CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 155, 1 July 1914, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO CttRRI_TONT>EXTS- [ p.w.C.— We are not in a position to confidently advise you. f DEVONPORT DOMAIN BOARD. (To the Editor.) Sir-The residents of -Devonport ' arc very grateful for the action of a 1 well-known ratepayer, who came to tneir rescue, and so saved the sacrilege ot a portion of the public recreation ground, • being handed over to the tender mercies. . of a commercial undertaking, 'by "" ' chairman and some onemlbers ol uic above Board. This gentleman quietly I purchased the nine remaining years . lease of Mum. House at the upset price, | so there will be no smoke stack erected thereon for that term.—l am, etc., [ GRATITUDE. 3 MT. ALBERT BY-ELECTION. (To tbe Editor.) Sir.—ln view of the number of candiI dates for the above election already an ; the field, it would lie satisfactory to the : electors of B Ward if these gentlemen would come forward on the public platf form, or through the medium of the i Press, and give their views on the most I pressing questions that at present agi- . rate the borough of Mt. Albert. It is only fair that the electors should know bow the gentlemen who aspire to reprc . sent us intend to deal with the drainage , and roading requirements, etc.. ol tlie , district. —I am. etc.. ANXIOUS RATEPAYER. 1 ALTERATION OF TRAMCARS. (To the Editor.) Sir.—in your Trade aud Labour Notes nf .lime 2.5." there is some pretty straight '. talk about the compulsory alteration to the Auckland tramcars which, when altered. will cause the motormen great ' discomfort from cold winds, etc 'Ibis ' talk ends: "This is another of Massey s square deals." and anybody not knowing the facts would think the alterations were due to the Massey Government. As a matter of fact, the Auckland ears were exempted from alteration when tlie lull left the Lower House, but the I pper House (who have an anti-Masscy majority) struck out this exemption.—l am. , e t'e.. L. WOODFOUDE. Howiek. June 2.a. LITERATURE FOR MENTAL '- PATIENTS. I (To the Editor.) Sir,--Will you kindly allow mo. once ' again, through your pages, to make my " annir.il •"■/peal to the people of Auck- ' land for books, magazines land music for y thepatients at the Mental' Hospital? On l> behalf of the patients I have to thank ' you for your courtesy in riermitting mc to use your columns, and- the readers for S the liberality with -which they respond every year. I am authorised" to state, . any such parcels addressed to mc as District Inspector of Mental Hospitals, " will be carried free by the 'boats of the '" Northern Steamship Co., the Devonport ° Ferry Co.. and the Takap-nna- Ferry Co.. also by the New Zealand Express Co. " nnd Wilson's Express Co. Thanking you '" in anticipation of your kind permission, s 1 am. etc.. HENRY WILDING. ' t District In-pector of Mental Hospibilf. s THE STRATFORD-ONGARUE RAILWAY. (To the Editor.) '• Sir.—When the present Government 1- came into power there were 350 men '• working on the Stratford railway. Tlie r policy at once adopted was to keep shift- '• ing the gangs from one place to another. lAt each change some would leave. By '" the third shift usually the lot would n leave. The effect of this was that in three mouths there were only 00 men ' left nut of 350 men. It would have " been better to have stopped 111" work 'i altogether. But I suppose the Govern- " incut did not want it to get into the c papers that they had stopped the works n altogether. I had a gang of nine, and we were left 1n the last. We had it made up that we would all leave the first shift. The officers in charge of the works felt it probably even more than the men. and. worst of all. people had put up bouses and got stores to board the men. and the chance of recouping ■ their outlay was taken away.—l am, etc., JAMES CUMMISKEY. J THE RATE OF INTEREST. (To the Editor.) ; Sir.—Certain Writers ascribe the hi_li . rate of interest at present prevailing'to • tlie drain of gold, as they arc (pleased -to term a quite imaginary outflow from the two great creditor countries. England and France, to meet tahe necessities of ■ the borrowing nations. A s a. matter nf ; fact the output of gold 'from London and ( Paris is certainly more .than l-25th of the ; amount borrowed. Talking this Doniin- > inn to represent a fair ratio between j sums borrowed and specie Teceived. it ! . may. then, be taken for granted that of j . the .0.740.000.000 owing tn the United ! ; Kingdom, not more thtin 4 per cent n! this amount was received by the borrow- ! . ci-s in the xlrape of specie or. in other ' • "nrds, one year's interest nn the capital • sum nwmg would equal the total 'amount nf cnin imported lav the cniin tries under 'an obligation tn puv off • foreign bonds and debentures in gold as . - they may become due—l am, etc.. H..1. ! - COOPERATIVE FRUITGROWING, j . . f To the Editor.) Sir.—Tn your issue of June 10 there ; is a letter or article by a Mr. Rovd- ; house, of Warkworth. about apple growI ing. He seems to think Rodney Count y I the applegrower's paradise. I'think be ; H wrong: certainly he is if thinking of general orcharding. One great thing in . lon orchard is l 0 |, aye fl - llil , UI t | H , Vl , a r > I round, starting with say Early Dawn ; | plums in the beginning of" November, and . j ending in July or August with the - I latest varieties of passion fruit. My • | vines- are flowering at present, and a I few of the fruit are ripening already. ; 1 and my tomatoes are. some of them at I least, still flowering. With such a | climate any man starting and growing ' tomatoes, etc.. can niakc'a living right i .om the start, an I in two years .an I have passion fruit bearing pay'inir crops. In three years the passion fruit vines . ; will yield up to a couple of thousand I fruit ea.-h. [ jtromrlv advise intending ] orcliai'dists to e„ 'north, where tarn grows wild am | ||(ny potatoes nn... I-" : gown all the ycur round, and lan.; is cheap.— J am cl : ; S. OILBEIID. Kaeo.

