LETTERS IN BRIEF.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14099, 19 July 1911, Page 6

LETTERS IN BRIEF.

"Disgusted" is not surprised at tho report that there is seething discontent in iho railway perries. Our correspondent contends it will take more than £00,000 to "soft-soap" the railway men this time, for tho treatment of employees since l««t election will n-ct b© forgotten. Our c-orrespondont objects strongly to the employment of spies in tho service, and to the methods of theso agents. "Justico" suggest*? that, to savo tho heavy expense of keeping Lionel Terry, the Government might wend him to China, where ''he will very soon hay© to lose his mania for killing Chinamen, or otherwise suffer at their mercy." "Small Bet" urges that a ten-shilling totalizator should be opened at Riccarton. With the tickets at tho present price, and bookmakers abolished, the majority of racegoors will, if they want to t»-t, havo to do so beyond their means. A cheaper totalisator would stop "sly betting" with bookmakers "South Belt" thinks that if a policeman watched at the intersection of Montreal street and the South bolt, from where lie could not be Boon, ho •would catch a considerable number of law-breaking cyclists. "One of tiie Victims" wants to know why the coste in tho Petty Court hero are co high. "In England, on a charge of breach of by-laws, tho fine is seldom more than 2s Gd or ss, and the costs abooit ls 3d; here it is 7s every time. Many by-law offences aro tho result of sheer accidents, and not of deliberate wilfulness, though tho Court does not always take time to make full enquiry." "Eyes On" objects to the refereoing in the match between Linwood and Merivale last Saturday. He says that on one occasion, whon tho referee was looting at another game, a good goal potted, "which would have altered tho result of the game, as Linwood would have been returned winners by 7 to 6."

"A Rangiora Resident" says he has seen nearly all the moving picture shows given in Rangiora, including the one complained of, and he has not seen any picture that ho would have tho smallest objection to his children going to see. "If those gentlemen who aro boiling over with Mother Grundyism, would look round, I am sure they ooukl find lots of eyesores that would profifc by their attention more than tho harmless picture show." "Sport" asks why, since Wellington and Dunedin. liare decided to pay the expenses of a team to represent tbem at the Cross-country Championships to bo held in Auckland, Canterbury is not also to bo represented. "What about Simpson, who. is well-known as a long distance runner, and Hill, who ran a pF-ent race, without training, «t'Timaru for tho Canfcerbuiy Centre, two years : ago'P' v "New Chum" quotes Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., assaying in his address at Phillipstown that if the Opposition get into power, they would do away with old age pensions. "I would like to ask Mr Russell," ho says, "who it waa that first proposed the old age pension —Sir Harry Atkinson or Mr SeddonP"

"Observer'? asserts that by proper cultivation tho grass grub, may be avoided. "Those growers who consider their- farms never need a fallow,or a rest, but expect the, soil, to keep on producing crops,, will realise, that Nature corrects their methods by sending along the "grub, and their lands then receive a fallow. The grub passes over tho land, hut when it has exhausted itaelf, the soil is improved, and goes on again to produce its crops." "Ashburton" suggests that the authorities of Canterbury College who have arranged for a winter series of popular lectures, should extend the movement to smaller centres. "If the, Managing Board would tako the matter in hand I do not think there would be any difficulty in raising an audience in : the smaller towns so as to meet the lecturer's fee, and incidentals. The educational value of the lectures would be very great, and thc-y would ho much appreciated by those who are unable to hear them in Christchurch." ■