LEVEL CROSSINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18553, 10 November 1923, Page 9

LEVEL CROSSINGS.

--Judging by certain proceedings reported in the paper recently, it sedans to be assumed by the railway authorities that all danger of a collision is eliminated if the. driver of a car pulls up at a crossing. I known of several crossings where the danger would actually be increased by so doing, for the reason that only about 50yds. of the line is visible from such crossing. I pulled dp at such a crossing the other day, and then crossed on low gear. Immediately I got clear a tram passed at about 30 miles an hour, ana I estimate that had it come round the bend when I restarted tbe car it would have struck me, whereas I should have got clear by crossing without stopping. The 'jrain covered the 50vds. in 3$ seconds, -which is too little for a driver to travel the require! distance from a standing start. The department should state its views on this matter.. Sxvmn Fikst.

RELIGION AND INTOLERANCE. | Sir,—On Saturday night, November 3, I was presiwnt at a concert given by the Baptist Tabernacle choir. Before the conclusion of the concert the Rev. J. Kemp gave a very kind and open invitation to all present to come to the Tabernacle on the following Wednesday to hear the Rev. J. J. North lecture on his world * tour, ret?. I went, and tie \ church was practically full. It was a mixed congregation. I understand that almost every church was represented—for, in addition to Mr. Kemp's Saturday night invitation I have been informed that several hu*. dred invitations were \ sent to raembww of the Thursday night Bible-study class, which comprises not only Baptists, but members and adherents of other denominations, and I am sure no one expected to be openly insulted by the lecturer. Mr. North strongly attached the Exclusivist and Sacerdotalist, anff, possibly, he was correct in some of his statements, but I am sure a number of bis own denomination took exception to the unkindly attack made especially : upon the Presbyterians and Methodists in regard to their belief and practices in connection with " intwit baptism." Was it not an unkind thing to class infant baptism as a most cruel thing i have listened with pleasure and delight to some of the world's outstanding Baptist preachers, and I never heard such unkind statements made by any of them as were made by Mr. 'North on Wednesday last. Mr. North is a stranger to me. I never heard or saw him before, but he must remember that he is no* vn*. only one who has read Church history, neither has he all the knowledge of denominational creeds and dogmas. V 1 course Mr. North does not believe in creeds and dogmas, for he stated he w*s glad that the Baptist Church was unencumbered by creeds and dogmas, Possibly if he refreshed his memory he would discover that the Baptist Churcn, after all, lias its creeps and dogmas. But what I was astounded at was Mr. North, in his opening remarks condemning the Exclusivist and Sacerdotalist, also the Apostolic Succession, and then claiming that the Baptist Church had the most simple form of Christianity; he practically declared that it is the real Church and that all others were astray, I contend that this is not the time for party; strife and unkind remarks, and for one to stand on a pedestal and cry We are the Church of God and heathens all beside. 1 was sorry for the broad-minded and charitably-disposed Baptists who v had to listen to such incorrect and unkind remarks about the beliefs of fellow citizens and Christian friends, and I trust, for the sake of our common Christianity, that when Mr. North again stands as a chamion of freedom and religious toleration, he will be more correct and charitable in his statements.' ; - :';•''■' J-K, : ;t;

I' WifiOTBKK SPRINGS RESERVE. g; r —That the Western Springs res«£» out side the Zoo wool* make an ideal park m suggested by " Nature Lover," cannot he Said, The question as ;Co what is goin? to be done with <T i*'flfifiS by ;• Owing. * to ; the S? XffVrnS%m "<he City Council should have no. ."J , transforming tl» rwervo .fag J*&gS£2 nark. Why not also setae the opportunity of erecting an enclosed ealt-water swimming bath near the pumping station! The water could be ; electrically pumped into the bath through pipe*_from the nearest point of the harbour. The k.th would a God-send to adults and youngsters residing near Westsro Springs or at Grey Lynn, Archhill, or MornmrtSide, Point Chevalier Beach being too far distant for; : them to bathe there regularly. keenis the demand for a swimming bath at Western Springs that I have not the v slightest doubt that a loan 'f. for ■* this , worthy object would be readily sanctioned at a poll of the ratepayers. :"•, ..." X. ' Go AHEAD. . ;

