LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

l. Letters sent to the Editor for printing should preferably be typed, otherwise they must be written in ink on one side of the paper only. A legible signature and full address are required, whether these are to be Cublished or not A P.O ox number is not a sufficient address. 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 ac-i Knowledge unsuitable let- i ters. although this will be done where it seems to be needful, or enter into any; correspondence. ■4. Letters must not be of more than 150 words. Visiting Nelsonian.—Subject not now open. Stephen J. Geary—Too long See rules above. IH. J. Oakley —Exceeds 150 words. Orthodox.—Such an impression might be unjust. Action Required—And no doubt it will be taken. AM.—We doubt the value of a discussion here. (John Carlton—Correspondence; on Indonesia recently i closed. Dinkuni Kiwi.—No space tor another correspondence on the lottery. Zelets—No spae e to repeat the correspondence on naming the coinage. Hl Standard.—A discussion of the talent and the judging would take up too much space. Glli Field Bill.—We wish to avoid another correspondence on naming the coinage. The Harvest of Sorrow.—Generalisations about a huge country with a big population cannot safely be made on reports of isolated instances. I J.W. —We suggest you send your suggestion to the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society. Such authorities as we have been able to consult are far from hopeful but not sceptical. Elderly Discontent —Dr. Donald replies that for reasons that should be obvious he is unable to enlarge on his original statement. No doubt the committee would be glad to discuss the matter with you or any other residents. Farmer.—The figure of 20.0<)01b of butterfat is an aproximation for the 19.6001 b of butterfat shown as the average for each dairy farmer in the Government Statistician’s survey of dairy farmers' incomes for 196061. This survey covered 1312 dairy farmers supplying factories in the main North Island dairying districts. Reginald Stedman.—Mr R. A. Milne, farm advisory officer to the Department of Agriculture. comments: "Drainage water removes chemicals from' the soils in solution. and as D.D.T. does not form a solution it cannot pass out of the soil in the form of D.D.T. D.D.T. could, of course, reach streams by flood action while the chemical is on the ground surface or by erosion after It is incorporated in the soil.”

Smoking In Hospitals Sir, —In marked contrast to the advertisement of the Ashburton Hospital Board, the North Canterbury Hospital Board is advertising for vendors to sell cigarettes and tobacco in the Princess Margaret and Burwood Hospitals. Has the latter board not awakened even yet to the menace to health and the distress caused by tobacco smoke, worse during acute illness? One must disagree with the Governor-General’s recent description of an army doctor, who “smoked like a chimney” and who “was dying with cancer” (no wonder), as “a thundering good doctor.” Doctors (and Gov-ernors-General) are expected to set an example and ensure that patients under their charge breathe unpolluted air which is so vital to recovery. My experience of New Zealand-run hospitals in this regard is not good.— Yours, etc.,

CLEAN AIR. February 18, 1964. [The chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr L. C. L. Averill) said: “The board is not unaware of the connexion which exists between cigarettesmoking and lung cancer. The concession referred to relates! to the sale of a wide variety of goods including confectionery, toilet articles, etc., for the benefit of patients in hospital who may not have relatives and friends regularly visiting them and bringing supplies. Cigarettes and tobacco are included among the goods sold, but action has already been instituted to reduce the amount of attention drawn to these articles so that their sale is not unduly encouraged. Nevertheless, to deprive a regular smoker of all supplies while he is a patient in hospital, possibly for a long time, would be unfair.”!