LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25637, 28 October 1948, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

1. 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 printed or not. 2. Writers must say clearly whether or not their letters are being or have been sent to other papers. 3. The Editor cannot return or keep any letter 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 letters sent in. 4. Letters must not be of more than 150 words in length. Wondering.—She should become Lady Smith.

LAMB SCHEDULE

LIAiUD OUliljL'LluU Sir, —The chairman of the Meat Board does not give a very satisfactory reply to “Ashburton County.’’ This correspondent does not ask for a premium on light-weight, second quality lamb; all he asks is for the schedule to be left as it used to be, with only $d per lb between first quality and second quality. Mr Grigg said the schedule was altered when the premium of £d per lb was given on under 36’s prime for early killing, but this state of affairs kept going right through the season. If the premium on light prime lambs had come off, say, in January, the schedule would naturally go back to its right basis of id per lb between light prime lamb and second quality lamb; and this is what the farmers want.—Yours, etc., FARMER. October 27, 1948.

« SOCIALISATION ”

Sir.—The pamphlet entitled, “Socialisation,” now being issued to Roman Catholic Church congregations by their prelates, must be both confusing and irritating to members. For years now, these congregations have been urged to vote for a policy which openly advocated “the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange.” Why the sudden change? The issue cannot be that it is against Christian teachings, as I do not ever remember reading in Christ’s philosophy a statement upholding private enterprise. As for Socialism being akin to Communism, this is sheer nonsense, as Communism is a “one party” policy, while under a Socialist government many other parties may function. I urge all Roman Catholics to think for themselves and not to have their politics dictated to them, even if threatened with “not having their sins absolved” if they disobey.—Yours, etc., SOCIALIST. October 25, 1948.

Sir, —What a strange coincidence (or was it?) that the Land Law Amendment Act, with its virtual repudiation of the first plank in Laoour Party policy, should have appeared just before the important statement on Socialism issued by the Roman Catholic Church. Such a drastic change is only understandable when we remember that, according to Mr F. Hackett, the first aim of the Government is to remain in office. Surely it does not ask us to believe that its repentance is genuine, especially as the Minister of Lands has expressed his hostility to the clause granting the right of freehold, and in view of the recent statement made by Mr Combs, M.P. I wonder what the Left Wing thinks about it?—Yours, etc.. INTERESTED. October 26, 1948.

RESERVES DEPOT IN THE PARK

Sir,—Many people have very strong objections to a reserves depot being located in Hagley Park at all, and particularly on any site near the Christchurch Hospital. Has the council considered alternative sites to which these objections would not apply? Here are some for consideration, (a) Purchase part of the Addington saleyards property. This site is next to Hagley Park, and not far from other parks in the southern part of the city, (b) If the saleyards property be available only for some future scheme, could the council arrange for a short-term lease of a narrow strip or strips of railways land, beside the north line, preferably With access to some existing blind road? (c) If the northern parks also required a depot, could the council purchase some area difficult of subdivision for building purposes? One such area near Abberley Park was in use for garden allotments during the war.— Yours, etc., A. LUSH. October 26, 1948.

THE 40-HOUR WEEK

Sir,—7-Since the whole must include all parts of the unit, the 40-hour week cannot be successful unless or until it applies to all workers in the community. If all workers had equal privileges in this respect, prices of primary produce would be increased, and as overseas prices are beyond our control, the responsibility must fall, directly or by way of taxation, on the local consumer. The Government naturally hesitates to increase the cost of living in such an obvious manner when rural votes can safely be dispensed with. So it is quite evident that workers in the primary industry are being penalised m order that the 40-hour week principle can be applied in all other industries. It may be claimed in extenuation that right and wrong are determined by public acceptance, but only a biased and irresponsible public could claim that the victimisation of a minority is acceptable.—Yours, etc., D. ROBERTSON. Rakaia, October 25, 1948.

