CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20273, 26 June 1931, Page 16

CORRESPONDENCE.

Oawpcpj«nt> who do not comply with ratal set out ia the last column of our iMdar p»c® vill excuse us from noticing their letter*. FUSION. 90 THK Etirroß or THE PRESS. Sir, —I hope you will permit me to say that your leaders on this subject show tho time-honoured stateruanship of The Pbess. The defeatists who cry so loud for Fusion really desire a dictator. Your true-born Briton prefers liberty. Of our free constitution his Majesty's Opposition is as necessary and valuable a part as his Majesty's Government; and it is cowardly and silly to wish it away.— Yours, etc., TRUST THE PEOPLE. Juno 2otb, 1931. CURRENCY PROBLEMS. TO THE EDITOB 0* THE PRESS. Sir, —The essence of "George's" excellent letter, if I understand him aright, is that as the quantity of commodities increases, the amount of money in circulation should increase pari passu. That is impossible if gt>ld is the standard, but would be possible if silver replaced gold, lie apparently therefore agrees with Professor Soddy in attributing economic crises such as the present to a question of currency. Soddy, however, goes a step further. He finds that the private banks, in issuing credit on security, aro really issuing fresh money, not making a genuine loan at all, and that at a time when production has not yet increased sufficiently to need the extra money. Soddy's remedy is for the State to decide periodically through a special statistical department how much money is necessary to keep prices constant, and issue it to the banks as a real loan, or withdraw it from circulation through taxation, as tho situation from time to time requires. Instead of there being only 58 millions of State money in circulation in the United Kingdom, and some 2000 millions of privato money in the form of cheques, there would then be & national money system controlled by the community in the interests of the community. The root cause of the present crisis he would find in underconsumption due to the control exercised by those who wish to lend at interest. It is these people who naturally wish to return to pre-war values. Their money lent when the pound was worth 8s would then bo worth 20s. "It was known," however, "that prolonged industrial depression and grave increase in unemployment were bound to follow the Gold Standard Act of 1925," which put this policy of deflation into partial operation. For one thing, it helped to put cheap foreign goods on the market to the detriment of local production. This rentier is likewise responsible for modern warfare, which aims mainly at securing profitable fields for investment. Tho competition at present ruling in this field may be gauged from the fact that in 1914 practically all intereat from foreign investments was reinvested abroad, whereas last year only half of the 300 millions could be placed. Tho final result of this evolution will be an inactive lending class at home with all the rest of the population as their servants. I should like to heaT what "George" of Soddy's "Money v. Man" (• copy is in the Public Library), and in particular whether he agrees with the idea that the time has fully come for a real national money system, not <bm controlled mainly by private banks. —Yours, etc., ' N. M. BELL. June 25th, 1931. TO THE EDITOB O* THE PBESS . Sir, —In Mr Watson's address to the shareholders of the Bank of New ha is reported to have made the following reference to the question of inflation: "All banks here issue their* own notes secured by a holding of onethird in gold and two-thirds, in Government securities. Over and above tills backing, the notes are a ■ first charge on all the assets' of the individual hanks concerned. There can therefore be no question as to the taSebf of the notes, nor can there .he any question of inflation or deflation tm the notes are simply those required, •to." There caa be no question of inflation or deflation of notes, it is true, but what ia the essential difference between inflating or deflating credit and printing the notes that might represent credit? Whether it is in the best interests of the community for the banks to control the country's currency as

