LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33051, 19 October 1972, Page 16

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

(1) Letters to be considered for this column must not exceed 150 words. They should be on only one side of the paper; preferably typewritten, otherwise clearly written in ink; and ample margins and space between lines should be left for convenience in sub-editing. (2) A legible signature and full address—not a P.O. box number — are required whether these are to be printed or not. (3) The correspondent must say whether the letter has been or is to be submitted elsewhere. (4) The editor cannot return or keep any letter not accepted for printing; nor does he undertake to acknowledge or enter into correspondence concerning letters, although an acknowledgement will be made where this seems to be necessary or helpful. (51 As a general rule, correspondence on news items in other publications, or carried on radio and television, is not acceptable.

“P. E. Granite.”—Actionable. M,C.H. —Not at present open. A.C.L.—Yes; it is self-appointed. Enid L. Whlteling.—We have space for only one critic. Helen Hervey and “Jim Abelson.” —We see no need to discuss the MacLeod case again. Insomniac.—Aired quite recently in this column. No space for repetition. Careful Consumer.—You should wait for the final report; Cr Dowell can hardly answer your questions until then. Anonymous Correspondent.— Advertisers are entitled to their own preferences. The correct spellings are licence (noun), license (verb), and licensee. Oldie.—We have no evidence that your general strictures apply to this particular case. You could write to the school or to the Mountain Safety Council. John D. Witford.—Fires are reported—or not—according io our assessment of their news interest in relation to space available. The fire in Hallenstein’s Building was in rubbish in the basement ignited by welders working in the lift well. No damage was reported. Marylands Home Sir, —Clearly the financial problems at the Marylands Home are not such as can be alleviated by an annual collection. Besides, such a collection would not recognise where responsibility actually lies — with the Government It is high time our local members of Parliament and the opposing candidates in the approaching election bestirred themselves on this issue; 50c a day per boy will not even buy three good meals.—Yours, etc., R. A. BROADHEAD. October 18, 1972. Sir, —If Marylands closes what happens to the 100 boys cared for there? Is there suitable accommodation with trained staff available to continue their education?—Yours. D. CALLINAN. October 18, 1972. Sir, —1 am very deeply perturbed to read of the financial difficulties of Marylands, and of the very miserable contribution the Health Department makes towards running costs. At a time when large sums of Government money are given to private schools to provide superior facilities for children who are by no means under-privileged may I ask each local candidate what he/she proposes to do about the situation at Marylands? I would also like to know the official policy of each major political party on the provision of adequate facilities for these children who have so few advantages, and indeed are generally forgotten by the public. Finally, perhaps the Brothers of Marylands could provide a list of ways in which people might help them carry on the fine work of their institution. —Yours, etc., RUBY CHAPMAN. October 18, 1972.

Sir,—l hope Canterbury people of all faiths or none at all will refuse to let Marylands be closed. This home fills a need which our Health Department fails so miserably to meet. Admittedly, spectacular changes have been forced on a reluctant Templeton Hospital and Training School in the last f ew years, but even a hundred per cent improvement on next to nothing does not amount to much. In July this year, President Nixon launched “a co-ordinated national effort to reduce the occurrence of mental retardation,” and hopes “to return to useful community life onethird of those in institutions for the mentally retarded.” Until New Zealand wakes up, let us support the fine work of the St John of God

Brothers. Money is all they need to translate love and dedication into maximum action.—Yours, etc., “JIM ABELSON.” October 18, 1972.

Sir, —We should be appalled that this home for retarded boys is verging on financial collapse and probable closing. Shame on our Welfare State that the Brothers had to obtain $20,000 from their Australian order in the last 12 months alone to keep going. Why has the Government delayed increasing the 50 cents a day upkeep per boy arranged in 1955? Why does it discriminate by paying only $10.50 a week for each State ward at Marylands when it cost $BO at its own institution? Is the Finance Minister indifferent to this discrimination? Mr Muldoon might be wise to help Mr Marshall “bridge” the financial chasm at Marylands before it is forced to close.— Yours, etc., JOLTED. October 18, 1972.

Sir, —What a tragedy to New Zealand as a whole if Marylands should be forced to close its doors through lack of finance. The Brothers of St John of God have been here, in Christchurch, for the last 17 years and the help they have given to less fortunate members of our society has been invaluable, not only to the boys themselves but to the parents also. Only those who have been placed in the position of requiring help desperately could fully understand the depth of relief and gratitude one feels at finding Marylands. Surely Government support equal to that of Campbell Park is the least the Brothers can expect to receive. The Brothers’ interdenominational Christian work of' charity should be supported to the full by all New Zealanders. No-one can afford to brush this aside and say, “This does not concern me,” for no-one knows just when he may be faced with the problem of a retarded child.—Yours, etc., GRATEFUL PARENT. October 18, 1972. Disposing of waste Sir, —When the Clean Air Society convened a study group on the future disposal of municipal waste, the proposal for a special unit to collect rubbish that is normally burnt in the backyard was not intended as an annual event. The various interested organisations and individuals, with the Clean Air Society, were able to bring down a paper showing not only the feasibility but the necessity of dispensing with our present antiquated dumping system of garbage disposal as well as doing away with the need for the backyard bum-up. All local bodies were forwarded copies.— Yours, etc., J. J. FORSTER. October 17, 1972. Unemployment Sir, —It is significant that most of those young people registered as unemployed have no qualifications and thus cannot reasonably be recommended to an employer who is only too conscious of the vigorous competition at present, associated with the general recovery of the economy. The Minister of Labour emphasised recently that those young people with trade certificates and othei basic technical qualifications will be readily absorbed into an expanding manufacturing sector. It is every citizen’s responsibility to develop to the greatest potential possible his own capacity to work, in whatever field that might be. A certain amount of employment pressure is a necessary instrument of an industrious work force, as it provides the incentive necessary to every worker to maintain a satisfactory rate of growth. As the trade cycle ushers in a period of sustained prosperity the demand for labour will increase, thereby providing an opportunity to any diligent worker to demonstrate his prowess and initiative —Yours, etc., P. J. S. October 17, 1972.

