LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1427, 9 September 1918, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. "E. E. O'D." —You write very foolishly about questions you do not seem to understand. "Inquirer."—A girl is subject to the control of her parents till she is 2\ years of age. The fact that she is capable of earning her own living at an earlier age has no bearing on the question. HOPKINS v. HILLS. To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —My name lias been brought into prominence in this case. I was subpoenaed to attend as a witness, but was not tailed, although present in Court. The suggestion made by Mr Mills's counsel that I purchased the Daere property from Mr Fleming through Mr Hopkins for less than the government valuation is quite incorrect. I purchased for £14,500, and the Government valuation was £11,719. Mr Arthur Fleming advised and assisted his brother in negotiating the sale. The £14,500 included stock valued at £2OOO. It is also incorrect that Mr Hopkins was in any sense a partner in the transaction willi me.— I am, etc., A. .1. HOKWKLL. Warrington Street. Christchurch, Sept. !>, 10IS. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, to the Editor of THE SUN. Sir. —In advocating a "more self reliant trade policy'' in regard .to secondary industries, as you do in this I evening's Sl'.v, you have overlooked one factor, and that is the tinct discouragement trade enterprise apoears very often to meet with, in Christchurch at all events. In some cases it springs from selfishness, in others from a dreamy section of the public, who seem to think that industries which cause any smoke, noise, or " disfigurement of the landscape." or, "pollution" of the lleatluote, should j lie abolished and the site-; plougiied o\or> and tinned into rose gardens, 'the fact that human beings have to be fed and clothed, and that they have an incurable! habit of increasing in numbers and so demanding more food, which they have' to obtain by the sweat of the brow : and strain of the intellect, is of small account to the .esthetic souls who turn* no small proportion of < 'hristchuivh '■> I population. These good people have rooted idea, apparently, that any kirn! : of progress, as expressed in the " Stoio-s of Christchurch," have a very doubtful • right to exist at all. Only the other .lay we have a prominent citizen practically. hiving the whole of Cathedral Square under an anathema, except The Cathe dial, because it was mostly "hotels an I j picture palaces." and if the "origiua -■ tors of the Cathedral had known 1.0 v. -' 'twas going to be. they would have done something or other or have acted differ- : ciilty. Goodness knows what thev would have .lone. This citizen did net: say; perhaps the thought of those lo<t tussocks and manuka scrub was too 1 painful for further expression. This '■ illogical and canting humbug is far too' common in Christchurch, and it is time! for men to come forth and demand skyscrapers, factories, and plenty of them, more and more busy workers

better access from Christchurch by sea, and a more forward policy in every way. If the place had been founded by Scotchmen, instead of Englishmen, it would have been 20 years ahead of whore it is now, but rose garden | and city beautiful idea act? like an (opiate, and indirectly sends good men | into the hotel bars in many cases, ■nhereas, if there was something doing, these same men would be finding legiii mate scope in foundary. yard, or factory, As there is nothing doing, they just drink. In Christchurch, no sooner jdoet some enterprising individual or ‘company start something which provides ! food and raiment for Cod’s children. I when a howl arisen about the smoke or the noise, or the disfigurement of the j landscape, or all three, till the j disgusted philanthropist hauls down | his colours and departs for rejgions inhabited by reasonable beings. I carrying his workers along with him jin many eases. One of the largest in nustries in the Dominion is on the 1 lleathi-ote, thoroughly clisgusted, how;Ov**r, by the discouragement of the jOoveriiiiienr, the continued • ‘nagging ’’ of the adjacent population regarding i the pollution cf the river, et<-. The owners threaten to merely mark time at jthese works and spend the bulk of their (capital and energy in Australia. I think, sir. it is time The Sun, as an apparently progressive journal, took (these matters in hand. If you will Jay (about you a bit and knock some of the (cant and humbug out of the place, and I encourage manufactures and the eni jployment of more labour, you will do I well for the comnuinitv.—l am. etc., SMOKE STACK. 6/9/ IS. i MORE ABOUT SHIRKERS. iTc the Editor of THE SUN. j Sir.—l was pleased to see •‘Disgustled ’s” letter in your last evening's issue, •shaking uji some of the shirkers regardling their selfishness, and the attitude | tiny take up towards collectors or helpSers of war funds. I have been connected with Red Cross work for the paM J three years, am! know; that these shirkjers will use any mean or cowardly arguj nicut to excuse themselves from either j contributing or helping. It has j suggested indirectly on more than one (Occasion that I have been well-paid for • any work which I have done. Not only jhave I willingly given my services, but jean prove that I'have paid pounds into j the fund. A collector of our branch told me the other day that he was aAed | how much commission he got out of hi-: j house-to-house collections. He naturally felt hurt, as he gives up a certain number of evenings each month, after a hard day’s work, to collect in certain streets allotted to him by the committee. My two girls sold violets on Violet Day, and came home tired. With the usual tale of the insults and snubs they received from various people. Having been classed C2, 1 fee! it my duty to help Ihose who are doing their bit for those who may not go to the front. I therefore also .budded to help the Tramway Copper Trail Fund, an 1 find the same thing pertains as to Red Cross work. Mostly the same people (arc- doing the work, and the usual insults and sneers are directed at them ! from a certain class. We are called I cadgers, etc., if we ask for a donation: | but, surely, if people do not want to help, they can at least be civil and j honest in their remarks. lam afraid letters to the papers will not have the slightest effect on them. They are t.io much wrapped up in their own seifi-h- ---| ness to help, or think of the poor beggars who are fighting for them. 8o let ns go on with the good work, and let those who have given keep on giving j and we will still manage to send the i boys some comforts to cheer them up without the help of the shirkers. —I am, etc., EXCELSIOR. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. I To the Editor of THE SUN. j Sir, —In your report of the last meet ling of the Technical College Board jof Governors I notice that Mr i Howell now. admits tngt the technical schools do not and cannot teach highlyj skilled handicrafts. H« and 1 then are agreed on the matter, and I conclude that the demand for daylight instructions in the employers’ time and reduction of the period of apprenticeship on that account will be dropped forthjwith. Mr Howell goes: on to sav that I jhad said “i,e teachers iu technical | colleges were mostly school masters who knew nothing about the trades that were taught.” lie proceeded to give a list of the teachers in the io-nl technical school, and their qualifications, and the chairman and members of the board expressed strong resentment at my serious collections, and passed n motion dealing with me. Had Mr Howell been able to accept the invitation to the employers' meeting to hear my paper read instead of basing his remarks upon a second hand report he would iiot have fallen into the error he j has done in this matter. 1 said nothj ing whatever about “the teachers.” I i referred to “the directors.” I have no ) wish whatever to damage the reputa- | tion of any of the teachers'. No doubt, they are all quite competent. 1 think I much of their efforts are wasted in so j far as teaching the highly skilled, more j especially the engineering, trades is j concerned, but it is the monstrous de- | mauds of the directors 1 am fighting, j Hud the board got a copy of my paper | they would have, ] think, discovered j several things more worthy of consjdcrjation than the bogy Mr Howell put be- | fore them. May 1 suggest that they Ido it yet. I will attend their next I meeting, and read the paper to them, after which 1 fed sure they will rescind the resolution passed in ignorance on me, and pass instead a vote of thanks for .my services to general efficiency in the matter of the teaching of some of the highlv skilled trad.es iu this comitrv I ami etc.. ■L KEiR. Sept. S, IPls.