LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 192, 18 September 1914, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

ST. MARTINS TRAMWAY BILL* j: To the Editor of THE SUN. _ Sir, —After the exposure of the. proposals contained in section 2 of the Billpromoted by the St. Martins Burgesses 7 • Association, the letter of the president, appearing in your columns of yesterday,- -' is merely an attempt'to'cloud issues ami misrepresent the facts relating to this, matter, in the hope that public attention may be diverted from the real point at issue. .-...•"_■ to the alleged criticism of myself by the Local Bills' Committee, the president of the Association says he has been informed that the members of the committee who did so included Mr Fisher and others. I presume he refers to the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher. The fact that/that gentleman was not a member of the committee, nor present at any time whilst evidence was being taken in regard to the* Bill, what little reliance can be placed upon the information supplied to the president of the As- : soeiatiori, or upon the opinions expressed by him. . When an important iperson like the president of a Burgesses' Association sneers at a Depreciation Fund established by-a responsible body like the Christehurch Tramway Board, which was . established in 1907. by. t aji appropriation of £12,050, and has year by year ever since, the capital of which , is vested in Commissioners appointed under Statute; and the accounts whereof are audited annually by the Government Auditor, there is no necessity to wastemore time' over ' your correspondent's V effusions.—l aih, etc., * ;:: : v.: J. A. FLESHER. Christchureh, September 18, 1914. ■' • j

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION. To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir,—Lord Banfurly having made p urgent appeal for financial support fro in all centres of the St. John Ambulance Association in New Zealand for Bed Cross work under taken by the St. John Ambulance Brigade in England in eon, nection with the present war, the committee of this Centre is taking steps to give practical effect to Lord Banfurly's appeal, and have written to all subcentres in Canterbury and on the West Coast, asking.them to act. conjointly with the St. John Ambulance Brigade in their respective 'districts in appealing to the public for material and money to be sent to St. John's Gate, from where all equipment so donated Avill be forwarded under instructions from the War Oflice, ; to the seat of war. The materials desired are blankets, woollen caps, bed . , socks, nightingale jackets, and pyjamas. Money will be - remitted to England, as it could be expended to better advantage there than here on drugs, and medical - comforts. ... Although so many funds have not only been started, but also most liberally responded to, in Canterbury for various objects during the war, the only collection so far in aid- of ambulanee work has been that in connection with ambulanee, equipment for our own troops, and it'cannot be {too strongly , urged on the public that wounded and si'ck'ar'e' "'only * temporarily attended to in these ambulances accompanying the troops, am], are later attended to in hos-' pitals. It is our endeavour to have the equipment of these so - thorough that no soldier need be exposed to want through lack of equipment, that • this fund is being started. I hope that all willing* to send sub- - scriptions or gifts to this fun'd will forward same to either the honorary trea- . ' surer, Lieutenant-Colonel W. Thomas, M.8.V.D., 579, Colombo Street; the secretary, C. J. Treleaven,' lid', Worcester Street; or to myself, (Sgd.) ABTHUB E. G 4 RHODES, Chairman Canterbury.- and West Coast ■ Centre; St. John Ambulanee Association.