Sir,—-I congratulate the Minister of Labour (Mr Thomson) for his attitude on the so-called unemployed who are mostly, it appears, in the 18-25 age group. Just opposite us two youths supposed to be working with trowels lay on their elbows, and not a move for a good half-hour. Another day one chased the other with a hoe and finally chased the paper boy. Are these the future

workers of New Zealand? Let me assure Mr Kirk I would sooner see my sons cleaning round poles and keeping their dignity by earning than lining up for the dole.—Yours, WATCHING. October 17, 1972.

Contraceptives advice in schools Sir, —Are parents and headmasters alert to the growing infiltration into our schools? I view with alarm the announcement that literature on contraceptives is to be distributed to school pupils. Is this being done within the schools and with the consent of headmasters? If so, then it is high time parents took action on the matter of distribution of controversial literature within the schools. If the booklets are being distributed outside the schools and to pupils who do not want them, then surely this is “accosting,” an offence against the law. I trust that

if these books contain any advice on how to use a contraceptive, that the police will take immediate action. Surely Women’s Lib should be more concerned with liberating young girls from being the sexual slaves of their boy-friends and advising them of the dangers of promiscuity, such as venereal disease, mental stress, etc. — Yours, etc., CONCERNED PARENT. October 16, 1972. [The chairman of the Christchurch Principals’ Association (Mr A. M. Brough) replies: “If any headmaster were to permit the distribution of this literature on school grounds he, or she, would certainly be outside the law as it stands. As far as I am concerned, it was distributed outside the school grounds.”] Barbadoes Street Sir, —When may we expect something to be done to eliminate the corrugations on the surface of Barbadoes Street at the inner lane to turn into Ferry Road? Switchbacks may be fun at an amusement park, but surely they are not desirable on our streets. This particular one has been there for many months and cannot be beneficial to the suspension of any car, particularly when a driver is not aware of its existence and uses it for the first time. — Yours, etc., MAL-DE-MER.

October 11, 1972. [The Town Clerk (Mr M. B. Hayes) replies: “It is agreed that the road surface on this small length of Barbadoes Street is badly corrugated. This has been under observation for some time in an effort to determine the cause of failure and whether it is likely to spread to adjacent areas of the carriageway. Because of the high traffic volumes on this one-way street it will be necessary to carry out repairs during a week-end, and this work will be done within the next few weeks.”] Christchurch M.E.D. Sir,—-We have heard a lot about saving at the M.E.D. from Councillor Dowell; $350,000 is the last figure, and more to come. The consulting firm has apparently forgotten to look at the cramped and unpleasant

working conditions of the staff; mainly the general workshop, substation department, blacksmith, and paint shop. To improve these conditions Cr Dowell would have to spend money instead of saving. So much for the Labour council’s knowing what goes on.—Yours, etc., ONE OF THE STAFF. October 18, 1972. Accosting Sir,—lt has become somewhat alarming that I find it almost impossible to indulge in my favourite pastime of going for walks without being accosted by precocious youths or urged by obliging yet oddly insistent strangers to allow them to take me home (which is surely one’s last objective when out for a stroll). Even the short distance to and from the bus stop has become a precarious undertaking after dark. I have become accustomed to being attacked by savage dogs and chased by cows, but surely it is a fair indication of the degeneration of our society when, in order to pursue this innocuous occupation, I must keep to crowded streets in broad daylight, or else tread in continual caution of my fellowman. — Yours, etc., ALISON SIMPSON. October 16, 1972. [Mr G. Tait, the Chief Superintendent of Police, replies: “The police endeavour to keep as many mobile patrols as possible operating in all areas of the city and suburbs, and of an evening up to nine incident (twoman) patrols, 10 inquiry (oneman) patrols, two doghandlers on patrol, one crime (two-man) patrol, and three hotel patrols are operating. In addition there are beat duty constables in the city area, a team policing unit, and one highway (two-man) patrol.’*]

Greek Orthodox Church Sir,—l wish to point out an error in the report from Istanbul on page 19 of this morning’s issue. Patriarch Dimitrios no more heads the Greek Orthodox Church than Pope Paul VI does. The Greek Orthodox Church is autocephalous (i.e., independent), and its head is the Archbishop of Athens. As an example the Archbishop of Canterbury is not the head of New Zealand Anglicans. Patriarch Dimitrios represents the Orthodox Church of Constantinople and is head only in seniority or precedence.—Yours, etc., JOHN W. FITZMAURICE. October 18, 1972. Placing of sign Sir, —I wish to draw the attention of the Transport Department (or whoever is responsible) to the placing of the 30 m.p.h. sign in Buchanans Road at Carmen Road corner. This sign is too near the corner, which leads to confusion regarding the stop sign.—Yours, etc., MOTORIST. October 10, 1972. [Mr A. I. Garrick, traffic superintendent of the Ministry of Works, replies: “The Paparua County Council is the controlling authority. The resiting of the 30 miles an hour sign and other improvements were recommended to the council recently.”]