LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21021, 9 May 1930, Page 10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

AN APPEAL FROM PEMBROKE.

TO THS EDITOR. Sib, —A road is being constructed along the shores of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka to Makarora. The road, if completed, will ultimately go through the Haast Pass to the West Coast. Nearly 300 men are being employed. on this work. They are accommodated in eight-by-ten frame tents for each two men. During the coming winter the bulk of these tents will be erected on the neck of land between the two lakes. This is about 16 miles from the foot of Lake Hawea, where is the nearest habitation, except one small homestead. There are two small stores at the camp, and there may be a billiard saloon later, but apart from these there is at present no prospect of any of the resources of civilisation. To say that, the men have food ; clothing, and. shelter, all of the most primitive kind, is to say the most. that can be said. Their barest physical needs are supplied in the most meagre way possible; their intellectual and spiritual needs not at all. A high proportion of them are industrious, decent, law-abiding, debt-paying citizens who deserve better of their country than to be marooned on a waste of bracken-covered, rock-strewn hillside to do our rough pioneering work without any recognition from the outside world. The State is seeing to it that they have the means to support life; is it not the duty of the citizen to give them means to make life more supportable? It is proposed to establish at the camp a hut or reading j-oom to add-some interest to the lives of these men. It would J>e very simply equipped to serve as a combined club, reading room, lending library and, on occasion,-as a church. A suitable man would be employed to care for the fabric and equipment of the hut, and to interest himfielf in the wellbeing of the men generally. The establishment and maintenance of this project will take a considerable sum of money, and we therefore appeal for subscriptions before the winter months set in. Those of your readers who may use this road on future holidays would have their pleasure greatly enhanced by the knowledge that they had done their part to mitigate the lot of the men who made it. . Subscriptions may be sent to any of the undersigned.—We are, etc., ■ D. Urquhart, Hawea Plat, member Vincent County Council. ■ Wir. A. Bovett, Mount Barker, member Lake County Council, C. M. Sullivan, Manse of Wanaka, Pembroke. A. H. Elmslie, M. 8., Ch.B,, Pembroke. R. ’Walker, J.P., Pembroke. Pembroke, May 4.

GRADING OF TEACHERS.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib, —You have printed some startling figures which show how the teachers of Otago have been judged by the inspectors. Tho following figures concern the pupils' of the same province and are taken from p. 6 of the Education Department’s E—2 publication, which is the latest available: Public Schools. ‘ Pro- Com- Total ficiency. potency. Passes. Taranaki ~ 85.3 11.8 90.9 Auckland .. 84.7 9.2 93.0 Southland .. 81.3 13 94.3 Hawke’s Bay 80.1 12.5 92.6 Wanganui 79.6 * 12.5 92.1 Wellington .. 78.0 15.1 93.7 Canterbury .. 77.0 15.3 92.9 Nelson .. .. 76.5 17.5 94 Otago .. .. 73 7.2 1 80.2 Private Schools. ' Taranaki, .. 74.4 12 86.4 Auckland' .. 72.9 15.7 88.6 Southland .., 83.1 13.0 96.7 Hawke’s Bay’ 75.9 12.2 • 88.1 Wanganui ... 82,7 12.4 95.1 Wellington .. 7.9 14.7 93.7 - Canterbury .. 71.2 20 01.2 Nelson .. .. 70.5 25 95.5 Otago ~ ~ 75.7 3.8 79.5 The total number of pupils of public schools who passed Standard VT was 20,240 or 92.3 per cent, of' the number presented. (Otago 80.2.) The tptal number of pupils of private schools who passed Standard VI was 2622 or 90.2 per cent, of the number presented. (Otaco 79.5.).—1 am, etc.. . Otakatj.

RAINFALL IN OTAGO CENTRAL.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib, —Your-own correspondent reported 3.8 inches of rain this week. I think there is an error here, as the rainfall for the month of April was only 120 points (100 points to an inch). The rainfall was as follows:—4th, .02; Sth, .11; Bth .09; 9th, .31; 10th, .03; 11th, .03; 12th! .03; 28th, .56; 30th, .02; total, 1.20 points.— I am, etc., Alexakdeb McKinnon. Middlemareh, 'May 3.

THE TRAINING COLLEGE AND " SOCCER.”

TO'THE EDITOR. Sib, —We are astounded at the ignorance shown by the Otago branch of the New Zealand Football Association. Aa reported in your paper, they state that the principal of the Dunedin- Training College has virtually debarred students from playing the game of “ Soccer.” More than this, they have incorporated in the form of a resolution an insinuation that freedom in the matter of games is not allowed to’ college students. ■ Here they show a lack of knowledge of the true state of affairs. As far as we can gather, only one student desires to play “ Soccer,” and he is unable to do so on account of an injury. From the report of the meeting, one would gather that the principal forbade the formation of a college Soccer team. Even with our but scanty knowledge of this game, we know that one player could not constitute a team. The majority of the college men desire to play Rugby, and those not in the Rugby team have been informed that they are at liberty to join outside clubs, with nq reservations as to whether their game be Rugby or Soccer. This is the true state of affairs. We take extreme exception to the inference that Training College sport is not on a good footing. Our successes in-every branch of sport in which we participate speak volumes for the organisation of sport in the college.' In conclusion, we wish to add that we are proud of our S college and principal, and resent any slur cast on either by those ignorant of the organisation of such an importent institution. —We are, etc., DJI-DEBARRED.

THE STATE AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

TO THE EDITOR Sir, — I understand that the Waipahi School ■ Committee has employed a man who is a permanent hand on the railway to do concrete work at the school. Evidently this work is to be done during this person’s annual holiday. I would 'ike to draw the attention of the Minister of Railways to what is going on in country districts, as’ there are quite a few casual workers in the place who are quite competent to do this work. Perhaps the Minister of' Education may have something to say about this matter, and I should think the Otago Education Board would be interested, as I understand it is paying a subsidy of £2 for £1 on the work. — I am, etc.. Live akd Let Live. Waipahi, May S.

STREET CROSSINGS.

TO THE EDITOR. Slit, —Your correspondent, H. M. Davey, has voiced the opinions of many ratepayers. I life at the south end of the city, and cannot go into Princes street, from Manor place, when there has been a shower of rain, without getting my shoe-tops covered with mud, as there is not a crossing at the foot of this street and has not been for years, -As a largo ratepayer of long standing, I look ’ forward to a speedy remedy of this neglect on the part of the City Council.—l am, etc., E. J. ue Carle.