ROYAL VISIT

Sir,—Can you tell me whether any special arrangements are being made for old people to see the Royal Family. My mother is 88 and very keen to see the King and Queen and Princess Margaret, but at that age it is hardly possible for her to leave early in the morning and take a stand maybe for an hour or two and then make her way home again. We are quite willing to get a taxi to take her to town and bring her out again, but is there anywhere where she can sit for the hour or so while waiting? We could not afford to pay a taxi for the whole time. —Yours, etc., DAUGHTER. October 20. 1948. [A suggestion that some suitable position be found and reserved for old persons who wished to see the Royal Family w’hen it visits Christchurch next year was the substance of a note sent by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr E. H. Andrews) to the committee attending to the activities for that occasion.]

GATE TO HAGLEY PARK

Sir,—For years past there has always been a gate for pedestrians in Hagley Park, opposite the main entrance of Addington Saleyards but when the gate became dilapidated and broken down some time ago, the gate was removed and the picket fencing used to - block up the gateway. It now means that people have to climb over the picket fence, which they do. instead of taking another gateway, but I suppose we shall have to put up with this inconvenience until someone is injured in climbing over. Then, and not until then, will the “powers that be” consider spending a few bob on a new gate. Even a stile would be better than nothing.—Yours, etc.. WAIT-AND-SEE. October 8, 1948.

[“ln former years there was a formed track at the point mentioned, but it has long since been unattended, the point of entry for this portion of the park, in a formed track, being opposite Alliance street.” said the as-sistant-director of Parks and Reserves (Mr B. P. Mansfield) when this letter was referred to him.]

BUTTER FOR CANADA

Sir,—Regarding butter for Canada, the position is that a rationed country is exporting butter to an unrationed country. This is an unjust imposition on good-natured New Zealanders, and rationing of butter should be abolished without delay.—Yours, etc.. NEW ZEALANDER. October 27. 1948. [This correspondence is now closed.— Ed., “The Press.”}

CREAM RATIONING

Sir,—ln reference to the controversial subject of cream rationing, I was interested in an advertisement on the frbnt page of “The Press” of October 21. namely, a call for tenders from the Union Steam Ship Company for the supply of milk, cream, etc., for the company’s vessels at Lyttelton. Would it be too much to ask why cream is needed for these vessels, and what quantity is supplied?—Yours, etc., JUST CURIOUS. October 23, 1948. [When this letter was referred to an official *of the Union Steam Ship Company he said that the forms, calling for tenders, were standardised and had been in use for more than 40 years. The company was in the same position as any other person and could not purchase cream without a permit.]

CONSCRIPTION

Sir, —If “Be Consistent” has followed this correspondence, he should realise that while I might be more or less in agreement with what he says in his letter of Friday’s issue, my contention when replying to “L.H.” was that the Government’s approval of compulsory unionism was in itself no excuse for the introduction of conscription. As one rejected owing to injury when called up. I do not consider myself to be in a position to give opinions regarding others being conscripted, but I strongly resent, as a staunch unionist, any comparison of conscription and compulsory unionism, the latter being to the advantage of all wage-earners, including those who do their utmost to swing on their mates while grabbing all privileges. But definitely a comparison is made in most instances for purposes of political propaganda.— Yours, etc., FAIR PLAY. October 26, 1948.

HORSE-RIDING

Sir, —Could any of your readers inform me whether it is correct to ride on the ball of the foot or with one’s foot right home in the stirrup. There seem to be different opinions with judges, and there must be a correct way.—Yours, etc., RIGHT OR WRONG. October 26, 1948.

PENICILLIN IN THE BIBLE

Sir, —In your issue of October 22 last one of your correspondents, “Pertinens,” quotes Dr. Temple’s statement as to the inerrancy of the Bible. This statement is absolutely contrary to fact. The late Rt. Rev. Bishop Ryle has this to say; “Prove all things by the word of God; measure all by the measure of the Bible. Compare all by the standard of the Bible. Test all in the crucible of the Bible. That which can abide the fire of the Eible, receive, hold, believe, and obey. That which cannot abide the fire of the Bible, reject, refuse, repudiate, and cast away.” St. Paul has this to say: “This I confess unto thee, that after the manner which they call heresy so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” (Acts 24/14). Who is right?—St. Paul or Dr. Temple?—Yours, etc., 8.1. October 24, 1948.

