LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18567, 27 November 1923, Page 10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

— m —• i POINT chevalier. ■Sir,—Whether the name Point Chevalier £ changed or not, I certainly think that it is not a correct "tie for those portions of Western Springs Road Car* Jan Street, Bannerman Street, and Spring Stroet. which lie within the oitv area and are also known as Morningside. »™ names are confusing, as £° in * S & S when applied to "the <*o^™"£ ?%££» of the city, give, an inquirer the, uopjes Bion that one resides near Point W'JE Beach—a good distance away,. while the nSiTMornTngside for the area in question cause* him to think that one resides in the hollow near Morningside station, rather than in the salubrious locality of Western Springs. In my V™™ v f\s£ Western Spring* would be m 0.6 app _ priate than Point .CheTal>er or Morn aide for that portion of the district m eluded within »««2f o^ffii S.£r pumping station. I trust that ~ {fcen . will also receive the city wu" 0 " ■ lion when the petitions from Point Cheva lier are under consideration, «"

Sir-Should this beautiful and deserving district bo so unfortunate a*to be b^of Point Chevalier, may I, as » SSpayi -d resident for the Pas ; nine veare, of the extreme eastern edge Of the district, viz.-Western Springs and adjacent side roads, register an etnphatic protest against our portion of the district being any longer compelled to carry he stigma and reproach associated -with the mine of Point Chevalier in the minds of all Aucklanders who have any intimate knowledge of the history of the district. It has al'wave been my contention that our part of the "district should never have been included in the Point Chevalier district, and efforts have been made repeatedly to obtain transfer to some more sahibribiis and better-respected neighbourhood. Uur situation is at least two and a half miles from any part of the beach at the point, which in itself makes the name Point Chevalier" absolutely illogical. Any problematical historical value in the significance attached to the origin of the name cannot possibly be set off against the unenviable reputation, certain post doings in the locality have created, and the kindest act the City Council can now perform, in the good memory of the deceased officer and his possible descendants, is to make the change petitioned for, by the great majority of the ratepayers. F. Fielding.

Sir.—Because the Waikumete dwellers threw away the Maori name, why should their example be followed ? There were many dissentient voices in that case. TBe older residents do not like the change to the sickly cognomen of Glen Eden. There are too many " Glens " and " Edens " so called—Waikumete is not a and certainly not an "Eden." Its present advancement is in no way a consequence of the change of name; rather the change of name came because some of the more moneyed money-makers saw that prosperous times were beginning, and took advantage of the turn of the tide to put themselves and their schemes in the front and to extract attention by the new nameSome of us, though leaving the neighbourhood with regreW have gladly left the name. With the charge of name and the greater prosperity, there has been a change, not for the better in the spirit of the community. Time was when Waikumete residents were a quiet, friendly lot of folk, e:ch one ready with a neighbourly greeting, or a willingly-given " helping hand." Now it is degenerating .into a gossiping, scandal-loving place, people being too busy looking after other folks' business to mind their own, and the name of Glen. Eden is fast becoming synonomoos with mischief-making and spite. Instead of discarding a name that should - be a reminder of self-sacrifice on the part of British officers and men in time 3 gone by, sacrifices made for the good of many (including the present generation), why not honour the name and the officer who bore that name, by explaining to the present yoking folk the rerson for "it ? Mr. McMillan has voiced my thoughts so much better than I can, so I will say no more, except this to the people of the Point Chevalier district: Don't take a step that yon will regret, and don't encourage a failing so common in these times, of lack of respect and honour to those who have done their best for us. AIJATXYS &TSAUGE.

PUT NEW ZEALAND ON THE MAP.

