POINTS OF VIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3930, 23 July 1937, Page 5

POINTS OF VIEW

OPINIONS OF OUR READERS. RUGBY REFEREES. Sir, — I have never yet heard such an outburst of dirty and unsportsmanlike criticism of a referee as that put forward by “Disgusted” re the Ngutunui v. Hospital football match. Then, to cap it all, to hide behind a nom de plume. The man is not a true Rugby sport, or else his mental faculties are so distorted as to give cause for immediate attention. The referee he refers to has only joined the ranks of the whistle-blowers this season, and it is my opinion and that of many others that for a newcomer his controlling ability and rules interpretation are most satisfactory, and I sincerely hope that he carries on with the good work and will not be discouraged by such outbursts. It is obvious that “Disgusted” was a supporter of the losing side. What a glorious “sport”! I wish to appeal to fair-minded and true sportsmen to ignore such very distorted outbursts against the lads with the whistle and give them a fair deal. They do their best, and it is only because they love the good old game and find it a great pleasure tc help the players and Rugby Unions that they do it. I wonder if “Disgusted” would be game to try himself out with the whistle; In conclusion, I would like to ask “Distorted” pardon me, I mean “Disgusted”—if he would be prepared to prove all his statements.—l am, etc., TOM MARTIN, Jnr. COUNTY ROAD MAINTENANCE. Sir, —I should like to draw the attention of ratepayers in the Waipa County to the waste that is going on, particularly in the Te Mawhai district. The road from the railway cressing up to Cruickshank’s Road, a distance of about one and a-quarter miles, was in splendid order on Wednesday morning, 14th inst., yet the grader was put on at about 11 a.m. and I believe it stayed the rest of the day. About one mile and a-half from Cruickshank’s Road to the main road Mr Goosman’s grader was operating on (this stretch on 10th, although it was in first-class order. But on Thursday, only four working days later, the Council’s grader put the whole day on it. Even before Mr Goosman’s grader touched it, it wr.s like a tar-sealed road. Take another case of sheer waste. Mr Gooseman’s grader came one Saturday some weeks age and did all that was required that was very little. But two working days later, on the Wednesday, the Council’s grader was on the same stretch. To the writer it is nothing but wilful waste of our hard-earned money. I suppose it is going on all over !the County, seeing the main road is now taken out of the Council’s care. I would also like to ask the Council, as Mr Goosman’s grader gets over the road at about six miles an hour and does all that is necessary, why the Council’s grader, being a more powerful one, crawls along at about three miles per hour. All that is required on the length of about one and a-half miles to Cruickshank’s Read is a man with a shovel once in about four or six weeks for half a day. (He need not have the discarded wheelbarrow!) And leave the other half to Mr Goosman’s grader, who have, and are, men quite capable of keeping it in order: I have nothing against the workman. He has to do what he is told. Does the Council think it a right thing, when one grader comes on a Saturday and does all that is required, that they should send a grader two working days later on the same piece pf road? The whole thing shows that there is no business management. It seems to be on the “Rafferty” business lines, and the sooner t,his wasting of ratepayers money is stepped the better.—l am etc., JERSEY CROSS.