NUMBER ONE. (To the Editor.) Sir. —1 note ihe latest move on tho part of the so-dalled "Reformer" is the putting into effect of that old adage, " Charity begins at home.'' Not content with having the privilege ©f free travelling on our railways, but they want a like concession granted for a term for their wives, and also, at about one-quar-ter fares, for sons and daughters, while Parliament is iii session. These same gentlemen thought some short time igo that if the term of office could be changed to lour years or, tauter still, to live years, so much the better .for theui. Well, it is just as well that a very few months now will see the position come up for review by the electors. —I ana. etc. watch do;.. Bible in schools. (To the Editor.) Sir.—l was pleased to read your article on "Bible in Schools" in your issue of Friday evening. It seems to mc that this agitation is coming chiefly from the clergy, coupled with a few adherents. Seeing that these reverend gentlemen are so ardent in the cause, may 1 suggest, that they have their churches - opened half an hour before the school, and have the Bible taught there. The children could proceed, to the school afterwards. This course of action would . place the work on the parsons (those who desire it), not on the already overworked teachers. Why should an intolerable religious bitter feeling be instilled into tbe minds of our State school children"; — I am. etc.. RELIGION IN FTS SPHERE. (To tbe Editor.) Sir. —Your leading article on this subject ; ;: opportune. I hope the tliir, ;'•:_' member l - of the community wl'i pause and consider before they upset our scc-.t-lar system of education, and le' lo ■-(■ on this country a flo-vl of bitter 't:\fe ■ over - question that, is outside the arc--1 vinee of the State. To bring such an issue before the people at the coming j election is iothing short of roadless, as '.the various issues at stake just now ire ■j quite sufficient to tax the powers of the ■ j voters as to what is the best for tbe ' progress r.u.i future prosperity of this country.—l em. etc.. ALERT. RAILWAY CONCESSIONS. (To tbe Editor.) Sir.—lt makes very nice reading for M.P.'s to note the free railway passes and reduced rates at which their children are allowed to use the railways; but would it not bo of much greater moment if a reduction were made in the price of children's fares on the railway, (hereby giving people of limited means a chance to travel with their children. This change is required. The present rate—half faares over three years—is ridiculously high, and falls very heavy on the class of people who are wanted in this Dominion —those who are shouldering their responsibility manfully, rearing up a family. If small leakages such as the reduction to members' wives and families, etc., were stopped, it would probably be the means of the railway being in a position to grant reduced fares for children. When Mr Myers was Minister of Railways he proposed bringing in this change, and it is a great pity that it has not been carried out by the present Government. If, say, quarter fares to seven years or ten years of age, and half fares to 15 years were introduced, it would be much mote reasonable than the present tariff. As to the loss on the reduction. I believe the increased number of families which would travel would make up for the reduction. It behoves the general public to stir in this matter, and bring it pointedly before the candidates at the coming election. — 1 am. etc.. FAIRPLAV. ('ONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE. '•British Always" writes that ''The only wuy to make Rarotonga a peaceful island is for the Government to deport white malcontents, or allow them to live there only three years, fhen move thoni on. and before they return insist on them living, for a specified time, in a city; where there nre thousands of people, who have more to do than trying to stir up strife."' •' Pro Bono Publico" deprecates the lack of assistance by a 'big crowd to tho police on the occasion of the arrest of a number of man-o'-warsmen on Saturday, 'A Citizen," of Takapuna deprecates the action of the Borough Council in fixing on a site for the Borough Chami bers down a side street at the opposite end of the borough to the post office. The council offices should, he contends, lie on the main road between Jobnstou and Noble's store and the hotel.