LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25346, 30 October 1945, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Milk Deliveries Sir, —When may we expect a resumption of the front door delivery of milk? We were told that delivery at the gate was for the duration of the war only, so what about it? Is the Housewives' Association doing anything in this connection ? W.E.S. Industrial Conscription Sir, —Would you inform me whether I am correct in presuming that the manpower regulations covering essential industries will be revoked when peace is signed, and that' there will be freedom of choice then in selecting my work. Anti-Regulation. [Official announcements since the end of the war with Japan have been to the effect that National Service Emergency Regulations would be revoked as circumstances permitted.] Eighth and Ninth Reinforcements Sir, —Recently the Minister of Defence made a statement regarding the Second N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East. He mentioned the Tenth and Eleventh Reinforcements and said that the remainder would be home next year. Can Mr Jones enlighten me as to what has become of the remainder of the Eighth and Ninth Reinforcements. Some are home, but where are the rest? I have a brother in the Eighth who wrote saying the boys thought it might be quicker to swim. If they are on the way home why not tell us instead of keeping us guessing? Why all the secrecy? (Mrs) Olsen. The Country Quota Sir, —It seems incredible to me that in this country of advanced legislation there exists a powerful body of electors who are strenuous in their opposition to the abolition of the "country quota." The Union_ of South Africa, politically backward in many respects, has, for the past 35 years, fought all general elections on the principle of "one vote one value."

For example, Nnmaqualand, a vast territory of some thousands of square miles,_ owing to _ its paucity of population, is only entitled to one representative in Parliament. On the other hand, the City of Johannesburg has the privilege of returning a score or more members. South African. Child Benefit Not Applicable Sir, —As one not directly concerned with the Government's recently bestowed child benefit, I would like to know whether or not this applies to the children of service personnel killed in this war. I am aware of the fact that a pension is awarded to widows and an allowance (quite inadequate for the maintenance of a child of school age) made for the children of those who died for us, but it is by no means clear whether they receive the small benefit or just do the host they can with the existing allowance. Inqttitier. According to Section 62A of the Social Security Act, a widow cannot receive the family benefit allowance when in receipt of the war pension allowance. Shop Manners Sir, —The charge of discourtesy on the part of shop assistants is to a degree justified. It would be well to impress upon them that the courtesies of life do not cost very much, but one cannot be courteous unless he possesses the qualities that make for courtesy. To a degree (allowing for the difficulty in securing labour today) we can charge the employer with inefficiency in the selection, discipline and tnaining of his staff. But let us bo fair to him by recognising that while salesmanship is a profession, whereby the salesman has to tender advice and suggestions, this vocation has hero me mechanised through trade union procedure which immediately created a spirit of indifference between employer, employee and customer. The personal touch disappeared; the pay envelope loomed larger than the human contact. Further, today many > employers as well as employees show indifference to customers when they remark, "We have nothing in stock." 'Let us be fair to the employees, too. With no goods to sell, idle hours, and often very bad manners, even to the point of insolence on the part of some customers, frayed nerves become evident; it is true, that the present unsatisfactory trhding conditions caU for a tremendous degree of self-disciplino on the' part of the sales stuff, Fiithermoro, if shoppers realising these facts, approached the sales-person quietly, sympathetically, intelligently and courteously, all would be well. The science of business is the science of service. "He who would be the greatest among you, let him also serve." James Wtxib,