they do now or not, is a big question —a question that I think might well bo looked into by a Royal Commission. In the meantime it is surely wrong to infer that the banks don't inflate and deflate the currency.—Yours, etc., CURRENCY, ~ June 25th, 1931. TO TUB EDITOB OT TUB PRESS. Sir, —If further evidence was required to that already given in the support of the establishment of a Central Reserve Bank in New Zealand, it has been amply furnished during the past few weeks. First, there was the reception of our application to London for a loan of £5,000,000 at 99-5J per cent., term for three years. In spite of these terms only l-3rd of this loan was applied for, the underwriters being burdened with the remaining 2-3rds. The principal lesson to be learnt from this experience is that London investors are tired of lending money ■to Governments, public bodies, and Boards, about whom they know very little, and they are not interested as to whether tho Reform, United, or Labour Party shall have the spending of these loans, and' they have not the time, inclination, or opportunity, to investigate the various poltical schemes for which tho money is lent. All they are interested to know is, who will be responsible for the loan, and if the soundness of the proposals has ever been investigated by someone disinterested and capable of doing so—in New Zealand, such as would be done by a Central Reserve Bank before any application is made to London at all. Second, in spite of the flotation of this loan, our exchange in London is still at 10 per cent:' Everyone knows that to overcome . unfavourable exchange there are three ways in which it can be done:— (1) Import less than we*export. (2) Raise a loan in London and overcome the exchange. (3) Export gold to balance our account. Tho first two of these remedies have been applied, and our exchange is still 10 per cent. We have raised the five million loan in London, and our trading account during the past 10 years shows a favourable aggregate trade balance of nearly 35 million. If we had in New Zealand a Central Reserve Bank, it would have enabled us to derive the full benefit of our wonderful production and our favourable trading balance, and if it was then found necessary to raise a 5 million loan, and it was sponsored by our Central Reserve Bank, it would have been placed on the most favourable terms. There is, however, a much stronger case for a Central Bank in the speech of the chairman of the Bank of New Zealand. First, he makes the most astonishing admission that the banks have lost control of the exchange position and that outside influences are in control. Who are these outside influences who are permitted to dominate the business of the country? This is a serious admission from a bank in which the State holds one-third interest, and four of the directors of which have for years past been specially appointed by the. Government to watch the interests of the country. Mr Watson's remarks on the currency question are altogether misleading. He states that the note issue is secured by holding one-third gold to the note issue. He is here merely stating the legal limit of gold to tho note issue, which is 33r1-3 per cent., and his statement conveys > the impression that this is the position of our note issue'to-day, whereas the ratio of gold to our note issue is over 100 per cent., and tho people ;have a right to know why we are not permitted to make more use of the gold reserve in New Zealand, with a legal limit of 33-1-3 per cent, and a ratio of over 100 per cent. ' On March 31st of this year the ratio of gold to the note issue of Great Britain was 41.8 per 'cent., France 72 per cent., Italy 35.9 per cent., and Germany 63.7 per cent. This goes to show how the Central Banking systems of these countries use their gold reserve for the development of credit and industry. Mr Watson also tells us that every class of the community has suffered through the terrible depression that we have experienced. Sheepfarmers, he says, have made no profits at all. He might have finished up his remarks in this connexion by saying "excepting the banks," who, although 'producing nothing, act merely as exchange agents between the producers and consumers.

We are told that. the bank has strained its resources to help its customer. This straining, however, has effected a very handsome profit of £1,102,694, with a dividend as before of 14-1-3 per cent. The only loss sustained by the bank during tjie year was £IOO,OOO, and this was in the earthquake area.

' Whatever may be the troubles of other countries (and we know we are so interlaced that one's troubles reflect on the other), New Zealand's main trouble is the mis-maangement of our national finances, and until these have been brought under proper supervision by a Central Reserve Bank, controlling our gold reserve, note issue, the taking up of our export bills, and so safeguarding our exchange in London, the supervision of Goverment and local body loans, our unemployment schemes, raising of loans, and wage-cutting will get us nowhere. It is a matter for regret that although the report of Sir Otto Niemeyer lias been lying in Wellington for several months, the currency problem of New Zealand has been allowed to drift.