1910 I find under the heading “Maori Councils” that' there is the Hon. Mr Ngata Minister in charge, an health officer and superintendent, and besides tbo .Minister s pniate secietai and possibly messengers, and in addition office expenses to be kept up. I would like to know how long the taxpayers are going to tolerate these Council's, which are costing the Dominion thousands of pounds a year. I forgot to mention that there is also the cost of travelling expenses for the Minister and his secretary to be added for_ flying about the country. Is there any. need for the retaining of this office, which, I think, may be termed almost a sinecure? I am certain by doing away with it that the root of a lot of trouble would be eradicated. _ for there would then only be one Native Minister to give instructions on such -matters. Then, no doubt, Sir James Cairoll would arise from his lethargy. Ho may have sole supervision of his own Department, but it is common property that he lets the Native representative for the Eastern District interest himself in lots of matters before it—and have the unusual amount of unkind feeling shown to Sir James Carroll himself. I think Mr Keefer suggested an excellent remedy in the wiping out of the Native Department, and- merging it with the Crown Lands and the Maori Councils simply being an off-shoot could also be included. It is generally felt that Mr Ngata,’does not want to hasten the opening up of Native lands for European settlement. Why does not Sir James Carroll rise to the occasion, take a stand, and cut the painter? If 1 he did so I am certain his constituents i would admire him all the more. —I am, j, etc., “KAHAKURA.”