VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1935, Page 7

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS OCCURRENCE AT NORTH EGMONT. EXPLANATION BY THE MANAGER. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l beg to draw the attention of those concerned to the neglect of consideration to the visitors ,on the part of one of those responsible for the service to visitors at the North Egniont National Park. At approximately 9.30 on Friday morning it was known to th. manager of the hostel that a party of large dimensions was to arrive. Irrespective of this the manager saw fit to leave the hostel while a party of approximately 120 people in 13 motor vehicles were within sight of the toll gates. They were inconvenienced for at least 20 minutes, a time much greater than that required by the average car to come down. The car rounded the last berid at a speed which showed an absolute disregard for the safety of those waiting. How an accident was averted was u miracle. Both incidents were the subject of much adverse comment by the visitors, and though I hesitate to draw, attention, I consider it necessary if such a splendid tourist resort is to be conducted in this manner. —I am etc., EYE WITNESS. New Plymouth, Jan. 18. [ln connection with the above letter the manager of the North Egmont Hostel, Mr. H. J. Wood, states that the correspondent is evidently not conversant with, the facts. Every Friday morning it is necessary for him to be at the auction marts at New Plymouth as soon, after 9 a.m. as possible to purchase supplies of vegetables for the hostel. Last Friday morning he knew a special party of visitors was expected, and having made the necessary arrangements at the hostel he was about to start down the track on his way to New Plymouth when he ascertained from the toll-gate keeper at the radius line that a small car was already on the track on the way up. As the track is only' a one-way route he had to wait until it arrived—and it took a fairly long time—before he could leave. He could not delay his descent any longer, as otherwise he would miss the auction sales. As regards the charge of speed he denied that' he was travelling fast. An accident was narrowly averted, but that was because thr cars had been drawn up inside the toll gates, on the side of the track, and extended right up to the first bend. To encounter cars on the bend was a shock to him, but the fact that he was able to come to a standstill alongside the second car in the line showed that he was not travelling fast, and that his vehicle vas under control. The delay to the visitors was unfortunate, but was one that would frequently occur with a one-way road, and under the circumstances could not have been avoided.—Ed.] , i NEW PLYMOUTH BAND. (To the Editor.) Sir,—The letters of “Diminuendo” and “Minim” in recent issues have prompted the writer to pen a few remarks regarding the New Plymouth band. Not being a bandsman, but a lover of a good brass band combination, one can approach the matter free of any bias. In weighing up the efforts of the .band since it was formed, one can only admit the balance of opinion is certainly in favour of “Diminuendo.” It really does seem time some action was taken -to improve the standard of music we are regaled with. Comparison with either band as it was a few years ago is very unfavourable, and one cannot but wonder why it is in this condition. “Minim’s” excuse that employers in general are partly responsible for the band’s poor active membership will not stand investigation, because the type of senior player referred to by “Diminuendo” is still amongst us. ■ ... But it is not the individual player I am concerned about. It is the fact that in my opinion the public is not gettjng value for money in the matter of the band’s efforts at recitals. The band seems to have fallen to a very . low standard musically, and I feel the time has arrived when some action should be taken by those who control band matters to endeavour to find out th reason for the apathy of most of the senior players, take the necessar.' steps to make it worth their while to again take an active interest, and thereby p- t that solidness and efficiency into the band that only experienced and mature players can supply. Then the public will sit up and take notice. —I am, etc., BARA FOSTUS. New Plymouth, Jan. 18. A GARDENING PROBLEM. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Can your gardening expert tell me how to speed up the growth of parsnips, late sown? In 1933 I grew. a large number of vegetable marrows, with a few pumpkins. I saved the seed of the marrows, and in 1933-34 I got a small crop of pumpkins only, from plants with growth more like marrows than pumpkins. I saved the seed from these pumpkins, which were all small, and this season I have very large .growth, and early, and already have many green marrows, and no appearance of pumpkins. Can he explain this? —I am, etc., HERBERT LAWRENCE. Stratford, Jan. 19. [The Daily News gardening expert supplies the following, comment:—“Liquid manure is the recognised medium for speeding the growth of plants, but as fresh manure causes parsnips to make large tops and fibrous roots, the best plan is to ensure copious supplies of water during the hot weather. As pumpkins and marrows are very closely related, and are very easily hybridised; the change in the crop is due to hybridisation by the bees. That the 1933-34 crop was pumpkins on plants with growth like marrows proves this. Although this year’s crop is grown from the seed of pumpkins they were originally saved from marrows, to which origin* they have thro’ i jack.”—Ed.]