LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A.W.A. (Sheffield).—Name not given. Housebound.—A book of "Whim Wham’s” verses is on sale in local booksellers' shops. Regarding Grade Fields, an inquiry is already being made. CHEESE Sir.—ln view of the present desperate- world shortage it seems most remarkable that such a valuable and nutritious article of food as cheese should remain unrationed in this country. There is no rationing, and apparently no shortage, for the grocers’ shops appear to be always well stocked with it. Every thinking person must surely feel very uncomfortable when he or she reflects that the same quantity of cheese that is often consumed by a New Zealander at a single meal has to last a resident of Great Britain for a whole week, and that there are many millions of people in Europe who get probably no cheese at all and very little of anything else.—Yours, etc. GEORGE INGRAM. July 20, 1945. FOOD FOR STARVING EUROPE Sir,—ln a democratic State public opinion is usually ahead of government legislation; but for these views to be of service to the world at large there must be an organisation behind them. The National Council of Women is the representative of the various women’s organisations; therefore it represents the views of a large number of women. The vital problem of sending the maximum amount of food to Europe is of interest to many, so the opinion of the women’s organisations on this question might serve a useful purpose. Does the council consider that in view of the extreme urgency of sending every ounce of food to Europe, New Zealand civilians, who have made fe>\ sacrifices in this war, are as stringently or as effectively rationed as the situation demands?— Yours, etc., ■ GWENDOLINE S. L. JELLETT. July 19. 1945. [When this letter was referred to the president of the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Women (Mrs C. W. Barrell) she had no comment to make.] FACE-SAVING FORMULA FOR JAPAN Sir, —The report that diplomats are seeking a “face-saving" formula for peace with Japan will be welcomed by thinking men who take a long view of world problems. To destroy the social pattern of Japanese life suddenly would be dangerous; and to tear her community fabric to shreds would create more problems than it would solve. People at their stage of development, if their cohesion went, would have to be put under a system of tutelage bordering on slavery conditions. Abraham Lincoln’s dictum that “ a State cannot be half-slave and halffree” is true also of the modern world. Destroy Japan’s power to make war, certainly, by controlling her imports for heavy industry and effecting some reform in her political set-up. But to pulverise the community life of 109.000,000 people would create a breeding ground of social disease that would infect and destroy other nations. —Yours, etc., A. H. ACHESON. Waimate, July 19, 1945 STABILISATION Sir,—l had been wondering what you thought about stabilisation nowadays, and this morning you give us the works. It would seem that although the good horse Inflation has broken stable and is having the time of his life up and down the road, the situation is well in hand, as Mr Nash has locked the stable and has the key in his pocket. Besides this, the poundkeeper (Stabilisation Commissioner) has his eye on the old thoroughbred, and has the authority to put an end to his capers whenever he sees fit. Meantime. anyone can have a ride on Inflation so long as the poundkeeper agrees, and he has been pretty generous up till-now. But he won’t allow the farmers to have a spin because they just don't know how’to treat a good horse.—Yours, etc., ALL’S WELL. July 20, 1945. WEATHER RECORDS Sir,—Every time an inch or two of snow or rain falls someone says it is a record. It would be interesting to know if any real records exist of the big snow of 1867 and flood of 1868 and after. From what I have heard and seen the '67 snow was feet deep in comparison with inches of this one, and the ’6B flood at least eight feet higher in our local Waihao river than the two floods this year. Perhaps my old friend, Mr C. R. Clark, of your city, may be able to throw some light on the subject: for though we are of the same age, he was a far more precocious child than the writer. Some record should be kept officially of these disasters to save argument.— Yours, etc., E. C. STUDHOLME. Waimate, July 18, 1945. [The director of the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory (Mr H. :F. Baird) said that climatological recordings were taken near the Provincial Council building from 1864 until 1902. An official weather station was established in 1905. Records in the possession of the Magnetic Observatory went back to 1902. When the matter was referred to Mr Clark he said he could not supply any information on the subject.] N.B.S. BROADCASTS Sir, —I cannot support "Dumb-Cluck” in “The Press” to-day. The introduction march allows listeners to know what is coming and to get the dials turned and tuned. The introduction may be overdone a little but it certainly supplies a need. But “Not So Disgruntled” yesterday challenged the critics on the point of intolerance of another’s point of view. If critics are enlightened, intelligent, and disciplined in their view they are justly allowable, for everywhere we tolerate much that should be jettisoned. There is a point where toleration sinks into sheer baseness and poltroonery. The toleration of the worst leads us to look on what is barely better as good enough, and to accept what is only moderately good. Woe to that man, or that nation, to whom mediocrity has become an ideal. And another reason why we have so much rubbish over the air is that it pays the best.—Yours, etc., GRANDFER JOE. July 19, 1945. HEATHCOTE ELECTRIC POWER Sir,—l see in "The Press” to-day that the Christchurch Municipal Electricity Department restored the power to all consumers yesterday. This, alas, is not true' for those consumers who have the misfortune to live in the area supplied by the Heathcote Electricity Department, The power lines to this house and the pole supporting them are lying across the only footpath, a very steep one. now coated with ice. Presumably the wires are live, and the danger to those using the path is extreme. The matter has been reported to the Heathcote authorities four times during the five days, but nothing has been done. Meantime, the living conditions for the inhabitants ftwo of them invalids) are pitiable. The house is practically all electric and there a're three families living in it, who have no light, heat, hot water, or the power of cooking anything.—Yours, etc.. NOELINE BAKER. July 18. 1945. [When this letter was referred to the secretary of the Heathcote County Council (Mrs E. M. Duncan) she said that as far as was known all complaints had been attended to by the electrical staff bv Wednesday evening. Letters had been received from residents expressing appreciation at the prompt attention given to complaints.]