—Yours, etc., J. HISLOP. Auckland, June 23rd, 1931. DUMPED GOODS FROM RUSSIA. TO THE EDITOB OF THE PEESS. Sir, —Wo New Zealanders liave at this moment an opportunity to help England and ourselves, and probably to affect the whole course of the Empire. Let us forbid the import ot Soviet goods. This action, taken promptly on the first appearance of those goods in our shops, would bring joy and hope to the "Morning Post' and our other friends in the Old Country, and would so wipe the eye of the Government that it would bo worth many seats to the Tariff Reformers when the General Election oomes. Don't let us be so green as to be cozened by the Soviet soft sawder about reciprocal trade Russia needs wool: if sho does not buy ours she buys, say, South Africa's. Then the consumer who would have bought South Africa's looks elsewhere, probably to Australia or to us. Wool is in limiited suply: there is a market f<pr all the world produces. Let us dismiss that bluff. " There remains the question: Have we still the courage we showed in the South African War and in the Great War? We are at war now., The Soviet has declared its aim to be the destruction of the British Empire and has for years inflexibly pursued that aimTrading with the enemy is treason: in the long run it is suicide. New Zealand's greatest industry dairy fanning, stands on the edge ol a precipice! If the Soviet gets to work unhindered, butter will sell for fourpence a pound in English shops. Look at our list of shares and stocks and ask how many will be unaffected if that happens. This touches every man of us. Let us show our mettle and give the English a lead. —Yours, GtC " . ANTISTHENES. Juno 25th, 1931. SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. TO THE EDITOR OF TUB PRESS. Bir. —A fair indication that the Main Trunk will have no difficulty in "paying axle grease" is the volume of traffic —passenger and present carried on the route. In addition —to touch on one point only—the railway would carry, mainly as fats, 120,000 to 150,000 sheep and lambs and 4000 to 5000 head of cattle which at present travel, mainly as stores, from Marlborough to Canterbury. The fattening of this stock in Marlborough, would pave the way for an increase of stock in Canterbury, and without doubt an increase of at least 100,000 carcases and several thousand bales of wool in our exports would follow the completion of this important line. There would follow also a substantial general increase in the production of Marlborough through morn intensive I farming, allowing the use of manures I which transport costs at present proi hibit. The case of this railway would appear very similar- to that of the West Coast line, which was put through despite much misgiving, and has resulted in tremendous gain to both Canterbury and Westland. It is to be hoped that a free response will be made to the Railway Board's invitation to send statements regarding the completion of this line.—Yours, etc., R. R. LAIDLAW. Oaro, June 24th, 1931. TO THE EDITOR OF TH3 MESS. Sir, —In your issue of the 23rd appeared two letters on the Main Trunk line. With your permission 1 would like to comment on these. First, I wonder if "Fanner" is old enough to remember the North Island trunk line going through—how it was condemned by a certain one-minded crowd and to-day is paying handsomely. And does he ever read of any trunk lino not paying? Let the. Government ston all parallel traffic and keep the dividends in the country where we live. With regard to "Camper," it is a shame if lus car is held up by tho trains for a few minutes, but ho, too, would still be able to camp along the East Coast if he were to fill up his car with concrete and help to mako Clifford Bay harbour. It is, of course, a great pity to spoil a few trees for a national undertaking. As for interfering with stock, they would travel by rail instead of by motor-lorries, and they would travel in comfort. I wonder if these critics ever think of those who toiled making this country, 1 who have no car to rush around the country in, and who pay through the nose for service cans and ferry boats. Have they not a right to have a train to travel by?— Yours, etc., NAVVY. Main Trunk Line, June 24th, 1931. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND UNEMPLOYMENT. TO THE EDITOB OF THE PEESS. Sir,—ln your issue of the 24tii you publish a report of a discussion by the Chamber of Commerce, re reduction in wages and unemployment. The various contributions to the discussion, as reported, make pitiful reading. Mr Bretherton says that "the problem of unemployment must be solved on a community basis." "Wages should bo divided so that they would go round." We agree that no one can afford to ignore the existence of unemployment, and its effect upon the community. It must also be conceded by "Mr Brett cr- | ton that "the wages of industry are the wealth added by the joint efforts of all engaged therein," and if these were divided as he suggests, there would be no need for an Arbitration