Sir, —Your correspondent “Impertinens” refers to Ecclesiastes 1-9: “There is no new thing under the sun.” Even so, we owe a debt of gratitude to the scientists, who have made a life study of the unsolved scientific wonders of, say, 100 years ago. To-day, in this modern twentieth century, all the wonders of this world appear to have been revealed to mankind. Knowledge shall be increased (Daniel 12-4). Is there anything whereof it may be said, “See, this is new.” “It hath been already of old time, which was before us” (Ecclesiastes 1-10). To the scientists of all time, the world represents a thrilling treasure hunt, revealing things to come.—Yours, etc., IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE. October 27, 1948.

Sir, —“Impertinens” says “there is no new thing under the sun.” While this is acceptable in the sense that everything we are destined to use is already “supine in nature,” there is a tremendous difference between this and an intelligent perception of the properties of a thing and its application, specifically, to diseases. Your earlier correspondent mentioned “the wondrous accuracy of the Bible in speaking of things long before science knew them.” I suggested a list in proof of such hoary prescience. So far your readers have been told that hyssop (Psalm 51) contains penicillin and that Elisha used salt to purify water. Is this all? If the Bible is so rich in scientific knowledge (pity the shades of Bruno and Galileo!), medical researchers should divert their energies to a close study of its 774,746 words in the hope of discovering things of superlative value including, perhaps, a cure for cancer.—Yours, etc., PERTINENS. October 27, 1948.

FRANCES HODGKINS’S PAINTINGS

Sir,—After a visit to the 1948 Group Show, at the Art Gallery, Durham street, where six paintings of Frances Hodgkins are on view, I am compelled to write of these. I saw exquisite colours and shapes; a unity, diversity and rich range of colour. The completeness and separateness of each painting delighted me. There is intimacy .and love of detail, together with a reverence for subject matter. I hope these paintings, if not all purchased in Christchurch, will remain in New Zealand.—Yours, etc., R.A. October 27, 1948.

SPAIN AND WESTERN UNION

Sir,—Nothing that Franco has ever done has matched the atrocities in which the Russian ruling classes have involved themselves. Franco has never attempted to extend his doctrines by active conquest to the territories of his neighbours, as has been done by the U.S.S.R. Nor did Franco ever agree, as Soviet Russia did, in the infamous Moscow-Berlin pact, to make treaty with Hitler to feed the supplies and’ armament of the German Wehrmacht during the invasion of the Scandinavian countries. France and the £Jnited Kingdom. For the last three years the Western Allies have been trying subserviently and unsuccessfully to soothe and appease the savage Soviet’s Fascism (red brand). According to you, this is quite in order, but one gesture of friendship towards Franco’s Spain is referred to as “helping Fascism.” Well, if Fascism means anything, what in the name of common sense does Marxism mean?—Yours, etc., WAI POUNAMU. Greymouth, October *27, 1948.

KOSHER KILLING

Sir,—The Christchurch City Council is to be congratulated upon its adoption of the electric stunner, and other humane killing methods at its abattoirs. It is to be hoped that it will not be prevented from eliminating kosher killing, which entails great suffering to the unfortunate animals. Some years ago I was informed by a Jewish scholar that there was nothing in the Jewish law which prohibited the animal being stunned before it was killed. In any case, Christian religions have long abandoned practices which, if carried out to-day, would be considered barbarous and an infringement of the civil law. By eliminating kosher killing in its present form the City Council will not only have removed a blot on our treatment of animals, but will receive the approbation of the whole community, including the abattoir workers.—Yours, etc., S.P.C.A. MEMBER. October 27, 1948.