COUNTRY LIFE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 3

COUNTRY LIFE.

TO THE IDITOB. Sir,—J have read your lea-dor on country life iu Saturday's issue, and, like yourself, 1 look forward for some good results from the efforts of Mr J. .1). Hall and Mr E. 0. Broiraell, both able men. .1 quite agree with the remark that in the cities the residents have everything done for them, and in the country they have to do it for themselves. I. will confine myself to two services only—mail and telephone. I have been expecting some abler pen than mine to ventilate these grievances, for many have complained of the hardships to mo, but no one has ventured into t print. Your mail is delivered in the city while some of our settlers have to go for it four and five miles. This may not be much to the man with a motorcar, but it is a serious matter to tho ono without, after a hard day's work. Hundreds of settlers have to do it, where one man could serve tho lot. What a contrast to other countries. One penny ivill take a letter to any house in lingla-nd (li',ooo miles), or 2sd to any houso in Germany; but it costs many of our settlers a shilling and more for a letter from the nearest post office. (The same applies to posting.) • Que has to go from home to see better arrangements. Here tho mail is carried past-our gate daily for us to bring it back, at a cost of not less tlutn £4 a year, and the best recommendation wo can get from the authorities is a private bag. It seems to us the authorities have only one object in view as far as country settlers are concerned—money making. If some of these officials had to make their living in the country what a howl there would be! * • .■ As to telephones, the country subscriber pays £'o a year license for a eight- hours service, and sixpence a message of three minutes, with extra for more than three minutes. And let me tell you it is extra when the wrong man is on the other end. He tells you to hang on while he finds the one you. want, the time and pay going on all the while. Compare this with say, Christchurch. ' .But the contrast is still greater if we reckon some of the city subscribers ritw up fifty times » day and mors. This would cost us at least £1 os per day, £7 10s a week, and £3!)0 a year. The clever authorities have clever regulations for country people in particular. They won't allow you to use your neighbour's or Ihe nearest telephone. You must carry your pence to tho bureau, no matter how far away it may be. If there is need for twopenny slot machines in the cities, there is still greater need for them in the country.—l am .etc.. •H'AIHORA. '.