Radioactive Poisons

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28890, 9 May 1959, Page 3

Radioactive Poisons

Sir.—l fully agree with Elsie Locke's quotation, which also applies to hazards from X-rays, luminous watches, etc. My point is simply that hysteria about testing atom bombs may make us lose our sense of proportion and blind us to more serious causes of injury to humanity. In medically advanced countries the danger from X-rays is much greater than from fall-out and in a few decades the danger from radioactive waste from nuclear power stations will override both these. Yet X-rays and nuclear power greatly benefit humanity: so does that lethal weapon, the motor-car. And most New Zealanders, comparing the death-rate from fallout with the death-rate from political dissent in Communistoccupied countries, would not favour unilateral abandonment of tests with its inevitable consequences. Finally, even a world ban on tests will not prevent atomic warfare or gas warfare or bacterial warfare.—Yours, etc.. May 8. 1959.

Sumner See Wall Sir,—l am not a resident of

Sumner, but I consider the new sea wall an eyesore. ‘'Dec.” writing pontiflcally, seeks to discredit M. Jennings. There is s quality of wisdom vouchsafed to a few, inherent Jn such as M. Jennings, that transcends the learning of engineers and planners —the wisdom to refrain from officious interference with nature's works. A man-made garden is out of place on a sandy sea-front. In my childhood the waves at Sumner spent their force in a' gradual uphill flow against sandhills held firm by cutty-grass and mesertibryanthemum. The seafront was sweet and wholesome as nature made it. She denudation and levelling of thia natural buffer was the initial mistake. Others followed. Such la man’_s folly, and herein lies the "pride and pigheadedness” which "Dec” - ascribes to those whose views differ from his own.—Yours, etc., R.R.M. May 7, 1959.