Sir,—Mr. Rhodes is right! The time has arrived when, 'a real and efficient effort should be made to broadcast the world (and particularly the United States and the Old Country) with palpable publicity, demonstrating the, advantages of New Zealand as a land for settlement, and also its wondrous attractions as a tourist resort. We* have the greatest little country on earth, whether it is for wealth, health, beauty, or political tranquility, and yet to the great majority of even AngloSaxons, New Zealand is not ".on the map." Even the map-makers forget us sometimes! My friend the Hon. T. Wilford relates, an argument he had with a Califomian merchant, who persisted in declaring that " New. Zealand was the capital of Australia," and I to settle this simple question they referred to the hotel map of the world. New Zealand was not on that map! This unflattering omission is not an uncommon one. I know a map in Sydney in a public place, a large map of the world on Mercator's projection, and New Zealand is not upon it, and only the other day I saw a small office.map.of the world, printed in U.S.A.—New Zealand is absent. Perhaps I have wandered around this old world & good deal farther than most of my fellow-citizens,' and so I can speak- with some experience. - It is a fact, an unflattering fact, that even in so-called civilised countries, to the generality of people, New Zealand is scarcely known, or only known, as Madagascar or Spitzbergen is known to " the man in the street" in Auckland. What is the remedy? What axe the advantages that will accrue if New Zealand is really " put on the map ?" The remedy is to be found in an organised, sustained, '. and efficient publicity, directed by , men experienced in the art of advertising. It is true that some service in this direction has been attempted by the Government, but it has been far from adequate: and although in spirit I am a collectivist, yet I confess that there are many things a Government can "do badly, and business men can do better, and - publicity is one of them. A good thing \ that the world needs is already half-sold. New Zealand is the wealthiest country per capita. New Zealand has the greatest exports and imports per capita. New Zealand is the healthiest, country on earth. New Zealand has the priceless advantage of political tranquility because she is situated geographically far from the cockpit of Europe, where the people are ever the prey of princes and politicians. New Zealand within its small area has a wonderful variety of natural attractions, and Switzerland is the playground of Europe, so with the improvement of modern transportation and the narrowing of the earth's girdle by airships, New Zealand should become "the playground of the world." Millions of people are desirous of homing under the, conditions our country offers, and countless tourists will bring and leave wealth with us, if the truth about New Zealand can bo wall told in publicity. Auckland, as the premier city of' ili Dominion, , is especially interested in this t,,7 ir ' J or she is and must remain ever vinw of at traction for visitors. I C .fe^K" 1 that right now a conland to coS be convened hero in Auckting New 7?7 *?*" and m « anß of "Puta inference I V? the P"" Such «Per,, and e wh ß J ould ¥, broad, free and community ™ „?L al ■***«»■ of the question shonSCS ,nter ested in this »1 Public should\ te , d ' yet , ths %°™ the multitude of b<s Scorned, for " in wisdom." U %J t «««el there i s mu "h breezy boys" n! , ban<:l of bright and Club, who continuallv « *. Advertising that, they place £?&"£ demonstrating have I- understand «Sf! • j ,p self on this v« 8tl S some i to enunciate publicity for tbT£" lt ****** of word l ; ours Let thJr\ a^ r e^ e Zealand 'of conference to consider^, B*'8*' <"?"«» a y. asb Mr. Bhpdea to "K**«[. and |||fC£al d come from it. irwna& - Much good l ffp s: ■ niTlTfc -' "' ******* lUtwa^.

ADVICE TO NEW ARRIVALS. ~ Sr,—l" was once a new chum* and have had experience since then. I haye travelled annually from north to south of New Zealand, and whenever I, met with immigrants I would seek the.opportunity to have a little brotherly chat with them, something in this way.— I was no land or house agent; (2) I was once a new arrival, like them, and "*? desirous to give advice; (3) Don t put vour expectations too high; (4) Don t expect gold to lie in the. streets, some may be thus found, but itwont be yours; (5) Don't refuse any work be. cause it is not your trade; (6) If you bring out money bank it on fixed deposit as soon as possible, hide the book and be determined to live on your earnings for the first year; (7) Don't, expect to procure an appointment as though you were the only person suitable; (8) Take first offer of employment, be cheerful and faithful, others are looking on, employers know good service and-employees know good masters; (9) Those of your, family who are old enough can help you in your new experience. Remember the Old Land, but don't long for it, New Zealand is trulv "God's Own Country- As to my own personal experiences they have been varied. I have always made what I had in hand fit me for something higher I am now well on in years, health not the best, but I am well satisfied with New Zealand: it fis a love land My labours have been varied, real hard some, but I have tne fulfilled promise, "They that honour Me I will honour having neither poverty nor riches, but a cup running over." May it be so with every new arrival. Richard Hill.

