LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33981, 23 October 1975, Page 16

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

(1) Letters to De considered tor this column must not exceed 150 words. They should be on only one side of the paper, preferably typewritten other' wise clearly written in ink. and ample margins and space between lines should be left for convenience in subediting. t2) 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 tetters, although an acknowledgement will be made where this seems to be necessarv or helpful (5) As a general rule correspond ence on news items in other publications or carried on radio and television is not acceptable (6) Letters on the General Election and party policies will be printed only over the signatures of correspondents; pseudonyms will not be accepted. Slogan, and Straight.—See Rule , 6 above. Louise Hawke, P. G. Neame.— i More than 150 words. ' Ambulance Admirer. —Let’s get the new ambulance first. Christchurch Proud.—Walt till the fountains are working again, and the building alterations are completed. Filler in Hagley Park Sir.—l would like to congratulate the department of the Chris City Council responsible for filling in the holes on the perimeter of Hagley Park. However, in this age of “litter awareness,” I would be interested to know why this department has seen fit to mix broken glass with the soil and sawdust that has been used as a filler. This park, of which the city is justly proud, is a recreational area and broken glass and recreational areas do not go together in even the most

j peculiar of societies. — Yours, etc., DAVID W. KERR. • October 10, 1975. ’ [The director of reserves • (Mr H. G. Gilpin) replies: “The filling material men- ■ tioned by the correspondent i was intended for burying in i a deeper hole, where it would have been well ' covered with clean topsoil. 1 However, the person concerned did not realise that it contained broken glass and, [ acting on his own initiative, • decided to fill also some very ; muddy shallow depressions ! along the park perimeter. The i action of weather on the fill caused the glass to come to the surface. The glass has ’ now been removed and the : correspondent is to be thanked for his interest in ■ Hagley Park.”] i J s t Superannuation and benefits Sir, —In recent newspaper and television releases by the Labour Party concerning its pension proposals, it is . stated that the New Zealand ' superannuation scheme, and other approved superannua- : tion schemes, would be “in ■ addition” to the proposed 90 per cent of average weekly take-home pay. Does this mean that contributors to Government superannuation, mutual funds, etc., would receive in full both the Labour Party’s 60-year-old pension and their payments from the superannuation scheme into which they have paid their voluntary contributions, or would income from these sources be permitted only to the limit of the $l7 allowable ■ income? I would be inter- ‘ ested in comment by the , Minister of Finance.—Yours, WONDERING. October 15, 1975. [The Minister of Finance • (Mr Tizard) replies: “The present situation allows a married couple receiving the age benefit to earn up to an additional $l7 a week before • any adjustment is made to their basic pension. The additional income would include income from all sources, including superannuation. I would point out that, with the New Zealand Superannuation Scheme only in its first year, it will be 1 some time before considerable payouts occur. I would I point out the Labour Party’s • policy of keeping the additioI nal allowable income under : regular review, and the fact i that during the past three years this limit has been i raised twice.”] : Union contribution to Labour Party , Sir, —Having compulsorily, ' certainly not by choice, . joined a “workers” union, I ' find that a portion of my , fees have been voted to the Labour Party. Being an ard- . ent National supporter I am . highly indignant at this arro- ’ gant attitude by a body , claiming to represent and be ' working for the work force. ’ Does it honestly believe all ' workers vote Labour? — 1 Yours, etc., ANTI-COMPULSION. October 15, 1975. [The secretary of the Canterbury Trades Council (Mr Frank McNulty) replies: “Your correspondent “AntiCompulsion” is not correct when he says that he joined a union by compulsion. Under the Industrial Relations Act, union membership is provided for in the industrial agreement between employers and workers, in which there is a provision for • either a qualified or unqualified preference clause. ;An unqualified preference , clause has to be by agree- ; ment of all assessors or not less than 50 per cent of all the workers who are or de- , sire to remain members of ’ the union. Regarding conI tribution to the Labour Party, ; a union becomes affiliated to the Labour Party by a de--5 cision of the members of that , particular union. Your cor- ; respondent would have the - right to express his objection ■ to any such affiliation; but J "Anti-Compulsion” would ' object to being bound to i such majority decision. We - agree that not all workers t vote Labour, if they did we 3 would never have a National Government”]