Court at all. Mr Bradley opines the lack of skilled workers and limitation of apprentices. Mr Bradley, we feel sure, knows as well as we do that there are thousands of skilled workers to-day who cannot find work at their calling, and are doing unskilled work and relief work all over the country. Industry has not for some years now been able to absorb the apprentices that industry has trained, and among the unskilled (as Mr Bradley knows them) there are thousands of skilled men. To prove this, let Mr Bradley or any other employer advertise for any number of skilled men and the response will perhaps surprise him. If industry cannot employ those who have been trained, the remedy is not a loosening up of limitation, but a tightening up. Mr Chrystall, in his contribution, suggests. that labour _ could be trained for work on farms, in spite of the fact

that machinery on farms Is displacing thousands of workers. In view of the inflated price of farm land, this would not help us at all. What is required is a vigorous land settlement policy, in conjunction with a policy for cheaper money. We agree that all the' Board has done is to provide "relief," whereas its function should be to provide some "permanent works"; and having failed in this matter, it has failed entirely inasmuch as what it is doing to-day was originally done by local bodies, etc. Mr Agar's contribution, and resolution, which was adopted, discloses the insincerity of the whole discussion, and reveals the extent and methods the Chamber is prepared to adopt, in the name of unemployment, to further the interests of its members to the detriment of the community generally, which fact will no doubt be taken into consideration by the community at the next tri-annual "stocktaking." Mr Agar wishes the Government, etc., to adopt tho "reasonable standard of living" of overseas countries, in order that New Zealand may compete. There you have it. Is Mr Agar himself willing to come down to the conditions existing in, say, Japan, or even the same standard as tho miners of Great Britain? No, of course not, but ho is prepared to foist those conditions on the people of New Zealand, and wishes every avenue explored in order to accomplish objective. All this is being don,e in the "pretence" of doing something to assist (save the mark) our people, after the Chamber has achieved a reduction of 10 per cent, in wages and consequent reduction in the standard of living here. In New Zealand, as Mr Bretherton says, thero are more than 40,000 male workers unemployed who, with dependents, total perhaps 200,000, who for months have experienced tho most procarious existence on relief wages, and according to the discussion the standard of living of these people should bo still further reduced so as to come into line with European countries. If the Chamber would discuss methods of reducing interest charges, improvement of local markets, etc., in real earnest, and apply the same ingenuity to these questions as was applied to reduce wages and the standards of living, something beneficial may result. It may even learn that reducing purchasing power, by reducing wages, only in*, creases unemployment, and intensifies the position for all.—Yours, etc., CANTERBURY TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL, per G. T. THURSTON. Trades Hall, June 25th, 1931. WATER DIVINING. TO THE EDITOB OT THB PRESS Sir, —I don't know the relationship between water divining arid tho strange new art described in tho enclosed clipping (from a recent copy of the "Sphere"), but I should think that readers who are excited by one would be at least interested in tho other. — Yours, etc.. 'COS WHY? June 24th, ll'ol. [Enclosure.! Leprignano is a email town in the neighbourhood of Rome, which, up to a fow years ago, was almost unknown. Suddenly it became famous. It was found to bo built on tho site of the very ancient Etruscan town, Capena. Later" on, at a short distance from tho town, a small lake made its appearance following on a mysterious telluric movement. The small lake was peculiar, for it changed its size and shape perpetually. Subsequently anotnor fact attracted the. attention of the citizens of Leprignano. On the surrounding hills some iron ore wos found which gave rise to great hopes, for Italy is a country almost devoid of minerals. Now Leprignano has come again into the limelight owing to th« discovery of some Etruscan tombs. It .was not the actual tombs which gave publicity to the event, for in this peninsula tho remains of many old civilisations abound. The extraordinary fact is, instead, that these tombs were found by rhabdomancy, which is divination by means of a rod. Since the remotest times, individuals of peculiar sensibility have been eble to feel the radio-activo vibrations of tho minerals and also of water in the subsoil.

