LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22332, 1 February 1936, Page 17

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

DISCOURTESY ON TRAMS Sir, —"E.M.'s" extreme condemnation of Auckland tramway employees carries its own refutation, for no reasonable and experienced person is likely to accept his dictum that practically all Auckland tram conductors are discourteous, while all Wellington ones are models of courtesy. Justice. FAMILY LONGEVITY Sir, —-I am one of tho Albertlanders who landed in Matakohe in 1863 from the good ship Gertrude. My father and mother had four children, and we are all very much alive. Our ages average 82 and total 328. Mangero. George L. Thompson. Sir, —I am one of seven survivors of a family of ton, my parents being the late Mr. and Mrs. Colin McMillan, Cambelltown, Argyllshire, Scotland. Tho total of the ages of the surviving seven is 486 years—an average of approximately G'Ji years. I hope other families will submit details. (Mas.) S. L. Lewis. SCOTLAND'S TREATY RIGHTS Sir, —It may bo anticipated that the St. Andrew Societies of New Zealand, and elsewhere, will formally endorse the petition which has been forwarded to the King through the Secretary of State for Scotland. The trouble which to-day rankles in many a warm and loyal heart ought never to have existed. It is well stated in "Scotland's Treaty Bights," published by the Herald on Friday. W.S.E. January 31. SCOTTISH MUSIC Sir, —I want to say how much I appreciated the rendering of " The Flowers o' the Forest " from IYA immediately after the news of King George's death. It was just lovely and would appeal to all exiles from Scotland. Could we not have just a little more bagpipe music and also a little more good Scottish music such as " The Thistle " and " Reminiscence of Scotland" ? Hamilton. Edina. COURTESY AND ROAD SENSE Sir, —In reply to "Auckutation" I would like to state, as a tram-user and taxi-driver, there is no doubt as to the courtesy of tramway employees and traffic officers, who are always ready to co-operate with all other road-users at all times. "Auckutation" shows an absolute lack of knowledge of the conditions under which a taxi-driver obtains his licence. It may interest him to know that before the applicant is granted his licence he must submit to a strict medical examination, held annual!}', and have his character strictly reviewed by the police and traffic department, also annually. In addition to that he must also pass character and driving tests before being admitted to any of the taxi companies. As one who has driven taxis in other cities overseas, I venture to state, without fear of contradiction, that the standard set by Auckland taxi-drivers is very much higher than can be found anywhere else at the present time. Herno Bav. R. P. Bickham.