• THE PRICE OF FISH.}.; ; Sir,—l would like to draw ■ attention to the prohibitive price of fish in Auckland—for prohibitive it is for the working man's urse.—and would like to show that it is not the small retailer who is the cause of such high, prices ruling. I have been in the retail fish trade for the past four years, buying from both Auckland fish markets, aad quote wholesale prices as under for cleaned and smoked fish : - Fresh schnapper, 3sd . per lb; smoked schnappcr, 7d per lb. ; fresh flounder, 7d per lb.; smoked mullet, 6£d per lb.; fresh John Dory, 3|d per lb.; smoked -blue cod, 8d per lb.; fresh whitebait, Is 6d per lb. ; smoked roes, Is per lb. The present ruling prices in both the fish markets' retail shops (private and municipal), are: Fresh schnapper, 4d and 5d per lb.: smoked schnapper, 7d . per lb.; fresh flounder, 9d per lb. ; smoked mullet, 6£d per lb. ; fresh John Dory, 5d per lb.; smoked blue odd, 8d per lb. ; fresh whitebait, 2s per lb. ; smoked roes, Is per lb. The reason for quoting above prices is to show what a monopoly the markets (apparently by mutual consent, as same flatrates rule in each), have over the local and suburban retailer, who is compelled to buy from them and compete against them at a fraction over their wholesale price. I would like to be shown how it would be possible for the municipal retail shop to be worked at a profit after wastage (a? fresh fish mutt be sold, or should be dumped After being displayed for sale a day), rent and overhead charges are met, with such a small percentage between wholesale and "retail rates. It would also be interesting to hear the, price paid fishermen for 'their catch. The remedy appears to be not in a municipal wholesale and retail .concern, with the same prices ruling whether fish is there by the cwt. or by sever-.' tons, but by a "municipal auction fish market, where '. prices would be ruled by the means of supply and demand. Fishermen could, then get a fair price for their catch, and 'a-report of prices could be published as is in vogue now with eggs, fruit, produce, etc. Fish Oh. THE RAILWAY STATION. Sir,—To many Aucklanders the proposed removal of the railway station to Beach Road appears to be a retrograde step and very much against the interest* of the city. At present Auckland has an advantage over many other New Zealand cities in the possession of a entraTrailway station convenient to the main artery of iraffic, the wharves, and the ferries. To move it* away out along Beach Road would place Auckland in the same ■ unenviable plight as Wellington, Christchurch, etc., as regards their unhandy stations. It should always be borne in mind when considering the arguments of the high railway officials-that they' are mainly - concerned with •th efficient and ■ safe working of the trains: the last thing they think of ,is the public, convenience. Their advice must, therefore, be v.jwed with suspicion. " "'/ - r _ How would this plan affect 1 the 'congestion of traffic in Auckland ? Even with the help' of the railway, the trams have a difficulty in coping with the crowd of travellers aft certain hours. The moving of the people in and out of many great cities is one of Hie most serious problems of the age. If the trains and trams are already dangerously crowded at the rush hours, wh&'t will be the position when the population of Auckland has doubled The best of tram or motor-bus services, with the railway, station in Mechanics* Bay, could not "cope with it. Instead of moving the station away from -;, Queen Street we shall require another on the other side for the northern , residents. : If _ the railwajr property at the.; present terminus be too narrow for the action, let the Government acquire ,laid, to Bring it to the necessary width—they have the power. The expenditure would be nothing in comparison with the vast sums i spent in braying land for railway stations in other countries. Most of the great stations in London are clustered in and about the city.v It would be far more to the purpose, benefiting both' the " dj. and the Railway Department; if the -Beach. Road railway crossing were *ridged; then the platforms and ;= sidings ■■:■ could be lengthened ad libitum, * and r the , road traffic could proceed uninterruptedly. •« - • . H. B. JL/ObBTR. ?