LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 258, 4 December 1914, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Joshua Little—-The reclamation question at Lyttelton may be important, but if you ■want to focus public attention upon it you have chosen a singularly inopportune time. We have no space for long letters. on the matter prior to the elections. THE SALVATION ARMY SOCIAL HOMES, , To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, has been our privilege for a number of years ■ past, at " Christinas time to . receive from r the: public of Chriitchurch, and the surrounding districts, donations for the assistance of the poor, afflicted, and otherwise needy persons, male and female, children and adult. Once again the year has gone by x and an amount of work has been done which makes a record of which any worker 'would be justifiably proud. The cash and kind supplied by our friends has helped us to accomplish much. Our life is a strenuous one, but we and our assistants gladly give our time and talents in this "matter of helping the weaker ones. Can we again ask a generous public to help us with the financial side of the work this Christmas time. The wise men brought gifts to the Christ- King on the first Christmas morn, long years ago. We still may make our,gifts to Him by giving to the poor and suffering, for He said, ( ' Inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these ye have done it unto Me." Donations may be sent to Adjutant Burgess, Matron, S.A. Rescue Home, 175 Papanui Road, or to Adjutant Robins, /Matron, S.A. Maternity Home, Bealey Avenue. ; (Signed): K. BURGESS, Matron. A. ROBINS,, Matron. THE ROSE CARNIVAL. To the Editor of, THE SUN. .Sir,—; The official decision to make election day a compulsory holiday is being received with a ■ considerable amount of dissatisfaction - amongst ; a certain section of the public. As affecting us locally, the fact'of this holiday being made compulsory provides a sorry excuse for a few : storekeepers to keep their places of business open the follow - ing T Saturday, afternoon,, thus depriving their assistants of their legal half -holiday. This handful of employers, in the ordinary course of events, would deprive some hundreds oi' employees from enjoying their annual visit to the Rose Carnival-—a day which should be. devoted exclusively to the people for the people's ultimate good. It is certain that business will be stagnant, and as a suggestion I think if these employers were approached by some influential citizen or the Rose Carnival Committee, no difficulty would be found in persuading the majority to close at the usual hour. —I- am, etc., December 3, 1914. BETER THE HERMIT. CHRISTCHURCH NORTH ELECTION. To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —Your correspondent "Moderation '' might have adopted a nom-de-plume of a character more suited to the effusion he has inflicted on your readers if he had signed it "Im-inoderation." He says my letter was of. .a "bullying nature," but he did not condescend to particularise, hence I take it lie was unable to do so. He also quotes Scripture to attack Mr L. M. Isitt, but then we know that Satan also quoted Scripture on a very solemn occasion, so that the quotation may have a family resemblance to the one I refer to. In order to put your correspondent on the right track, let me remind him that there is a commandment which says explicitly that "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour,'' and it would be well for your correspondent '' (Im) -Moderation "to give it some calm consideration before he attacks a man such as Mr L. M. Isitt. Let me repeat -what I tried to say in my last letter (but in different words), that I take off my hat to Mr L. M. Isitt for his courageous conduct in going to the : assistance of a friend and colleague

whose enemies are doing their utmost to oust him out of Parliament while he is undergoing a very severe operation. I am sure every fair-minded citizen who is unbiased will give Mr Isitt every credit for his manly action at this "time, and as a prohibitionist of 25 years' standing I say: "Well done, old man; you have got the true British grit in you, and you will come out top on Thursday next.' '—l am> etc'.y ADVANCED EADICAL. [We have excised a passage from the above letter which was, unnecessarily offensive. —Ed. The Sun.] NO-LICENSE AND THE AVON ELECTION. To the Editor of THE SD2ST. " : ' Sir,—As a No-license voter and sup'* porter,; since the issue was first put: to the electors, I wish to protest strongly against the action of the prohibition council in regard to the Avon parliamentary election 1 . This inisguided body has issued a wild, imploring appeal; to the electors to suppqrt Mr Sullivan, who, t understand, is president of the Federation of Labour: And the reaisbn given' is that Mr Russell is the mortal enemy of prohibition." We are asked in effect to hand the destinies of this Dominion over to the tender mercies of the Red Peds. By working for'Mr Sullivan the prohibitionists are going to turn many votes from the cause... *! have no sympathy with either Mr Sullivan or Mr Russell, and in order to protest, against the action of the prohibitionists I intend to return both licensing papers untouched on Thursday next. I know many other Reform voters who vote no.-license usually, that intend £0 follow a similar course. Mr Isitt, : 'a recognised leader of the No-license Party, is satisfied with a. 55 per. cent, man for Kaiapoi as against a bare majority man, why will the 55 per eent. candidate not satisfy them for' Avon'}— I am r etc*, ■■•-'- '■■■'■■ -: ;•..»••■.... ":•.-'■:•::',-:.. ...:..,. ; A¥QN ELECTOR. "''MEL ELL AND Mo-LtCENSE; ' To the Editor of THE" SUN: V ' "'/ Sir,—-Yesterday afternoon my wife' jvas Waited upon;by a lady canvassing in f the interests • of Mr Hughes,, the Reform eafrdidate My w-if e asked what was Mr Hughes-?s attitude s on tlief no-license question, and was told'that she, the 1 canvasser really did not that Mr Ell was distinctly opposed to :nfflicense, . Mr Ell has consistently supported no-license ; and national prohibition,.: find lias always been a firm, believer in the bare majority." I feel certain-that'''it''is not the wish of the Reform Party'that statements absolutely, contrary to faet.are being circulated, and that it would, better to have them immediately corrected. -—Yours, etc;, CHAS. P. AGAR. 86 Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurchy•': "''■ December 4, 1914. . ,;. !; THE LYTTELTON HAJRBOUR BOAED To the Editor, of THE SUK. ) ... £V- . Sii*,—The letter of,.Mr...Joshua Little iii Thursday's Sun criticising the reela.mation works policy calls for ah answer from those responsible" 'to ; the public for its inception, . .. Apparently thousands of pounds are. being needlessly wasted, through a want of foresight. The only use this reclaimed*land is ever likely jto be;put to will in all--probability be connected with the Defence-Depart-ment. They might conceivably make use of it as a repair, yard for, whatever maritime units we may have*to provide ourselves with in the-future, and the general Government* tajke.:th£ land over and pay for it. , The land will never be used for mercantile purposes, there 'being any quantity' on this si'de of the. hills, near the estuaryV which can be had for next to nothing/comparatively. Trusting, an .abler : pen.than mine can be found to back up Mr Little-in the interests of North Canterbury.—l am, etc.,: C.D.M. '•