LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25082, 21 December 1944, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cornwall Park Hospital Sir, —Now that the Hospital Board has been promised a six years' tenure of the 39th General Hospital, it will bo important to remind the public continually that the hoard is in Cornwall Park on sufferance for a limited period only. I would suggest that the trustees of the park lay down a condition that they be allowed to erect, and maintain, at the main gate ot the hospital a really large and conspicuous notice board, stating briefly the nature of the Hospital Board's tenure and the date on which it will terminate. If such an arrangement is not made, the One Tree Hill Borough Council, as representing the general public, ought to erect such a notice board on the footpath kerb as near the gate as possible. Vigilance. The Government as Trader Sir. —Another example of State trading operations was given by the Minister of Supply in reply to a question in Parliament a few weeks ago. The Minister was asked why the department had imported electric torch bulbs, instead ot issuing licences to "the importing firms; and why it was selling at 3s lOd a dozen bulbs that cost Os 9jd a dozen to land. Mr Sullivan did not answer the first part of the question. In regard to the second part, lie said it was necessary to obtain the bulbs from the United States of America at a cost of a little over lis a dozen; "the addition of customs duty brought the landed cost to 3s 3d," and they were being sold at about 3s lOd a dozen. No explanation was offered of the difference between 3s 10d and 6s 9|d a dozen, but reference to the customs tariff reveals part of it. The duty on foreign torch bulbs is certainly 3d. but that is the charge on one bulb —not on a dozen bulbs. There was a "big mistake" somewhere. Either the Customs Department did not collect the correct amount of duty, which is unlikely; or the Ministry of Supply sold at 3s lOd a dozen bulbs which cost nearly 6.s lOd a dozen. Indentor. Beautifying Cemeteries Sir, —The scheme planned by the City Council for the cleaning up and beautifying of the Symonds Street Cemetery deserves the wholehearted cooperation and enthusiastic support of tne citizens of Auckland. The natural beauty of the Grafton Gully lends itself to the proposed scheme, and, provided that flue provision is made for preventi g picnic parties, etc., from desecrating a place that is sacred to the memory of many of our pioneers, it should prove an inspiration to the whole city. Visitors to Auckland have often wondered why the last resting place of many famous people, to whom New Zealand, and Auckland in particular, owes so much, should bo allowed to remain in such a shocking state. The scheme now being put. before the public by the City Council was first introduced to Auckland by the Purcwa Cemetery Board seven or eight years ago. This board was brought into existence by the Church of England Diocesan Synod to manage and cave for the Purewa Cemetery, which at that time was in a bad state and causing a good deal of anxious thought to the authorities. The board's first action was to make exhaustive inquiries in other countries. The outcome of these inquiries was that a portion of the cemetery was set apart to be treated as a kind of "garden of remembrance." At first there was a certain amount of criticism of the plan. The board was also faced with the difficulty of finance, as Purewa has no endowments and no subsidies from public funds. However, the board persevered and with the valuable and expert assistance of Mr C. Jy. Grierson, and the conscientious help of the present sexton and a staff of men who took a personal interest in making the scheme a success, it has won through. The Purewa Cemetery Board may feel a little just pride in the fact that its example is being followed nt Waikumete and Symonds Street, as well as at AVaiknraka. which is controlled bv the Onehunga Borough Council'. One hopes that the council's proposal will receive the support it deserves from the citizens of Auckland, R. L. CoN'NOLT/r.