Tiie recent discoveries on the composition of matter and the discovery of radium furnished a scientific explanation of this thousand years old phenomenon, and a special company was established in Italy called the "Radiogeotecnica," which utilises the hypersonsibility of certain individuals for geological research. This company hod carried on some important research work on the mysterious lake of Ijoprignano, and had come to the conclusion that the causo of its continual changes was not due to volcanio activity but to some currents of oil gas running at a great depth beneath the bed of the lake. During the research work the quite exceptional powers of the rhabdomancer, Miss Domenica Mataloni, were put to the proof. It was found that this girl not only felt the presence of subterranean mineral beds, but she could feel also the presence of any object which was hidden in the subsoil. An interesting experiment was made under the control of authorities and archaeologists. The result wus astounding. 'l'he girl walked at random over the followed by » crowd of journalists. She held the wand common to all rhabdomancers. At a certain point the wand started to vibrate, and, in a few minutes sho was able to mark out ii rectangular space. The manager of tho company, who-already knew of the extraordinary power of this girl, wished to ascertain exactly this rectangular space contained. He tested her by patting into her hand consecutively some gold, bronze, and silver coins, some pieces of iron, glass, and bones. The girl kept her wand lifted, but while the gold and silver coins had np effect the other objects caused the wand to vibrate. She was able, therefore, to state beforehand that at a certain depth there was a tomb containing not only the skeletons, but also some weapons and some bronze and terracotta objects, as well as some glass ornaments. The subsequent excavations carried out on the spot proved the truth of the supposition. This experiment is all the more worth mentioning owing to the fact that the possibility of trickery is out of the question,, inasmuch as Miss Mataloni was surrounded at the time by a crowd of sceptics. Since then Miss Mataloni has continued her researches with equal success, not only in Leprignano. but also in Pompeii, The small museum of Leprignano is already overflowing' with the antiquities she has discovered in this manner, and it is believed that the Government will erect a larger museum. Sho will be further employed for geological research, but it is doubtful whether she will find minerals in the soil of Italy. It is to be doubted also whether, providing her with a wand and a gold coin, she would feel many vibrations on approaching tho safes of some banks. ■ - • v TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir, —In relation to the correspondonce on this subject in your columns during the last few days, I would draw your attention to an interesting report in the "Sphere" of May 16th (page 302) telling of the wonderful success of Signorina Doniemea Mataloni in discovering by divining rod Etruscan tombs and .ancient buried, objects at Capena, Leprignano.-and Pompeii. Itoprint of the report in your columns would. I think, interest your readers. —Yours, etc., R» K June 2oth, 1931. [Another correspondent has sent us the article.—Ed., The Pn^ss.] RELIEF WORK IN GREYMOUTH. TO TUB EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —"Would you kindly grant me the privilege of your columns to express my opposition to the methods used in the relief of distress in Greymouth. The Mayor made an appeal to the public to subscribe funds to relieve distress owing to unemployment. A response on the scale of the earthquake appeals was asked for, and an Unemployment Relief Committee, with . iao Mayor s*s chairman, was set up. The appeal was a complete_ failure. At a meeting of this committee the chairman of the Hospital Board announced that his Board had only £3OO left for relief of the poor over and above the amount for regular pensions, etc., and he pripposed to hand over £IOO to this Relief Committee. As a ratepayer I strongly object on the , ground that I consider the Hospital Board alone is competent to administer charitable aid. I ' ee ' sure that the j public have every confidence in tho i Grev Hospital Board—the Hospital administration is a credit ja them, and I

the poor receive relief without tho feeling of receiving charity. It is the duty of the Hospital Board to continue with their good work of assisting® the poor, and they should not allow the Unemployment Relief .Committee to get their hands on the money assigned for this purpose. The fact that the chairman of the Hospital Board joined the Unemployment Relief Committee showed that the Board is willing to do something more for tho relief of the distressed. I would suggest an independent appeal to the public of Grey mouth for funds for the further relief of distress —tho said funds to be handled by the Grey Hospital and Charitable Aid Board only.