LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19092, 10 August 1925, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

HOSPITAL CHARGES. ' - Sir, —Dr. Hoops, who has recently visited the United States, as tha guest of the Rockefeller Foundation, to inspect the hospitals, etc., writes:—"At the Johns Hopkins, patients who can pay ar» charged anything up to seventeen and ahalf dollars a day, the cost being at least double this.' I cannot see how tho New Zealand hospital boards are going to do justice to tho ratepayers if the maximum charge is to be three guineas a week, or about the samo as tho daily charge at tho above-mentioned hospital. Ratepayer. THE COMPETITIONS. . Sir,—-It is understood that the competitions just concluded have been so inadequately appreciated by tho public that the society will find itself financially embarrassed. If this be so, something should be done at once to assist the society's funds. I suggest that the Rotary Club, winch exists especially for community service, should take the matter up. Local bodies also might assist. They vote sums to augment the funds of the W.E.A.— "the people's university." This cause lias just as good a claim, for the competitions have wide value in education, musical, literary and elocutionary. They certainly add to the value of life, and teach the supreme art of appreciation. Something might be done also to strengthen tho society's executive. Save for Mr. Marryat, 1 whose work deserves special thanks, most of those named on the society's executive list were conspicuously inactive. Now is the time- to act, before Saturday's very successful demonstrations are forgotten. Strad. COMING OF THE FLEET. " Sir, —It lias been known long enough when tho American warships due to arrive to-morrow would reach Auckland, and the actual hour when they might be expected was announced a long while ago. Yet, so far as I am aware, there ha 3 been little said about arrangements for ordinary working people to get off to see the spectacle when the ships do arrive. I notice that the Deputy-Mayor is asking employers to declare a half-holiday. This means, for most people, knocking off at noon or one o'clock. As tho fleet is expected to be anchored by 11.30 a.m., the release from work will be a little late. Tho coming of the ships will be the finest, sight of the whole visit in tho eyes of many people, and it looks as if a great part of the working population is going to miss it. Then it will make a great difference to tho impression Auckland makes on the visitors if there is a really big crowd of people b'ning tho shores and gathered on the many vantage points round on? harbour. If it is not too late may I urge that everything possible should be clone to let people enjoy the sight of this great fleet from a friendly nation steaming into tho Waitemata, and at the same time show the Americans that Auckland is glad to see them. Parliament is taking a couple of days off. Can't tho rest of us have one day? Akarana. THE GLORIT SCHOOL. Sir,—l read the letter of " Sport," referring to the Glorit and Mangakura halftime schools. It was pleasing to see that ho was unable to contradict my facts. He accuses the people of Glorit of attempting to break away from " the foster-parent school." I clearly explained that the settlers here did not wish to permanently close the school, but only until the bridge had been constructed. At tho end of last year, the board wrote to the Glorit Committee, informing them that the school was to be mado full time. _ Shortly afterwards, the committee received a further communication from the board, stating that a letter had been received from tho Mangakura School Committee, guaranteeing an attendance of 11 pupils at Mangakura if tho board would keep the; school open. When the school opened this year, four children from the Mangakura district attended. Up to the present the remainder have not put in an appearance. Two children from Glorit also attend Mangakura, but they have to do this so that they may receive the extra few days schooling which they should be able to receive at Glorit. " Sport" makes rather a surprising statement in saying that the new bridgo " is far advanced in construction." Tho men have been working at the bridge for about three months. At the time of writing, only 17 piles have been made, which means that another 14 piles will be required. When completed, at least three months will have to elapse before the contractor can commence driving the piles. At tho present rate of progress it will be at least nine months before the bridgo is completed. Ho further states that " a number of infants are arriving at the age of enrolment within the next six months." On inquiring, I find that perhaps three children will be likely to commence attendance next year. He does not consider the unfortunate lot of the teacher. Many of the settlers would not cross the river, but the teacher has the unenviable task of crossing three times a week. I intended to let the matter drop, but could not let " Sport's" letter go without correcting his so-called facts. Parent.