LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23477, 4 November 1941, Page 10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Be Consistent.—Cannot accept letters written on both sides of paper. In any case personal accusations should be written over your own name. R. Thurlow Thompson.—The facts have been clearly stated by the Consul for Belgium in a statement printed in ‘‘The Press” several months ago. RACING IN WAR TIME Sir, —We are on the eve of seven days’ racing carnival, a luxury one would expect in prosperous peace time. We have been warned that New Zealand faces its greatest crisis. We are asked to produce to our limit and cut out absenteeism. It does not ring true. There are irreconcilable facts which bewilder the individual. The racing is staged on peace time structure and is there to be attended by all who may. If conditions are such that carnival may be carried on, why say nay to any worker who takes time off production to attend? I cannot perceive how we caji reconcile seven days of thousands gathered on the race track with the truth of the wax. situation. Every day of it belies the Minister’s appeals. —Yours, etc., D. S. MACKENZIE. November 2, 1941. '

SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR T.B. Sir. —It seems almost incredible that our Hospital Board, which is prepared to spend half a million pounds on alterations and extensions, including a bridge and entrances to its present buildings, has vetoed its former proposal to spend about £BOOO on a surgical block and equipment at the. Cashmere Sanatorium. The same body recently spent a similar sura on architects’ fees for a subsidiary'hospital but as that scheme has also been vetoed, that money has gone down the proverbial sink. Surgery has already proved its worth in the fight against T. 8., but to keep up with the advances in other countries, our sanatoria must have proper facilities. There are at Cashmere patients awaiting this treatment, and there are in Christchurch surgeons capable of doing their part.. Owing to previous experiences, however, the medical superintendent at the sanatorium will not recommend patients to undergo operations under the present conditions. How long, then, are these patients to be denied their chance for renewed health. Our Goverhment has expansively .trumpeted its interest in health, yet here is a glaring case where A,... a little investigation would prove the - facts. The Health Department has backed up the North Canterbury Hos- . pital Board in its action. The patients in heed of these major operations can be helped in no other way and so will continue .to occupy much needed beds unless “the man with the scythe” steps in and relieves the joard of its obligations, How long will the public let this go bn?—Yours, etc., PNEUMOTHORAX. November 3, 1941. FEDERAL UNION Sir,—When T read Sir Hugh . Walpole’s exhortation, “I emplore you to read Mr Streit’s book, ‘Union Now.’ I think it is the most important book published since the. war,” I got a copy and have also read: the sequel, “Union with Britain.” Very many of our lead-. • ing critics have since endorsed Walpole’s testimony, and after the Atlantic . conference, both Churchill andßoosevelt advised union as the key-to the problem of how soonest to bring about peace. Smuts also endorsed their opinion. But Mr Bray can only ridicule those "simple-minded unionists.” Stfeit has “sounded forth the bugle - that will never call retreat. He has sorted, out the hosts of men around the judgment seat.” Unions of Britain aqd America ; will unite the English-speaking world, which will lead id union of the democracies and. eventually to world federation, the only solution to recurring wars. Even Hitler is a unionist, as shown, by his. proposed “new order in -Europe”; and if we do not actr quickly Hitler will forestall us with his Eurp- .. pean union, dominated by the Nazis. umnista In every country trying: to .kill federal; union. It ;ia swriflcant that in Auckland ’’social credltera’’, have reccntly . made a crusade; against .-this much-neededuniom Now same party is active, against, it in; Christchurch. Streit heifer to either Douglas.ox-social credit. ,^ I admire Streit lor his whole-souled condemnation of Hitler, his condemnation of. the United , • States pi / America'for fafling to back Britain with men as' well as materials of war. Streit has ■ giVen the world the benefit of his vast Intimate personal , knowledge .of the real causes for the failure of the Versailles Treaty and the League of Natioris. _ I commend those who may he sceptical to read questions and answers m Streit’s “Union With Britain.’.’ I . could - quote.largely from both works, but regard for. your: space forbids. —-Yours, etc ” ' ALEXIS. November 2, 1941. [This correspondence is now closed.