HORSE TRAINING. Sir,— recent letter from Mr. 0. K. Cordon,' inquiring.as to. the best method of catching a horse, raises a .^ stl °" which I have often leu constrained to write about, especially when one recollects the inane manner in which, Bremen handle horses. To give one instance J certain contractor always has trouble in catching the majority of his team kept over-night in a large paddock., When, after perhaps hah an hours running round, the recalcitrant animals are caught, each is immediately belted, kicked, or otherwise maltreated. Then after their day's work is done and the horses are being turned cut again, alter the halter is slipped off. each one is given a smack with same, and sent off galloping clown the large paddock. Such proceedings are sure to render the quietest horse difficult to approach, not to mention the harm done in other respects. Another foolish and cruel act, which I witnessed when motoring through a remote country district, was that of a man standing at his back door with a gun firing shots at a horse, which was careering in terror round a small paddock. On my return journey, I saw this trembling animal tied up to a fence while his owner was bathing the blood from the gunshot wounds. Is it any wonder this horse habitually gave his owner a wide berth? The whipcracking stunt might be all right- in some cases, but it is always better to avoid anv measures which aim at ? " cowing,' or " breaking a horse's spirit." It stands to reason that harsh methods only render a horse unfit for his work, especially where endurance is called for. Moreover, i have proved from experience that when an accident occurs on the road, the horse that has been kindly treated, is usually quite safe: whereas, the animal that has been broken in with the whip, or otherwise knocked about, is certain Jo " get the wind up" and kick everything to pieces; tiot sparing any human being who happens to be near. , Now, as for the solution of the problem raised by vour recent correspondent. First of all, it is essential to bear in mind an old maxim of an experienced trainer, viz-, " never chase a' horse." Always endeavour to induce Him- to como up and follow his master. Let the latter take a handful of hay, a pannikin of oats, or an apple; at the same time keeping halter or idle out of sight: and approach the animal slowly, taking ample time, and if necessary, manoeuvre the latter into a corner. Another good dodge, which is more applicable to a horse running in a field with too much grass, of which he might be inclined to gorge too freely, is to muzzle him for the greater part of th* day or nieht, and the chances are, that, besides being more likely to lie down and get sufficient rest, he will always be handy when wanted, waiting to be unmuzzled in expectation of his feed. Although these measures I suggest might not be immediately successful, a few days' perseverance will work wonders, provided the horso is not a regular outlaw. Patience.

COST OF DAYLIGHT SAVING. Ssr,—l noticed in the Herald of the 23rd inst., that the Chamber of Commerce had passed a resolution urging the Government to adopt daylight saving. The first remark I would make on this resolution is that had it been to advance the clock two hours during the winter when daylight hours are few and leave it as it is during the summer, when daylight hours are many, I could have understood that it might do what was intended of it. But, as this is not the proposal of the Bill, I conclude that the real reason of the proposal is something quite else than daylight saving. As a medical man and a believer in evolution, I have learned to be very cautious and to think deeply before interfering with Nature and natural laws. But someone will say, how does that apply to this proposal ? I will try to point out as briefly as possible. Firstly: It is quite certain that, however long mankind has been upon . the earth, he is still affected by the seasons and especially 5s this the case in children. , He is therefore more vigorous, alert and energetic in the summer than in €he winter and exhibits in consequence a much greater tendency to play, as witness ' the far greater number of summer games over winter, games, facts which on the evolutionary theory are easy of explanation. Secondly: There is no ' dotibt that, through the ages the contfinual alternation of the seasons has made such an impression upon our nervous systems that it has become so firmly part of ourselves that an Act of Parliament cannot eradicate it. •?

Thirdly No on* will deny that a proper and sufficient amount of sleep is necessary for everyone and even civilised man knows that children want more than adults, and sends his children to bed long before he retiires himself. How does this proposal affect children ? They get up by the summer -•"time, but every, mother knows who has tried the scheme that it is useless patting them to bed with the sun high in the heavens merely because the summer time clock says it is seven o'clock. The consequence is that the child loses an hour's sleep, and since the adoption of the plan fin England several school teachers told me that it was most difficult to interest the younger childrui sufficiently ■in the morning lessons to keep them awake. Adults may have a right to pass Acts of Parliament that affect, other adults, arid even here I consider that the tendency is to carry this too far into what should be each man's private concerns, but I have no doubt at all that they have no right whatever to pass Acts of ParlSarnent that are injurious to children which are certainly temporarily hurtful and probably permanently damaging to their constitutions.

I know that under the conditions of modern civilisation all our lives are spent under more or less artificial conditions, and that any- voice uplifted to protest against introducing another artificial element is "as of one crying in the wilderness," when it is the fashion to locate all wfisdom in "a majority." But I hope that I have said enough to make any thoughtful person pause before he becomes a party to wantonly interfering with the great natural law of the alternation of the seasons; and to remember that thero was a great underlying truth in the old English lady's re ply in summer-time as to what time it was when she answered that by the clock it was ten but that by God's time is was only nine. R. W. Richards, M.D. (Lond.). 32, Queen Street, Auckland. November 26, 1923.