—Yours, etc., RATEPAYER, i Grevmouth, June 24th, 1931 PETROL PRICES*. TO EDITOB OP THE PBESS. Sir, —I am glad "Motorist" agrees with me that merchants importing petrol in drums are engaged in an unattractive business that is hazardous in more ways than one. It is an undeniable fact that the importer's profits are small, and that is tho only point I wish to establish. "Motorist" ignored this point, which was apparently known to him, in his previous letter —in fact, ho succeeded in conveying a totally different impression, as witness tho letter signed "Only a Woman." With regard to importations of petrol in tankers and bulk distribution in New Zealand, this is a matter on which I cannot speak with authority. At tho same time "Motorist" is not proving anything by quoting prices in England and- Australia, which might have little relation to prices in New Zealand after all charges, including the heavy distributing costs in this country, aro absorbed. "Motorist" adopts a very superficial view, which is unfortunately common, in his analysis of the subject, and I challenge him to substantiate his statement that a profit of 9d per gallon is retained by the importer. It is absurd to talk of profit at all before all disbursements are provided for Would "Motorist" claim that the dif' ference in price between the c.i.f. cost of, say, English boots, plus duty, and the pr;ce over tho counter in a City shop represents profit? And yet this is what he does in his survey of the petrol business. If "Motorist" has any tangible facts to prove that unduo profits are being made in the petrol business I suggest that lie submit them to the Industries and Commerce Department, which is at present conducting an investigation into petrol prices. We all want to see prices reduced, but half-baked statements prove nothing, and are only misleading to tho public. —Yours, etc., • ACCOUNTANT. June 25th, 1931. RELIEF POLICY. TO THB EDZTOB OF TH» PBESS. Sir,—l am out of employment with little hope of getting a job in tho near future, at least. Being on the careful side, I havo a few shillings saved from previous employment —in fact the savings of a few years, aow I am informed, on applying for work, that I cannot bo registered until my few savings are gone, or practically gone. This, in itself is not too bad, the hard part being that I am also informed that I must koep my unemployment levy instalments up as usual. This seems liko robbery to mo.—Yours, etC " A.®. Darfiold, Juno 24th, 1931.

STATE ADVANCES DEPARTMENT. TO THE EDITOB 0? THB PBE9S. Sir, —Your correspondent, "Laval," in The Press of June 16th, when referring to the retirement of Mr Waddel from the State Advances Department, seems hardly fair to that Department. The retiring superintendent stated that the net profits for the year were over £60,000, and on the strength of this, "Laval" would like to see the interest rate on State advances reduced. So would many of us; but why should the State bo expected to do this when other financial institutions tell us, in effect, that the rate of interest will be reduced when money is - so plentiful that* they cannot help doing so? If the Government gave, this lead, it should fix the rate for its competitors at tho same time. The State Advances Department has been of immense benefit to farmers by lending money at reasonable rates, and it has been a powerful factor in keeping down interest rates on farming land, especially in recent years. One reference by the chairman of the Bank of New Zealand illustrates this. In his address, referring to the effects of the War moratorium, he says that practically all the lending on farms in recent years lias been done by the State lending departments. Now, during these years, someone has financed luxuries "without limit, or farming would be in a better position to-day. Every year millions have been readily found to import motor-cars, and this, in turn, means huge sums spent on extra road upkeep, while the railways aro neglected and show a loss. The Bank of New Zealand claims to have suffered severely, but the fact is not very noticeable to outsiders. No wonder it shows a complacent attitude while dealing out grandmotherly advice, telling us that things aro going to be better some day, perhaps. As for the unhappy joke about stones being thrown only at trees that bear fruit, any brchardist knows that no stones would need to be thrown if the tree were kept at a reasonable height, and also that for an overbearing tree a little judicious thinning is advisable. Your correspondent proposes to lower the interest on State loans from 7 per cent, to 6 per cent. I was not aware that tho State Advances Office had granted loans at 7 per cent., but it may have been done lately. Most loans were fixed at a much lower rate, but many were on the instalment plan, and a 7 per cent, loan would then mean that 6 per cent, would be for interest and 1 per cent, for repayment of principal. But i per cent, rebate is allowed for prompt payment, making, in reality, a 5} per cent, interest rate. Further, as time went on, tho payments would gradually consist of more principal and less interest, until the whole loan was paid off. This idea was to encourage thrift, and was beneficial alike to State and to borrower. Now, however, conditions have changed, and in many instances; the payment of principal has become a burden to the farmer, for what is this thrift to him when he has to pay 8 per cent, or 10 per 'cent, on his stock or second mortgages? It is in this direction that something should be done, first by suspending the repayment of principal, then by charging up any overdue interest it the lesser rate. Interest default on an instalment loan is often a misnomer, as the State suffers no loss until tho arrears of interest exceed the amount of principal that has been' repaid: until then the farmer is the sole loser. I am with "Laval" as far as the general lowering of interest rates is

