LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1358, 20 June 1918, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE NURSE MAUDE ASSOCIATION BUILDING FUND. To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —On behalf of the committee of the above I thank most sincerely all those who in any way whatever gave their services in assisting to make Wednesday's appeal so successful. I also desire to thank those who contributed to the fund so liberally before the day, and the general public for the magnificent response made by them on the day itself. The result is exceedingly satisfactory, and the committee are verv grateful to all. —I am, etc., CHARLES BEAN, June 20. Chairman.

HEATING AND VENTILATING OF CUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —I wish to mention a few facts in regard to the heating ami ventilation of our public schools. Some extraordinary statements have been made in regard to the matter, which, if put into practice, would be useless. Ventilation or proper air movements is the fust factor in heating the air in large buildings where numbers of persons are assembled, especially children. If radiators of any description were installed, that did heat the air under the present bad conditions (practically no ventilation), any of our schools would become incubators for infectious diseases. That is to say, the vitality of the children would be so reduced that they would be the easy prey of any disease present, to say nothing of severe colds. Consider these facts: Each child will evolve .5 cubic feet of carbon dioxide per hour; therefore, 50 children will evolve in five hours aliout 125 cubic feet of carbon dioxide, CO., a poisonous gas. Thus it will be readily understood that proper ventilation is more important than heating. Again, radiators will not heat large rooms properly without air currents, for when a radiator starts to give off perceptible heat this heat, undisturbed, forms a film round the heating surfaces, which increases in volume as time goes on, and no heat is emitted beyond this film of dead air; but, with proper air circulation (ventilation) passing over the heated surfaces of the radiators, the film of hot air is carried by the air currents, and in a short time the air in the room becomes warm air; so, with an uninterrupted supply of fresh air, the vitiated air is always leaving the room, creating wholesome conditions. The fresh-air supply to the public schools should not be less than ISOO cubic feet per pupil per hour. This supply will about keep the air in the class rooms at its maximum impurity, that is, four parts of CO.. per 10,000 parts of air—two pasts of the four are already contained in the atmosphere. This is claimed by scientists to be the points of maximum vitiation permissible in air of standard respirable- purity. The air is not only vitiated by C.0 2 from the body, but also by water. A -child will exhale from the lungs -and skin about .046 pound of water; this, at 70 deg. P., becomes about 40 cubic feet of vapour, which is very harmful. Hence the need of effective ventilation. *

A modern system of heating and ventilation is as follows:—Take two chambers; in Xo. 1 the atmospheric air is drawn into it by a centrifugal fan, which forces the air into Xo. 2, which contains a set of staggered coils heated by steam or water. The air in Xo. 2 is under a pressure considerably above that of the atmosphere, which is, at sea level, 14.71b per square inch. The air is forced between the hot coils, which arc at a high temperature, and is delivered into the room or building by means of ducts. By this means, any temperature desired ean*be .obtained in the room or building. -

A lot more could l>e said on this important matter, but theabove should for the time being explain the vital necessity for proper ventilation. I might add that, for buildings such as arc in question, the above will show that natural ventilation cannot be considered.

It is riotfsense to suggest sending an architect to America.to obtain an up-to-date system of heating and ventilation. The latest known to science in America or England on the subject is well known in New Zealand. Only three weeks ago I received a plate of a itfw heating unit from one of the largest engineering firms in Great Britain, and'am making inquiries about it next mail. They have already explained that the war has stopped the manufacture, and they have no stocks. —1 am, etc., L. HARDIE, Chief City Inspector, June L'O. Sanitary Engineer. MR PEVERILL'S CLIMB-DOWN". To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, — In all my quarter of a century of" newspaper controversy I have never witnesed such a complete somersault of expressed views as shown by Mr Pevorill. Last week he was the autocrat who 01 tiered all the school doors to be closed against I)r Thacker, M.l\, and presumably it was lie who wired to the Minister of Education conveying his committee's resentment of the doctor's so called interference, and quoted figures to convince parents that all was well. Even up to last night he was quoting figures in defence of the fossilised svs-

ton of heating the school by itoves. and very kindly referred the writer to the | vendors of stoves to learn how very effective they were. Which is the real |Mi Peverill.' According to the report lot" your representative's chat with -Mr Peverill in to-night's Sl'X, without a single word of explanation or recantation of his previous attitude, he expresses himself as wholly in favour of the three most up-to-date systems of heating schools, i.e.. electric, steam, and hot-water radiators. If the latter i- the real and solid -Mr Peverill, and if he is prepared to use his utmost pinlpavour* for the earliest possible scrapping of the j out-of-date methods of heating and 'ventilating schools, then more power to him, say 1. Hut your readers are surely entitled to know which is Mr IPeverill's real attitude, and why he lias shown the other very foolish delft nee of the prevailing system. Sir, you deserve the thanks and appreciation jo! every reader of your paper for startling this discussion ami opening your | columns for the views of Dr Thacker and those interested in this important [subject. The fight is not yet won. in.deed it has scarcely begun. Iv.cn though Mr Peverill apparently has left the opposition, there are many-of these stiil on the pen hj. in local and high authority, who must he brought down ere tie' sorely needed reforms are achieved. I Your win of the first skirmish will give 1 | heart to the fighters, and especially to I the parents of school-gohi" children, all of whom will appreciate the very vara-' .alde contributions of Mr Hardie, city 'sanitary engineer, and "Ex-Teacher.'"' I—l am, etc., \YM. BURROWS. I Christchureh, 19/6/JS. THE PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION. To-the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —I have followed with interest the- letters hi your columns on abov-i association, but to my mind they go pretty wide of the mark. I do not

