CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12867, 27 May 1905, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(/We are not responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. The writer's name a^ a guarantee of good faith, mtt-t he nnelos<»d in the letter). CASUAL LABOUR itfRPORM. (To the Editor.) Sir. — