LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24750, 15 December 1945, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

i Letters sent to the Editor for printing must be written in ink on one side of the paper only, and writers must send in their names and addresses in full whether they wish these to be orintcd or not 'i Writers must say clearly whether ot not their letters are being or have been sent to other papers a The Editor cannot return or Keep an> iettei which for any reason is unsuitable for printing, nor can he acknowledge unsuitable letters, although this will be done where it seems to be needful, or enter into any correspondence about lelters sent in. 4. Letters must not be of more than 15d words in length Correspondent (Pukeuri): 1. Yes. 2. The Club paid for its licence through the no-licence years, although it was unable to use it. D.S.A. —The present intention is to call for volunteers. No decision has been made as to terms of service, RAILWAY SERVICE DISCIPLINE Sir, —In regard to the extract from the “N.Z. Railway Officers' Advocate" of October, 1945, referred to by Mr Grant, secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, in his reply to the comment of the Minister of Railways regarding a recent resolution passed by Mr Grant's committee, I would like to have published the succeeding paragraph of the editorial from which the extract was tatten: "Such officers, and it is pleasing to note that they received no encouragement in the Railways Department nowadays—fail to realise in their utter obtuseness that an office is not a military camp.” I would emphasise that the article is not a condemnation of the Railway Department’s staff control, as Mr Grant would lead oneto.believe,—Yours, etc., _ ‘ WHOLE TRUTH. December 13, 1943. EGGS FOR CHRISTMAS Sir,—According to a published statement. we housewives are to get unrationed reasonable quantities of eggs for Christmas cooking. Why. then, does the Egg Floor continue to deliver only rationed ftwo a book) quantities to some stores, at one of which I am registered, unless the storekeepers do their own carrying? Many storekeepers cannot do this, having no conveyance of their own. I wanted to make a cake (the only one for many months) and received only my ordinary two, according to the book. Why does not the Egg Floor deliver the increased number necessary? . Also, where are the rumoured dates? And can I be informed,, ho;w tinned, fruit is to be apportioned? Shops all seem to vary as to this commodity, also.—Yours, etc., DELIVER THE GOODS.

December 13. 1945, FThe chairman of directors of the Central Egg Floor (Mr C, E. Fer guson) said last evening that eggs were delivered to grocers once a week. Grocers could obtain all the eggs they needed within reason if they advised the Egg Floor before the usual delivery was made. If they did not do this it was only reasonable that they should collect any extra eggs themselves, as the Egg Floor, like other business organisations, was re-, striated in its allowance of petrol for deliveries. The secretary of the Canterbury Master Grocers’ Association (Mr John Jackson), who was agked to explain the apportionment of tinned fruit, said grocers had been in a difficult position, as the allocation of tinned fruit was only 50 per cent, of the amount available usually. With an allocation of 100 per cent, it was possible to give every customer one tin of fruit, but the quantity released this Christmas made it necessary for grocers to use theiv discretion in apportioning it to their customers. Mr Jackson added that he had received no advice of any supplies of dates being released.] EDUCATION AT HANMER Sir, —As a parent I was not very .keen for my child to be taught in the supper-room of the hall, away from the school and without any playground; but. with nearly GO children Jt school, something had to be done. What I_ would like to know is how long this arrangement is to continue, as the Progress League and the School Committee led us to think that the Education Board had agreed that the new room would be started long ago, and at least be ready for the hew year. It is nearly Christmas and there is nothing doing yet.—Yours, etc „ „ ANXIOUS PARENT. Hanmer Springs, November 19, 1945 . fThe pre ident of the Progress League Hanmer Springs (Mr E. W. Flower) says: “The Progress League has used every effort, with the school committee, to have suitable accommodation made available. Since the letter was sent on November 19. the Education Board architect has made an inspection, and understands other arrangements for accommodation are now Under way.” The secretary of the Hanmer Springs School Committee (Mr A. H. Reqd) says: “A new 3roomed school will be started definitely in February, and will be ready for occupation after the May term holidays. In the meantime, children will be accommodated in Church House from the February term.”!

CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR PRISONERS

Str, —May I use a little of your space to appeal for support for the Christmas cheer fund for the inmates of Paparua Prison. The provision of Christmas cheer for these men is a worthwhile work of mercy from the point of view of the donors, while its effect on many of the men is very great. All the men benefit, irrespective of religious affiliation, or lack of it. Donations will be acknowledged in the daily papers, and this appeal has the approval of the Paparua authorities. Cheques and postal notes should be sent to me at Prebbleton. Gifts of fruit, etc., may be left at the V.M.C.A., where they will be called for by the prison van A J. M. FISHER. Anglican Chaplain. Paparua Prison. December 14. 1945,

FARMERS’ BOYCOTT _ 1%, * most pleasing change to 4 ln „ The Press” the letters of Not a Farmer” and "Hungry New Zealand.’ m sympathy with the farmers. For seven years at least, the requests of the farmers have been con* sistently all refused by the Labour Government: and because the farmers did not approve_ of strike methods, the Government evidently thought their organisation weak, and bullied them accordingly At the same time, other sections of the community, using

strike methods, had all their requests tor higher wages, shorter hours, easier work etc., consistently granted. Now the farmers have been goaded to breaking point; we can expect them to bear no more. We in the city have all been much too comfortable to give them the consideration they have deserved.—Yours, etc., ALSO NOT A FARMER. December 13, 1945.

nEATHCOTE RIVER FLOODING Sir—Shortly after the Stewart sweeper was used in the Heathcote I had occasion to take a boat, drawing six inches, from Redcliffs to Woolslon. Although it was half tide, the sweeper had deposited so much silt between the Tanks and the ferry bridge that in places the boat had to be towed from the hank. Although much work has been done by the Drainage Board, I do not think that this piece has been dealt with. Until it is done residents can expect stil more floods. To a mere layman it as if the board started at the wrong end of the river. Can the board give contrasting depths, say at the Tanks and the shallowest depth between the Tanks and the ferry bridge.—Yours, etc., „ PATIKI. December 11, 1945. , fMr C. F. Champion, secretary of the Christchurch Drainage Board, said the drag-line excavator had been working in the river at the point mentioned by the correspondent, but at present he had no information as to the depth of water.! ■

POINTS FROM OTHER LETTERS

Fed Up, Timaru,” supports a recent letter complaining about repetition of a „^ ews - “During the war,” he writes, there might have been some need for these broadcasts, but I consider that even then, as now, the newspapers are' a better means of obtaining the news. . . . p +ii time the number of these broadcasts was cut down or cut out altogether." "Hygiene” thinks "it Is high time members of the Health Department visited some of the suburban stores on Saturday mornings to see small children collecting the bread. . . . Tliese mites plav along the streets and quite frequently 'I have seen the unwrapped loaves rolling along the gutters, collecting any microbes they may encounter.” "Votami” thinks that “many people in so-called essential industries will be placed at a great disadvantage, by the closing of shops on Saturdays. ... If the lwrt=l' a L se^ vic J s "’ere to stop work from Friday to Monday, It would take only a very’ short while to bring sanity of thought and action to our selfish community." On ‘Farmers’ Boycott.” “D” writes that m the discussion the point of the correspondent s original • letter has been overlooked, "namely, that the fanners propose 1° boycott only those things which will not interfere with their own personal comfort and convenience.” Commenting on the Kilmore street f'S,V n . bout ’ “ Just a Ratepayer" writes: The lay-out is very ugly, and it is difficult to see why. taking the telephone box and tree as the centre, the north and south sides of the ‘island’ should not be equidistant and of even length, rounded on at the eastern end; nor does there ito he any good reason” why the a ii a road width should be so narrow hfi intersection of Cambridge terrace and hdlmore street." - "Old Auntie” commends the Mayor for brea d deliveries, and asks. -Why not meat deliveries also’ No one would expect them to call every day and we could always try to give them our orders ahead if possible." "Cadging” complains of the number of street-day appeals in. Christchurch and aaks; Why does not the City Council put rj 00t clown on this system and' set asicle ? the out-and-out worthy