A REPLY TO “FIRST ESSENTIAL.’’

Hawera Star, Volume L, 20 June 1930, Page 4

A REPLY TO “FIRST ESSENTIAL.’’

(To the Editor.) V -,11-, —jji reply to “First Essential, ’ i snouiu like to say tnat I disagree with him in that the directors ‘-burked the mam issue, responsibility.” I think that when they passed motions to make compulsory differential payments for milk supplied according to grade, and to pool moneys from all factories and to pay this money to factories making rinest grade cheese, that the directors are taking a fair amount of responsibility ,and as mover of the resolution as regards compulsory differential payment for milk I disagree with “First Essential” that this is a very slow method of making a supplier clean up. There is nothing like touching a man’s pocket to make him respond, and so long as. we nave til© l compulsory clause he will be treated just the same if he chooses to go elsewhere with his milk. Shed inspection is very good in its way, but can’t get to the root of the matter, and some take advantage of the inspector s absence and get lax. Anyway the method of determining the quality of the milk supplied is not finalised as yet, but I suggest the manager is the right man, and by certain easy tests he can show suppliers what the quality of milk is at the'time of delivery. This an inspector cannot do, as he can t be everywhere at once. “First Essential” also disrates the motion passed as regards factories not supplying hot water. This has a very direct hearing on a good milk supply, in that many dairymen make this ihot water wash and iscald everything and have no appliance for boiling water on the job. ‘lit is pointed out by Mr Veale that harmful microbe organisms multiply ‘ very rapidly and must have boiling ' water to kill them in tlie short space ‘of time the water is passing over them, so how can water brought from ' half a mile to two miles be lioiling ' when the cans are washed? There ' must be an appliance for boiling water jin every shed. It is well known to factory managers and directors that ! milk, with harmful bacteria in it can L come from nicely appointed, clean looking machines and surroundings that have no facilities for boiling water. I think that if these resolutions recommended from the federated factories are carried into effect suitably to the industry at the Hamilton conference that our cheese will he better than ever it was, and much cost - in pasteurisation will be done away i with.—l am, etc.. : G. W. WILLIAMS. * Mevemei’e, June 19.

POWER. BOARD LIGHTING CHARGES.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —JNlay X claim, a small space in your columns to enter a protest to the Taranaki Rower Board, who will no doubt, bring their best arguments forward to explain away the reason why ? My electric light bill is more than twice as much this month as any previous reading since their taking over, particularly when the writer knows full well that the consumption in the home has been so much less and feels perfectly convinced there is something wrong somewhere. Dissatisfaction is expressed all around is there no remedy for such an injustice? In these times when economy is called for, from the very floor of the “House,” and most every woman is doing her best to follow the good advice in her own home, can you wonder she feels justly indignant? Are we just beginning to feel the Power Board’s claws? Come on you very able citizens. Must we take this sitting down? Thanking you, Mi. Editor, once more. —I am, etc., PRO BONO PUBLICO.

MR. MURDOCH’S STATEMENT

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Will you please give me space in your valuable columns to correct another mis-statement on electric supply matters made by the* chairman of the South Taranaki Power Board. In your issue of 12th inst., Mr. Murdoch is reported to have said “In the last eighteen months the Wanganui-Rangi-tikei Board reduced its rate, from <d to od. The former charge was prior to the Government supply being made available.” The facts are that the Government supply was made available. to and taken by the WanganuiItangitikei Power Board on. the Ist April, 1925, over five years ago. The lighting charge was then 7d nett. It was reduced to 6d on the Ist October, 1928, and to 5d on the Ist July 1929. Mr. Murdoch also claims that when the Government bulk supply is available to South Taranaki Board a reduction in price to consumers will automatically follow. The Government charge in bulk to. the South Taranaki Board will be approximately £S 10s per Iv.V.A. Competent electrical engineers suggest to me that the South Taranaki Board can and does produce its own current at not more than £7 per Iv.V.A., or £1 10s per K.V.A. cheaper than the Government bulk charge (Mr. Murdoch might publish the exact figures?). If the Government bulk charge is over 20 per cent, dearer than the present generating cost, then how can the charge to consumers be reduced on that account ? 1 am, etc., F. PURNELL, Chairman, WanganuiRangitikei Electric Power Board.

RAILWAY SAFETY RULES

(To the Editor)

The first thing that meets the eye cu every page of the New Zealand Railway Department’s rule book is the statement that “The first and most important duty of every member of llie f(ervice is the public safety,” and when one reads of the terrible accident at Sock burn, it makes one wonder if Ihe rule is as much appreciated by the “heads” as it should be. The l.ict which most impressed me was that the engine 'hauling the train was a tender engine, and that it was running tender first. Tills, sir, is a menace to the public and the train crew alike, and by asking drivers to run tender engines tender first at 25 to 35 miles an hour, makes one think that the “heads’’ have overlooked that first, and most important-, duty.

A tank or hunker engine may run either way with safety, for it is provided vvitb cowcatchers at both ends, and a back wall to the cab. Windows are aAso nrcvided in the back wall, "lie tender engine is not equipped with a rear cowcatcher. With, a space of from 24 to 30 inches between the rail and the bottom of the bunker the chances

are 100 to 1 that anything on the line will go under the wheels and cause a derailment. Up till quite recently it was considered sufficiently unsafe to warrant a rule providing that no engine should exceed 10 miles an hour when travelling tender first, but- some v. iso head, for departmental convenience, has now instructed that they may travel from 25 to 35 miles an hour tender first. There is no back wall to the cab ; a tender full of coal is being pushed along in front of the crew, and there is no protection against the' weather. Why, sir. the engine crew are picking coal dust cut of their eyes half the time! I believe I am right in stating that when that instruction cam© out the loco men protested and. pointed out the danger. Now, it is the cause of a derailment, and, I think, the first derailment caused by a collision with a motor car; but. sir, in this ease, flic engine struck it tender first. Is Ibis not worth a protest?—l am. etc., EX-LOCO.

AN UNSIGHTLY PLOT

(To the Editor.) Sir, —1 journeyed, a few days since, from New Plymouth to Hawera. About two miles on this side of New Plymouth 1 saw an area by the side of the road laid bare by a deviation of the road —a kind of no man’s land. But I noticed to my gratification that the plot was fenced and that therein were planted accacias and other •shrubs. About a mile on the Eltliam side of Normnnby I saw beside the road another no man’s land, a relatively small parcel, say a. quarter-acre, cut off by a deviated road. But to my sorrow and regret .1 noticed that the plot had been surrendered to rubbish and noxious plants—convolvulus, periwinkles, spreading poplars, gorse and so on. The plot was not fenced even. It appeared to be a dejected, dirty ragend—no one’s care, no one’s pleasure to tidy up —and I wondered why tidiness should prevail up at New Plymouth and untidiness at Hawera. — I am, etc., LOOKER-ON.