concerned, as this is one of the first steps towards reducing living expenses. However, the State Advances Department has done such good work in financing farming, both as to ratM and conditions, that it seems hardly fair to ask it to be the first, or perhaps the only one, to reduce interest rates.— Yours, etc., T.A.S. June 25th, 1931. WATER RATES. TO THE EDITOR 0! THE PBESS. Sir, —As has been proved by the correspondence in your paper, there is urgent need for a full enquiry into the water rating in Christchurch, and 1 think we can expect some startling revelations. From Departmental figures given in your iteue yesterday, out of a total number of 21,779 consumers apparently only 9000 have meters, and if 3000 of these have to pay excess water rates, the deduction is that those not connected with a meter have no excess payment and no restriction in the use of water. Is that consistent with the City Council's policy? One remark of Mr Galbraith I wish to contradict. He said: "There had been no increase in the water rates in his time." Just how long Mr Galbraith has been in office is unknown to me, but I will just go back to 1928. 1 have before me as I write our rating papers from 1928-1931: £ s. d. In 1928-29 our water rate was 0. 15 7 In 1929-30 our water rate was 14 6 In 1930-31 our water rate was 13 5 These figures should speak for themselves. Lately We had an account for £2 2s excess rate, despite the 7s 10d rise since 1928. If Mr Galbraith will kindly refer to my previous letter in your issue of June 17th he will find any information he requires in reference to my own particular case. It is quite beside the point to compare our Christchruch water rating with that of any other town in New Zealand. One might just as well compare our railway station and General Post Office with those of Auckland, Wellington, 0 r Dunedin. There never has been any complaint about either the quality or quantity of water in Christchurch, as this town can justly claim to have the purest water in New Zealand. Our complaint is the unjust rating- and this wo feel needs a thorough investigation. It would be interesting to know just what amount is paid "into the City Council in water rates alone—also all.expenses in connexion with the waterworks. Ihe answers we have-had are not satisfactory.—Yours, etc., VICTIM. June 24th, 1931. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. TO THE ZDITOB 07 THB PBEBS. Sir,— You reported the chairriian of the of New Zealand, in referring to the 10 per cent, cut, as saying, "In many instances it will inflict more or less hardship, etc." What I want to know is: Have the salaries of the Bank officials suffered this 10 per cent, cut? Or is it not a fact that instead'of salaries being reduced a 10 per cent, bonus has been paid them? —Yours, etc., CONSISTENCY. Kaikoura, June 22nd, 1931. [The manager of the Christchurch branch of the Bank of New Zealand stated, when this letter was referred to bim, that although the 10 per cent, cat has not been made, there has been a cut in the salaries of officials of the Bank of New Zealand.]

TRAFFIC OFFENCES. TO THE IDITOa 07 THX FKXSt, < Sir, —The Town Olcrk says thd committee of the City Council """tijfnm all traffic offences, and "if they ec*s > sider that the offence is a minor one they issue a caution." Well, my nnaa had the misfortune to conie before *hi committee for my first and only oStmZ? ' " and I did not get any caution. offence was parking" jl. ' exactly four minutes, or, as the uf law says, not bringing my car to " ' stop at the kerb. * ■ ■ Surely this was a minor oßem»> And I now issue a challenge committee to prove that I ever had caution or was ever spoken to b» » inspector a during a period of ' ( years' driving. lam willing £25 to any charitable j this committee can prove t.tiqf, £ " J facts are wrong.—YourSj eto. v K June 25th, 1931. j A RELIEF WORKER'S COMPLAINT TO THE EDITOR OF THE PBBB*. ' j Sir, —I should like through jo® paper to complain of the action of to* - City Council in not notifying two-day men on relief work work was available this week, ifeng with others I was informed last day to start again this moraine.' Thursday. When we arrived onTtha 3 job, we were told that no sinda tncw would be employed this week. Slinly that was avoidable. I noticed that other local bodies advised their im through The Pbess that there noaM be no work for them this week. CboM not the City Council have done life, wise? —Yours, etc., ■ ' R ELIEF WOBSUL June 23th, 1931.