agree with Air Hamlet regarding the public platform as a cure for the trouble, ami I do not think it would «'o any good. I am not going to use suc-h high-Mown words and sentences as Mr Hamlet about the P.P.A., but, to my mind, it would be better named P.R.A.—religious instead of political association —for, according to our newspaper reports of var:_ ous meetings here and there, the religion of other people who abide by the law seems to concern members more than their political aims. There is no Catholic who would be so foolish as to say that Protestants should not band themselves into a political association to look after political interests any more than any reasonableminded Protestant would object to the Catholics forming the Catholic Federation. But did the Federation herald its coming by insulting the religious morals of the Protestants, accusing the:n of unspeakable deeds? I think not. Why can't one religion be more tolerant of another? The foundations of all Christian religions are the same, and surely all are entitled to worship God in their own way. Does not the law of New Zealand allow it? Then,, why should Protestants who rave so when they talk of the infallibility of the Pope, hold themselves to be so infallible ab to which religion people should belong to? Mr Elliott knew what he was about when he raised this storm in a teacup. 'Twas, no doubt, Hie oniy way to get any kind of an audience at his meetings throughout New Zealand by offering them something "spicy'' to listen to. One who takes time to think will realise that had Mr Elliott gone t'hrough NewZealand organising the P.P.A* as Mr : Girling-Butcher organised the C.F. the, membership of the former would not ! be as large as.it is to-day. To get them to join he must therefore inflame them with the idea (erroneous or not-it would serve the purpose) that they were in danger of being extinguished. And as the majority of Protestants were a tolerant lot something big would therefore have to be used as a draw. So his poor stunted mind could think of nothing better than the slandering of a dead woman. By all means let there ybe n P.P.A., but let it leave the religious views of others alone. —I am, etc., TOLERANCE. To the Editor of TIIE SUN. Sir, —During the past week Thave read ir. your correspondence columns letters written by men signing themselves by various names, but with one or two exceptions they are all so ashamed of the cause they are upholding that they will not come out in daylight and let the people know who they are. "Glasgowegian" says in to-night's issue that he is too busy to reply to Mr Hamlet, but asks him to reply to his question, "Have not Protestants as much right to form an association as Catholic laymen?" In reply to his query I say, '' Yes '' —not ! that I am replying on behalf of Mr | Joseph Hamlet, who is quite capable of answering the question asked of him: i but I think that if the Protestants or | any other sect form an association they ] ought to carry it out on respectable ' lines, and not on lines that can be | condemned in a court of justice and the organiser called a low cad. Now, will | "Glasgowegian" inform the community if ever he knew the Catholic laity or, members of the Catholic Federation to ; try and malign any person or persons i belonging to any sect or members of any j church or churches? And that is something more than "Glasgowegian" can say of any of his P.P. Association or at least of some of its members. Mr Campbell says he cannot see the need of Mr Hamlet slandering people who do not share his views. If Air Campbell considered what he was speak-1 ing about he would certainly have left that unsaid. It was the Rev. Howard ; Klliott who started out to scandalise an innocent woman who was beyond the reach of his vile abuse, but his seurri-

lous behaviour produced such" n vi!>>| odour over his association that respect- j aide people, no matter what their religious belief may be, stuff up their j nostrils so that they may not get : contaminated. 1 am sorry that I am not 1 acquainted with Mr Joseph Hamlet, but I think that every liberal-minded men:- ; ber of the community, no matter what i iliis religious belief may be. will rocog- j nise that he is a fearless writer, an I loves to help the weak. —I am, etc., PEACE AT HOME. .June 19., 1018. To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —1 regret that through oversight I put myself out of order last night, also I must apologise for trespassing upon your valuable time and spare, but 1 find that this discussion is evoking! great interest, not only iu Christehureh, I but all over- the country. 1 am sorry j to say that your correspondent "Joseph ' Hamlet," is again reverting to his old ■■ fault, viz., personal abuse. hi his] latest effort I am made aware that >->«•- j cause 1 object to wading through line after line of personal abuse, inter-; spersed with ungrammatical phrases. ' flowery mundaneness, and no ipioti* from iiini) pothouse vernacular, I sum to be dubbed a "bigoted bipod,' 7 and , Ye Gods! Sir, look at from whom if. emanates, look at our self styled genius! "Joseph Hamlet'' where i< thy laurel wreath? "0 champion of the weak! Hole defender of defenceless women and fearless driver of lies back to their tracks!" This paragon of virtues fails at the first hurdle. His

