LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24534, 17 March 1943, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Sale of Pigs Sir, —I was amused at Mr. It. Clark's statement in the Herald last week that the Minister was concerned at the price paid for baconers at saleyards. How many pigs bring the price of up to £4 15s on the open market? It certainly is a good price, but only a few extra prime pigs are sold at this figure. Why compel the farmer to sell his pigs on the hooks because ho gets }d per pound more in thfe yards. 1 have tried selling on the hooks and have weighed my pigs before leaving for the works and I say the farmer gets a fair return on the open market and if the snlevards buying was cut out 1 for one would not bother with pigs. Cow-Cockey. Nurses' Studies Six-, —As one closely associated with the nursing profession, I wish to make known something of the conditions under which nurses have to study tor examinations in the Auckland Hospital. Where no "block system" is in operation (i.e., the student nurses have to work and study hard at the same time) these girls are further handicapped by having to cram their most important lortnres into the last month or two before the examination. Ln one mental inilp thev are expected to digest and absorb lectures which should be spread out over a period of at least six months 1 wish to protest against such a system which must surelv be injurious to the health of these young women who are endeavouring to do their war effort. Health First. Fewer Sunday Scholars Sir, —In his letter under the above heading, your correspondent "Concerned," creates the impression that the number of Methodist Sunday school scholars in the Dominion is decreasing. Whatever may be the position in the Churches in Kngland, such is not true of Methodism in New Zealand. After some years of decreasing figures, since 193R there has been an ebb and flow iti the returns, the gains being greater than the losses, until at the end of the last statistical year there were more scholars in Methodist Sunday schools than there had been during any of the intervening years. Actually the Methodist Church in New Zealand ha< 15.251 Sunday school scholars on its rolls. Aimnrn K. Bate. Methodist Youth Department Statistical Secretary. The City's Water Supply Sir, —Two paramount essentials that are necessary to maintain a healthy community are abundance of pure water and the hygienic disposal of sewage; the latter is a question for future discussion. For many years we have periodically suffered from a shortage of water, simply because those in authority have not shown any vision regarding trie future of this throwing eity. The unreliable catchment area from which we derive our water may be all right, provided we did not have such a. magnificent supply within easy reach —Karapiro. We have expended many thousands ol the ratepayers' money in the Waifcakcre Ranges, which have proved two things: the poor quality of water, and an insufficient supply to meet the growing demand. The major reason why the Auckland City Council has refrained from departing from the present supply is that having «nnl; so much of the ratepayers' money in that avenue it has refused to cut its losses. Sooner or later this will have to take place. Why not now? At present an unlimited supply can he obtained from Karap'ro; it is all running water and its main source' of •supply is Tatipo; this lake is surrounded hv over 1000 square miles of pumice country, this avenue is so vastly different from the Waitakere supply, which is semi-stagnant water after lieing chemically treated at great expense. The Public Works Department has already erected a series of dams which will include the new Karapiro dam. All that is required by the combined areas would be the construction of the pipe lino and suitable reservoirs. Should such a schemo as this cost even over a million of money, it would bo cheap, as the volume of water is unlimited and the water is recognised to be equal to anything in tlie Southern Hemisphere. W. H. Murray.