LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33728, 28 December 1974, Page 12

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 type1 written 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 oi enter into correspondence concerning letters although an acknowledgement will be made where this seems to be necessary or helpful 5> As a general rule corres pondence on news items tn othet publications ot carried on radio and television. Is not acceptable. A. Loony.—No "cure” is planned. Jobs for the Boys.—The salary will probably be well earned. T.l.—But most services are appreciated. Checking “net” return. Live and Be Thankful.—lnteresting, but hardly a likely explanation. Governor’s Bay water Sir, —Another dry summer has apparently started and some Governor’s Bay residents are already carting water. It is therefore disturbing to hear that two newly elected councillors, Messrs Johns and Brockhurst have proposed deletion of a stated objective in the County District Planning Scheme that a water supply would be provided. As they apparently made no reference to this view in their electioneering, it would be appropriate for them now to confirm whether this is their policy or, if not so, to state just what steps they intend to take to make this badly needed amenity available. Having been instrumental in frustrating Mr O’Farrell’s development proposals to the extent that it it is highly unlikely any assistance will now be forthcoming from that quarter, would they now expect the present small community to bear the cost alone?—Yours, etc..

CONCERNED RESIDENT. December 5, 1974. [Messrs B. S. Johns and J. F. Brockhurst reply: “ ‘Concerned Resident’ raises matters of which he obviously has no personal knowledge or understanding. No doubt this is one of the reasons why he chooses to hide behind a nom-de-plume. We would remind ‘Concerned Resident’ that we are two councillors on a council of eight, and that any decision as to the nonprovision of a water supply for Governor’s Bay is one for the council to decide (see the recent variation to the reviewed district scheme as publicly notified in ‘The Press’ on December 19, 1974). If ‘Concerned Resident’ had shown enough concern to have attended the public meeting of candidates at the Allandale Hall, then he would

have heard us both state our views on the question of a water supply for Governor’s Bay. We are sorry that ‘Concerned Resident’ is disturbed, and suggest that he communicates with either or both of us directly, rather than through the newspapers, and that in future he ought to rely on public statements and council records for information, rather than on hearsay.”] Babies taught to swim Sir, — I wish to inform Mrs Tonie McArthur that her accusations are illfounded. Quite contrary to “looking for an ego boost through the performance of their infant swimmers," wise Barents like to teach their infants to swim, mainly as a prophylactic measure. With so many unprotected streams and pools around the place, would she, or the others who think likewise, see a child drown rather than hear him cry for the first few days when being taught to swim? I would greatly appreciate the opinion of pediatricians on this matter. — Yours, etc., S. WEERASINGHE. December 23, 1974. South African "good news” Sir, — To what extent are host countries obliged to tolerate the activities of the South African Department of Information? In May this year it was revealed that Donald de Kieffer, a Washington lawyer, was paid $5O an hour by the department to lobby United States congressmen and facilitate the visits to the United States of the South African Foreign Affairs Minister and Defence Chief. He secured influence by making contributions to the political funds of congressional leaders such as Thomas Morgan, chairman of the House foreign relations committee. The South African Embassy was understandably embarrassed. The issue raised by the incident, as with those discussed in your article, was the extent to which countries would continue to accept South African clandestine political influence within their borders. — Yours, etc., LUKE TRAINER. December 24, 1974. Wheat planting Sir, —While others argue about the national and private economics of wheat, it is as well to remember the importance of grain in feeding the world compared with the importance of meat, which we grow for its higher profit. Parts of the world are desperately short, not of meat, but of grain, including wheat. Yet beef cattle in the West, we are told, are ted large amounts of grain and it appears that it takes 6|lb to produce 11b of meat. And we are going to import wheat because we are a wee bit short. How about rationing flour and wheat products and giving the cash saving in

overseas funds to CORSO, while we plan to have wheat to give away in future years? This would be a fairly easy way to start tightening our belts—an exercise likely to become more and more necessary in years to come.— Yours, etc., G. C. SUGGATE. December 29, 1974. Cemeteries Sir, —I recently visited one of our largest cemeteries inChristchurch and was appalled at the general neglect—weeds 3ft high everywhere. It was not possible to read the inscriptions on many of the graves because of the weeds. Surely something can be done with some of our rate money to tidy these places. As a citizen I was ashamed for Christchurch.— Yours, etc., MRS B. December 26, 1974.