Prison officers Sir, — I am a prison officer “hot under the collar,” but not for the reasons stated by Mr Stroud, Superintendent of Christchurch Prison. Your report on the appointment of Mr Warren David Sisarich, a former inmate, as legal adviser to the Justice Department is news to me. I have no doubt that this issue was discussed at a meeting of the prison officers’ sub-group, but many officers including myself were not aware that a meeting had taken place. I cannot see the logic of the argument. Surely if prisoners are treated as required in the penal institutions, officers have nothing to fear from former inmates. Perhaps Mr Sisarich will remember the conditions officers have to work under and do something to improve their lot.— Yours, etc., PRO. October 22, 1975. Name of orchestra Sir, — Your music critic showed true impartiality and dignity in not mentioning the name of the orchestra that accompanied the Royal Christchurch Musical Society’s 500th concert. This could not be said of all local music critics. — Yours, VERY MUCH CONCERNED. October 21, 1975. Bridie Path Sir, — For too long the Heathcote County Council has fobbed off those who protest about the use by vehicles of this historic track by stating the obvious “it is a public road.” I challenge the council to take all necessary steps to revoke this designation, and then to have it gazetted as Crown land “national walkway.” The procedure is simple, the need proved; only the abdominal fortitude to do it is required. Here’s hoping. — Yours, etc., G. E. LEE. October 17, 1975. Benefit rates Sir,—When the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) made his announcement about increased rates for age beneficaries and universal superannuitants. he said that a "married couple” would receive 90 per cent of the net average wage and a “single person” would receive 60 per cent of the married benefit. What percentage would the “married man whose wife is under 65” receive as a universal superannuitant.— Yours., etc., UNDER 65. October 14, 1975. [The Minister of Social W'elfare (Mr King) replies: “The Government’s proposed new deal for pensioners makes no change to the age qualification for superannuation benefit. Consequently, the scheme will not enable a wife under the age of 65 years to qualify for that benefit. The husband will continue to receive half the amount that would be payable if they both qualified. However, if the superannuation benefit is the main source of the husband’s income he may choose to transfer to the income-tested age benefit, which includes an allowance for a dependent wife. This would also enable the couple to qualify for the various concessions provided for income-tested beneficiaries.”] East and West Sir, — Nobody in this country is forcing opinions down the throat of ‘Westland For West Coasters.” Even the lighthousekeeper at Cape Reinga has as much justified right to be concerned about the fate of our beech forests or Mount Davy coal as any Greymouth or Christchurch resident. The miners and millers of Westland have little to fear from informed opinions voiced by C.A.F.C.I.N.Z. or the Native Forest Action Council in the face of the Government’s determination to turn the West Coast into a bargain shop for Japanese industrialists. — Yours, etc., ERICH H. JONKERS. October 22, 1975. Liffey Cottage

Sir, — The report in "The Press” on Tuesday on the Ellesmere County Council’s discussion about a new site

for Liffey Cottage in Lincoln is misleading. The council is not being asked to buy the land. The only cost would be that of legal expenses, which our committee has offered to defray if it could then lease the area. We are confident that the project has substantial support in the Lincoln district, even though no proper appeal has been mounted while the land issue is not settled. Contrary to “The Press” report we have had the fullest encouragement from the Historic Places Trust. It is true that there was some opposition to the first site suggested. However, the site now proposed is more suitable and the adjacent landowners fully approve. We hope that the council will be guided by the members of the Lincoln Advisory Committee, before making a final decision. — Yours, etc., MALCOLM GORDON. CHAIRMAN. LIFFEY COTTAGE ACTION COMMITTEE. Lincoln, October 21, 1975. Selwyn River Sir, — In support of the farmer who fenced off his land at the Selwyn River mouth: during “Elderly Angler’s” years of absence cars, go-karts and motorcycles used this area as racetracks to the detriment of the grass, stock, picnickers and fishermen. The farmer also had to tow out many bogged vehicles by tractor. He fenced this area. He left parking for 30 cars adjacent to the “Huts” boat ramp which is accessible only through his property. The public road (Hurst Road) ends at the Lower Selwyn Huts last access gate. He built a stile for pedestrians on his property — to whom he has no objection. Vehicles have been his problem. We who fish this area constantly are grateful for this consideration and find numerous other places to park between the Upper and Lower Huts. The river is still fished by many elderly fishermen, myself included, who accept the necessary changes. — Yours, etc., N. J. F. October 20, 1975. Amenities at race meetings Sir,—As one who enjoys trotting, especially country meetings, I was once again appalled at the conditions at the Motukarara meeting on Saturday. The women’s toilets are a disgrace and similar conditions occur each year. With such a popular meeting one would expect the club to have done something to correct this. Does it not matter what the public have to endure so long as the club has a financial success?— Yours, etc., DISGUSTED RACEGOER. October 14, 1975. [The secretary of the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club (Mr L. D. B. Stowell) replies: “Since the previous meeting at Motukarara, additional toilet facilities were installed to meet the requirements of the health authorities. Unfortunately, on race day the valves controlling the holdings tanks were twice turned off by children playing in the area and an airlock was formed. But after this was corrected, there was no further problem with the flow of water to flush the system.”] Ambulance standard Sir, —The life-saving potential of the superbly equipped German ambulances, as described by Dr Fahey, is very impressive. It is suggested that sufficient funds be taken from the telethon training school fund, by St John, to provide one of these ambulances for each of the main centres. It is certain that the money of those who gave would be even more effectively used and many would be agreeable to the publicspirited use.—Yours, etc., BONNIE. October 17, 1975.

[Mr G. A. Brown, secretarytreasurer of the Christchurch sub-centre of the St John Ambulance Association), replies: “However desirable it may appear to be to use telethon donations towards the purchase of German-equipped ambulances, any change of purpose from establishing and maintaining a training school would be a gross breach of faith.”]