I ; first action is to stir up scandal ami •i strife, and in language which is far ■ I from what one would expect fiotn n I:.super man with the above accredited [qualifications. I myself, could rake up Jan amount of scandal that would make r!''Mr Hamlet" wither up as the veriest .paltry grub in mid winter, did I so 'choose, but. in doing so. I should not | be imparting new or u-eful information '; to a hungry world. If "Mr Hamlet'' spoke for twenty minute".- at the Choral 1 Hall, and contradicted himself as thoroughly ;,- he ha- .ionwell tio- icMilt would be obvious O - 'Ashburton friend who has ("butted" in with a whole lot "Mr Hamlet.'' and precious little I about the I'.l'.A. can be dismissed in :so many words. Now-. Mr Editor, get your correspondent to enlighten us .more about the P.P.A.. and what his own grievance j-. and perhaps we shall then be able to take him seriously, but, if he continues to rave and rant these .incoherent nothings, then. 1 too shall 'have to inform him that "I have practically no pearl- to cast; etc.. etc." Apologising, sir, for mv leugthv letter. j—l am. etc, TRAVELLER. To the Editor of THE SIN. • s ir.—"Glasgowegian"' is so reasonable in his demands in your issue of J to-night that I would like to address him a- my friend, and treat him as isuch. It was not an oversight on impart to omit answering his question; if he will but sign h\< name and disclose his identity. I will answer him straight- ,| forwardly. The excuse given by " Anti- | bombast" i* entirely too weak to be {considered seriously by anyone possessing the brains of a hen; and 1 now assert that the public ami ray opponents will be agreeably surprised at niv nioderation—should thev aceept my itijvitation—to the Choral' Hall.' Nothing ion earth will permit of my saving or ; doing anything that will hurt the feelings of any religious partv, class or

', creed. I note my opponents have -; secured another convert in the person • ■ of R. \V. Campbell, and am grateful for ijhis having the manliness to sign his : screed. He writes "One can onlv con- " chide that 'Hamlet' is a Roman ' Catholic." Nothing is further from ■ the truth! I was born and raised a j Protestant, and—thank God!—l'm no i j apostate. I was taught the true prin- ' eiples of Christianity by my parents; i but they did not teach me that the I Church of Rome is the "Scarlet • Woman," nuns unclean creatures, and I | priests the sworn enemies of my I j country. I have no word of eondemnajtian for any religious faith, however ■ fatuous it may appear to me, that ha* 'comforted the dying or consoled the 'living—that has cast one gleam of I j sunshine into the dark vale where : j grope, each beneath his burden of 1 j sorrow, the sons of men. I am not • j warring utKJn religions faith, but on falsehood; not upon Christ, but on 'those who disgrace His cause—who | mistake bile for benevolence, gall for igoilliuess, and chronic laziness for "a Icall to preach." Even if I had been i born in the Catholic Faith surely this I would not prevent the keen sense of ' | white-man squareness that I inherited ' j from my parents from asserting itself '| in defence of calumny. Roman Cath- | olicism may be ancient, but it is respectable. I truly wish that all my I Protestant friends were possessed of 'the same Christian fortitude, and : I kindly actions as was Father Damien, la young Roman Catholic priest, who left jhome and country, and all that life ;held dear, and went deliberately forth to die amongst the leppers in the ; Sandwich Islands. To set foot upon i that accursed spot was to be declared .unclean, and there confined until death j released you—death by leprosy, the j most appalling disease in aU the dread- ; ful catalogue of human ills, the most 1 j dreaded arrow in the quiver of the , grim Destroyer. There he reared a ' j humble temple to the God. of his j fathers, there through long years of '. confinement he ministered to the temporal and spiritual wants of the afflicted; there he died as he knew he 1 must die, with his fingers falling from i his hands, his flesh from his bones, a ; sight to appal the very imps of hell. (His was the supreme test of personal I heroism. Greater and grander than all the blood-stained princes and potentates of earth, nobler, more God-lik© .than all the proud prelates that ever 'aired their eloquence at Christian conference or ecumenical council was that | young priest—silent as his own sealed | lips is the trumpet of fame. It is .passing strange that all my opponents [should accuse me of writing "piffle" : and '' falsehood.'' The public who have read this correspondence will be the best judge of the accuracy of their j statements. May I remark that from .the foundation of the world falsehood has been the defensive weapon of the fool. Assail him with logic, and he , answers with lies; lash him with j sarcasm, and he retorts witjj calumny; ! impale him on the rapier of ridicule, land he deluges you with brutal defama- ,: tion. The true Christian, the well-bred : gentleman, is ever ready to break a lance in intellectual tourney—to prove i his powers on the field of the Cloth of ] Gold—but he leaves the throwing of j stinkpots to Chinamen, the exploitation of stale falsehood* to fools, the [concocting of unclean calumnies to [cowards. In conclusion, sir, if the years of my life are protracted beyond jthe Psalmists three score and ten, in j the vivid procession of yesterdays which make up my past, my memory's picture of having"defended" the name "'Women" hang where the lime-lights cast their kindest reflections.—l am, etc.. JOSEPH HAMLET. Christchnrch, June 19, 19J8.