— Ed„ “The Press.’’] RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN ■ „ ■; v schools’ Sir,—l wish tathaiok “The Press” for having , given m m opportunity^of ■ voicing; a proteift against whatstiU antoeatoto me to, be , a premeditated attack dn. the mentality'of our ( school children, by the proposed combination ‘ of ' church ■ Interrats.’;;: The correspondents, both lor and against, I thank for their courteous treatment of so vital to-F. Sutton. T will merely refer to toe BritanpiCa, which says .that it is toe practice, of : anti-evolutionists to fasten-on to a weak spot in-some theory connected with -evolution and then proceed to state that the whole thing is a fake, and that' of all competent geologists ' and biologists who- have examined the evidence, not a single one but agrees : : that evolution has dccurred 1 and is still , , OC I that religi-'-ous prejudice is perhaps the only obstacle that prevents anyone accepting the evolutionary outlines given ■by . scientific men. Their findings in material things are accepted unquestioninriy. Their standard of honesty is high and their search for truth their mpn - objective. Their methods are exacttogfand fellow-criticism finds and helps to eliminate faults. I doubt that any opposition could produce, its material under as exacting conditions, ana so I conclude with my original contention that children’s minds should not be influenced by ideas and matters held in doubt by so many qf their elders.—Yours, etc., jiTL THINKER. October 31. 1941. [This correspondence is now closed.— Ed., “The Press.”] MILK SUPPLY Sir,—lt is unfortunate that so much time has elapsed ■ without. one comment supporting Mr Brassington’s letter, Issued in your paper on October 24, congratulating “The Press” on its timely leading article on the milk question. Our committee ,is in hearty agreement with Mr Brassington in his statement that “the public should demand a revision and strengthening of the ■ test laid down by the existing regulations. Another matter that, should be considered is a law to provide that milk which is more than 24 hours old should not be permitted to be sold, except in very exceptional circumstances; and under special safeguards.” The technical staff of the New Zealand Women’s Food Value League has made and Is making thorough investigations, which are published to our members periodically. ■ It iS. necessary that an enlightened KS■ lit Opinion be generated, and that ■mate opinion must be brought to . '. beat on toe powers that- be to the end of New Zealand shall

have delivered to them pure, wholesome milk-: i We hope that now the question is ventilated, others will come forward and assist- all those are striving to improve the health of the* commun-: ity,—Yours, etc., THE N.Z. WOMEN’S FOOD VALUE ' ~ LEAGUE, Christchurch Branch, November 3,1941. WAR-TIME HARVESTING Sir,—The big noise the farmers are making about no labour to gather the harvest is just one of their usual “squeals.” Ninety-five per cent, or more of the wheat crop in Canterbury is headed. Therefore, if they cannot, get labour to stock the remr inder. why not head the ’ lot. There are scores of headers about to do the job. The whole of the wheat and peas can be gathered without employing one harvester,. so there .is no need to let peas or. wheat rot now that part is solved. ■ ’ What, stock threshing is to be done can he done by bne mill with five draymen in any single district. At present it takes four mills to do what one could easily do at present. They are travelling on the road half the time, trailing to and fro over and over the same ground for weeks. Fifteen men could do what it takes about 50 now to do. As for the stocking of oats, what is wrong with farmers’ grown-up daughters putting away their cars and golf sticks during harvest and going out into the fields and doing the stocking. Women are doing it in Britain and Russia: why not here? —Yours, etc., , C.V.H. November.3, 1941.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS : Sir,—People in Merivale district, es-. peclally in the. vicinity of Carlton Mill road, who are the owners of pet animals, are anxious to know who is responsible for diabolical and inhuman treatment of cats, as on two occasions recently a broken and mutilated cat’s body has been found not far from Carlton bridge, left lying in agony. ■ There must be a trap set to catch them.'One cat had its jaw broken, and was crying in helpless agony; the other one : had its back legs broken and its tail split, and nearly torn off, Such;mon-, strous cruelty, should not be permitted to go on, and the wicked perpetrators should be prosecuted and made :to suf-, fer for their evil practices.—Yours, 6tC. . " ALARMED. October 31, 1941. WAIMAIRI COUNTY AFFAIRS Sir,—l asked Mr Kitson a simple straightforward question, in my letter to “The Press” yesterday, which he overlooks or won’t answer. Briefly, and as important to Fendalton ratepayers, may I repeat the question: what amount of the Fendalton loan of approximately £30,000, raised for a certain, 'specific road sealing job, wag paid to the contractors for doing half of this certain specified job, and what amount did the remaining half cost, toecouncil, when it Was completed by its own plant. If Mr Kitson thinks the question is loaded, well then let him evade it, if that policy suits him best, but such a course won’t'suit Fendalton ratepayers.' —Yours, etc., ANOTHER RATEPAYER OF FENDALTON. October 28. 1941.