LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33052, 20 October 1972, Page 12

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

(!) Letters to be considered for this column must not exceed 150 words. They should be on onlv 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. (41 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. (5) As a general rule, correspondence on news Items in other publications, or carried on radio and television, is not acceptable. T. J. Jacobsen.—Closed. Port Line.—No space to pursue the matter. Five-ess Green-fingers.—Hardly practicable. School Boy.—Correspondence on nuclear testing closed. Interested Golfer.—Thank you. Suggestion noted. P. D. Buckingham and Malcolm Bargot.—Leave It to your spokesmen. "Abram Ley.”—No space to discuss sex Instruction for the young. Fleming Ross Miller.—lnformation only. Correspondence on the Square recently closed. Do As I?—You don’t say what "he” did; and not everyone watches television continuously. Mayor’s honorarium Sir,—The subject of salaries paid to senior executive staff of major local bodies recently received wide publicity. What concerns me is not the seemingly generous scale of pay to those who fill these responsible positions, but the disparity between the salary of the senior executive and the honorarium of the Mayor. It is widely recognised that the Mayor’s is now a full-time position,

carrying with it expensive obligations. It is doubtful if the necessary standards could be maintained, particularly in the event of the Mayor’s being a family man, on this income, which is the maximum payment allowable under present legislation. Not many New Zealanders would condone the honourable office of Mayor being within reach only of the few who are financially independent. Surely most citizens would concur if the Christchurch City Council took steps to seek approval for raising the Mayor’s remuneration to a level more commensurate with the responsibilities of the position.—Yours, etc., B. J. BRITTEN. October 19. 1972. Paparoa Mine

Sir, —Last year I argued in an article that to close the Paparoa Mine would be wrong. The Prime Minister, in trying to justify his decision, has stated that the loss on Paparoa coal was $9.8 a ton. This loss was mainly in wages; so how did transferring the mineworkers to the already overstaffed Liverpool Mine reduce the loss? Moreover, it is strange accounting which closes down New Zealand production of metallurgical coke because of an alleged loss of $9.8 a ton and thus forces New Zealand industry to import foundry coke from Australia at “$7O a ton more than we are paying now in Christchurch.” It is a form of accounting which threatens to price a significant fraction of New Zea- . land’s manufactured exports off the Australian market. Surely the Government should honestly admit it made a mistake and agree to reopen the Paparoa Mine.— Yours, etc., MARK D. SADLER. October 19, 1972. Picton-Grove Road Sir, —The Picton-Grove scenic highway is a major scenic reserve, probably the

country’s greatest. The Marlborough County Council apparently has to do all the very considerable maintenance, and in view of the demanding nature of the drive, does an excellent job. But this is a priceless asset to the whole country, deserving of outside contribution. Obviously more funds are needed, as at present gorse and broom (and, of course, unintentionally, the bush) are being sprayed. The result is hideous, and greatly intensifies the Are hazard. This drive deserves proper treatment and landscaping; and it is up to other bodies profiting by tourism (and who does not?) to preserve its natural beauty and make good the damage already done. —- Yours, etc., REMEMBER MANAPOURI. October 17, 1972. Hospital parking Sir, —Yesterday at 10.30 a.m., when passing the Christchurch Hospital, I noticed a traffic officer with a piece of chalk busily doing his thing among the cars parked opposite. This is not an isolated incident, for I know of a patient during the last six weeks who found himself the recipient of a ticket on returning to his car after ray therapy. No-one, I think, would park in this area for fun. Most people are aware that out-patients attending the various clinics sometimes travel a considerable distance, often in the terminating stage of their illness, to get there at a fixed time. They then quite often have to wait a considerable period for a few minutes of vital treatment—this all regardless of parking restrictions. I would suggest that this officer would be more suitably employed, however less profitably, doing a survey of these users, with a view to authority acting urgently on the results to provide facilities which are just as necessary as those for the new Town Hall.—Yours, etc., TIME EXPIRED. October 13, 1972. [Mr I. W. McLauchlan, chief traffic officer, Ministry of Transport, replies: ‘‘Numerous complaints have been received of vehicles parked in this area in excess of the 60 minute parking restriction. These complaints are from persons attending the hospital as outpatients who are unable to obtain parking in the immediate vicinity. The area is provided for this purpose and to meet situations where visits to the hospital are necessary for a number of reasons.”] Marylands Home Sir,—l am deeply concerned that the Brothers of St John of God are considering the possibility of closing Marylands because of lack of financial support. The Brothers, in caring for the intellectually handicapped, are expressing their concern for their fellow-man and are giving invaluable service to the community. Their work is interdenominational and they have lifted a burden from the shoulders of many parents. This unique institution is irreplaceable.—Yours, etC ” A. MONTAGUE. October 19, 1972. Sir, —I enclose a cheque for Marylands. I wish I could afford more, but I hope that there are many others who can and will contribute towards the good work of the Brothers of St John of God. —Yours, etc., (MRS) M. DENCH. October 19, 1972. Sir, —All responsible citizens of Christchurch should heartily endorse the sentiments expressed in your editorial concerning Marylands. While there is a strong case for prompt Government help there is also some responsibility on this community to help fmatb

cially. I am prepared to pay $1 a week for three years. Who will join me for a lesser or greater amount or for a longer or shorter period?— Yours, etc., CONCERNED. October 19, 1972. Sir,—For the Government to support and help Marylands appears to me to be the educational bargain of the week! These people achieve what the Government special residential school does, at a vast difference in price.— Yours, etc., PRACTICAL. October 19, 1972. Lyttelton ferry service Sir, —Surely it is time the Union Steam Ship Company realised it has a duty to the public. Some weeks ago when the Maori was introduced on the WellingtonLyttelton run to replace the ship which had broken down, the Maori came into Lyttelton at 1 a.m. the following morning; it was due in about 7 the previous evening. One would have thought that the company could have arranged for one of the “after hours” telephones to be manned to tell passengers when to come down to Lyttelton. As it was, it was not until after two hours frantic efforts to get some information that the Harbour Board night watchman passed the information that the Maori was running some seven hours late. I am not blaming the Maori, the crew of which did a wonderful job, but the utter indifference and lack of any consideration by the Union Company for the interests and comfort of would-be passengers. I have only just returned from Auckland; hence the time lag over this complaint.—Yours, NEPTUNE. October 16, 1972. [Mr S. H. Robinson, acting branch manager for the Union Steam Ship Company, replies: “On the occasion mentioned, both the railways and our answer-phone service were advised of the delays to the vessel Maori, while six ‘spot’ radio broadcasts were made on the Wednesday and another six on the Thursday as two sailings were involved. Our own telephone exchange was kept open until 6 p.m. on the Thursday and then switched back to our answer-phone service which is open throughout the night. These actions, we feel, gave prospective passengers and others ample opportunity to be aware of the disruption to the service.”] Address on sex education

Sir, —In “The Press” on Friday there was a report of an address by Mrs Edna Nash, clinic sister for the Christchurch Family Planning Association, to the Christchurch branch of the National Organisation for Women. She was reported as saying that she was doubtful whether young people under 16 had the necessary emotional stability or sense of responsibility to enter into sexual relationships; it was then experimentation, which she trusted would fade with the informed attitudes of the present generation of parents. However, she could not condemn a caring, enriching relationship that was entered into in full knowledge of its significance and that did not end in an unwanted pregnancy. Are we then to assume that the Christchurch Family Planning Association sees no harm in “caring enriching relationships” that do not end in pregnancy for adolescents 16 and older?— Yours, etc., CURIOUS PARENT. October 16, 1972. {Mrs E. B. Nash, secretary of the Christchurch branch

of the Family Planning Association, replies: "I am well aware that it is impossible to report a speaker verbatim. Therefore I would like to inform ‘Curious Parent’ that, on the occasion of my speaking to the National Organisation of Women, I introduced my talk by saying, ‘From my experience in family planning work, from my association With youth work, and as the mother of a family, I bring you these thoughts on sex education . . so that they, or anyone else, would not be led to assume that I was in any way stating Family Planning Association policy.”] Kindergarten teachers Sir, —I add my sincere hope that the public will support our claim for an increase in salary. Anyone who has come in contact with the work done in a kindergarten will realise the importance of this service to the community. Most teachers are dedicated professional women, striving to extend and enrich the pre-school child’s environment, and to help him adjust emotionally, intellectually, and socially to a world of constant change. Miss W. Lee, publicity officer for the New Zealand Free Kindergarten Association, stated that “a first-year primary teacher with sixthform certificate is handed some $5O net a week.” As a kindergarten teacher for the last four years (the latter two as head teacher) and having U.E., I receive the net sum of $4B a week. People are now realising the vital role of pre-school education and I ask the public to support us. I do feel we deserve better recognition.—Yours, etc., (MRS) HEATHER PEARCE. October 18, 1972. Correspondence Year Sir, —During many years international service work I have the names and addresses of people of all ages from nine to 90, in most parts of the English-speaking world, America, Australia, Africa, Asia, and Europe, as well as in most parts of the British Isles, who would like to make friendships with people of the same age and similar interests in New Zealand. The exchange of friendly letters, the sharing of mutual interests and hobbies can be a fascinating pastime, as much for the young -and active as for the sick, elderly, or lonely. Above all, the exchange of views between people of different nations can play a very real part in the furtherance of world good-will, understanding, and peace. — Yours, etc., DUDLEY W. KERLOGUE. Box 10, Matlock, • Derbyshire, England. August 15, 1972.