LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24537, 10 April 1945, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

P. Graham.—No address given. First Lease.—According to Section 43, paragraph B of the Servicemen s Settlement and Land Sales Act, 1943, It is not necessary to obtain permission to hold a lease for any period less than three years. Permission must be obtained if the lease is for three years or more./ VICTOR* CELEBRATION Sir,—Unlike Mr Nash, I consider that for once in five years we should forget about war and celebrate the of official hostilities in Europe with joy, thankfulness, and (if feeling that way) hilarity. We could celebrate all the more heartily if we made a festival of starting a tiny flow of food to starving Europe, by the simplenneans of having a box and a large bin in each and every centre of celebration. In the box, let every adult with a conscience put his or her butter ration coupons for a week or more; in the bins let every man, woman, and child put some form of tinned food, suitable for transport to Europe.—Yours, etc., ! FARMER. Amberley, April 9, 1945.

THE MILK QUESTION Sir,—ls the statement correct that the Mayor has no information to give to the council regarding the newlyformed company? If he has no knowledge on this subject, it is very' contradictory that the promoters of this company made a statement that the Mayor was fully conversant with all details and that full discussion had taken place between the parties, on all points, including the inquiry of the Health Department regarding pasteurising plants. Should the Mayor require confirmation of my statement, all present when Mr McDonald made _ the statement would willingly substantiate. May I suggest to the Christchurch public generally that unless some general effort is made immediately, pasteurised milk will be the only supply, and pure, fresh, wholesome milk will not be procurable.—Yours, etc., _ R. M. LUKE.

April 7. 1945. [“When the question was asked in the council, there was no indication that it referred to what the correspondent calls the newly-formed company, said the Mayor, Mr E. H. Andrews, when this letter was referred to him. “I admit I had some knowledge that this company was being formed; but what I had been told was confidential. The question indicated a different company altogether, one of which I then had no knowledge. So far as pasteurised milk is concerned, the City Coun-, cil, including myself, still emphatically stands for choice of milk by the consumer. and I have seen no indication whatever that any of the members of the council are weakening on this. 1 PROPOSED CULVERDEN i HIGH SCHOOL

Sir,—The Culverden agitation for a secondary department there must disturb those who feel, as I do, that the additional advantages of a sound postprimary course offered by the proposed new building at Hawarden will more than outweigh the inconvenience to Amuri children. The secondary department at Hawarden, the centre of five rural districts, must remain, ana any building at Culverden would be at the expense of the sorely-needed extensions at Hawarden. The Education Board has already given its decision on the matter; but someone, speaking without proper authority on behalf of the Amuri Educational Association, has tried the novel idea of approaching the Canterbury Progress League. I think that Amuri children themselves would prefer,'rather than attend a small school at Culverden. to travel the extra miles to attend a larger, fully-equipped high school at Hawarden.—Yours, etc., p D D Waiau, April 7.

Sir,—Some 18 months ago the residents of Culverden. Rotherham, and Waiau attended a, public meeting at Rotherhhm to discuss ways and means of obtaining improved post-primary educational facilities iff the: Amuri district. A committee was .appointed to approach the . Canterbury Education Board and endeavour to get a high school, preferably at Rotherham, being the most central. After. 14 months the results achieved are that the bus still carries the children to Hawarden. though it travels a slightly shorter distance, and the iniquitous charge of 7s 6d weekly has been abolished. If the committee still calls its6lf the Amuri Educational Association, as in Mr Grant’s letter, perhaps the Waiau members at least may as well continue •in their lethargic state and' allow the special committee of the Canterbury Progress League to endeavour to live up to the name and further the educational facilities, of the Amuri district. I’m sure they will have the co-operation ana thanks of any who may be, as I am, —Yours, etc., A WAIAU PARENT. April 9, 1945. WATERFRONT CONTROL Sir, —I read with interest in this morning’s issue that two officials of the Australian Watefside Workers’ Federation, who addressed members of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union in Lyttelton, told “The Press’’ that the Waterfront Control Commission in New Zealand has greater control than the Stevedores’ Commission in Australia. Now only a few weeks ago at Lyttelton the watersiders refused to work week-ends. We hear of shortage of shipping space and shortage of railway waggons. Surely, the commission can order week-end work?' If it has not the power to do so, it is time the Government gave it. power.—Yours, etc., WAKE UP, LABOUR. April 7. 1945. GREEK GOVERNMENT Sir,—lt must be very satisfactory to the British Government to feel that its policy has at last attained the object of putting into newer in Greece •the man who punished Greeks in Egypt for having democratic leanings. One of these days, maybe, General Scobie will have sufficient prestige to form an authoritarian government in Britain—Yours, etc., , W. J. McELDOWNEY. April 5, 1945.

R.S.A. AND MILITARY DEFAULTERS Sir,—ln your issue of Saturday last Canon A. H. Norris referred to the attitude of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association and military defaulters. These men are serving their sentences and will not be released until the close of hostilities. The R.S.A. now wants further post-war punishment; but this is out of all reason. Even 'a Magistrate who had to sentence some of these men has publicly stated that he does not approve of any further sentences; and he is a returned soldier of the last war, too. We all believe in justifiable punishment for any offence against the laws of the country, but we cannot resort to vindictiveness, which is practically what the R.S.A. means by further “post-war punishment.” The Magistrate I have mentioned was a delegate at the R.S.A. conference in June last.—Yours, etc., 1915-18. April 9,1945.

Sir,—Your recent correspondents are to be congratulated on their tolerance. They may be interested to hear that a letter written by me some, weeks ago under the heading “14 Days’ Bread and Water" did not appear in print. As no explanation was given, the reason apparently was because the Returned Services’ Association was attacked in rather strong terms. This made me realise how difficult it is for anyone who does not agree with the R.S.A.’s attitude to get a letter in print. However, when one remembers how the newspapers have had to fight the regulations in the courts, one cannot blame them. I am satisfied that had it not been for the R.S.A.’s intolerant attitude the Government would have done something in the matter before this.—Yours, etc.. * . HOME SERVICE. April 9, 1943.