READERS WRITE

Northern Advocate, 1 March 1947, Page 4

READERS WRITE

An editorial in the Northern Advocate" recently reminded the public that after the previous war a committee selected a comDECISION ON mendable proposal WAR MEMORIAL for a memorial which had to be abandoned later for want of financial and public support. The committee in the present drive should employ all possible means-do establish the will of the public before it makes a decision. While a public meeting seems necessary to give a section of the people an opportunity to voice their opinions, a meeting of a few hundred persons is not likely to be representative of the opinion of the whole district of 20,000. In order to avoid a recurrence of a fiasco, the full text of all proposals should be published by the committee, either by arrangement with the "Northland papers or by full page advertisements. to give everybody an opportunity to study them and arrive at a ! decision without persuasive influence from the chair or from enthusiasts. A coupon could be attached to be filled in and returned to the- committee within 48 hours. It should read: Do you support the idea of a memorial? For the whole district? Just j locally ? Spiritually ? And/or finanI daily ? Fill in the number of the 1 published proposals which you supj port. If you support the idea of a memorial but none of the proposals, state why. , The response to this questionnaire will give the committee a better idea of the attitude of the general public than the of a lop-sided gathering.—“ROMAN.” As the opinion is recorded in an old book that “in the multitude of counsellors there is safety,” I may be permitted to make WAR MEMORIAL one or two sugr gestions about a suitable memorial. Having lately visited Dob’bie Park, and seen something of its quiet peace—apparently iso little appreciated by the townspeople. I feel it should be made more accessible. Instead of spending a big sum on one huge swimming pool, why not devote a thousand or two, in improvj ing the pool in Mair Park, and providing paths on both sides of the river, from the tidal water limits right down to the big bridge, with several foot bridges where needed? This would provide for the constant enjoyment of many throughout the year, instead of concentrating for the entertainment of visitors occasionally at a great cost. Another suitable place would be near the butter factory. By using the stones in the stream bed to make .a small dam, a useful swimming pool could be made, which would also provide a necessary reservoir in case of a possible lire. The factory surroundings have been improved, and when the new bridge is erected, much more will probably be done along Railway Road.—“R.B.N.”

I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating Mr D. Fraser on his action at the Whangarei Swimming

, Club’s carnival on CONGRATS TO Saturday last. BeMR FRASER ing among the spectators on this night I like many others, was of the opinion that the lad concerned was obviously in difficulties, and when Mr Fraser entered the water fully clothed with personal disregard of safety or inconvenience, I am certain many breathed sighs of relief The “ducking under false pretences,” as you termed it, was certainly unwarranted and unfortunate but, what a tragic difference it would have made had every spectator laughed at the child’s inconvenience and found out, when too late, the lad was really in difficulties. The congratulations of this club are extended to Mr Fraser, for his quickthinking action and, although the carnival was no concern of ours, the spirit of such an action calls for some recognition. Any swimming club would welcome Mr Fraser’s type into their organisation. HIKURANGI AMATEUR SWIMMING CLUB (C. Edge, hon. secretary). The radio interference in the Kerikeri area is admittedly “intermittent," but "intermittent” interference which has perRADIO sisted for months, INTERFERENCE is possibly more exasperating than would be a complete cutting off of radio transmission. Mr Gilchrist will nrcbably admit that en “intermittent” fault on a telegraph line might cause that line to be so unreliable as to make it practically useless. The statement in your footnote to Mr Dowker’s letter to the effect that the power board had received no complaint is difficult to accept. I have before me carbon copies of two letters, complaining of radio interference, written to the 801 Power Board by me, dated December 23 and January 6, respectively. Neither lettey has been replied to, not even acknowledged.—B. W. BLACK.