CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16850, 2 June 1920, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

» — THE SUMMIT ROAD AND- VOLUNTARY LABOUR. TO THE EDITOR OF "TUB TRESS." Sir, —With reference to Mr Machin's letter and your sub-leader in tliis morning's issue, a good example of what can be done by voluntary labour is that most picturesque coast walk from Taylor's Mistake to God'.cy Head. Whoever tho original moving spirit lie deserves .the thanks of the public. Septuagenarians, especially, are grateful to those who have made such improvements in the path lately, nnd if you can find room for this I should like, through the medium of your paper, to thank them. —Yours, cte., „ c.c.c. May 31st, 1920. ' STATE CONTROL. to TJTE EDITOR 07 "THE PRESS." Sir, —We are having a practical example in this city of the value of having things run by the State instead of private companies. I wonder what the Labour members of Parliament forthis city think • of the wonderful business transactions of the State Coal Depot ? Hero is a person who goes and orders some coal, his name and address are taken down. He is told that one sack of coal and one of slack will be sent. What is his surprise when he is asked to' pay for coal he has only ordered! He pays down the money, and then he is politely informed that delivery will be indefinite as to time. Ho waits from the beginning of May until the beginning of June, and no coal arrives. He then asks when it will come. The answer ho receives is': We are a month behind with our orders, and we are just- delivering orders that came to hand at tbe end of April. Tlio_ person asks —What can he do ? Ho is calmly informed that if he secures his own carter at his own enst he can get his coal. That, Sir, I think, takes the cake. He •asks for liis money to be refunded to him. The answer is: We cannot do that. What a lot of the public'r> money the State Depot is getting and holding for a month or more and giving no interest That is State business for you. Why, that way of carrying on business would soon ruin any community. I am almost inclined to say: Deliver me from the State Coal Depot, as well as from the State control of the liquor trade. Surely someone ought to put "push and go" into the State Ooril Depot.—Yours, etc.,

ONE WHO HAS WAITED LONG

SCHOOLBOYS' CLOTHES

TO THE EDITOR OT "THE PRESS." Sir, —In a recent issue of your paper I saw a report of a discussion held by the Board of Governors, of the Auckland Grammar School, which was held for the purpose of changing the school uniform. I was struck by two objections that were put forth by some highly interested members. Firstly, some wellwishing person drew attention to the fact that, if shorts were adopted, the cold (the frigid zeroie temperature of Auckland) would lay the foundations of tendencies to rheumatism, which might prove .maleficent to them when thev were grown up. Secondly, some kintl old gentleman, with an inclination to mcdicinal skill, suggested slouch hats as an improvement on the oystershell caps now in vogue, for the absurd reason that the cap exposed certain portions of the cranium to the sun, which perhaps might cause meningitis. I know what the Auckland sun is like, but all the same, the best thing to do would be to grow a small amount of extra hair on their heads. At the school I attend, both caps and shorts are in use, and I don't think any old boy has ever complained that it was shorts that gave him rheumatism, or any pupil has ever been laid up with meningitis.—Yours, etc., NOT A MOLLYCODDLE.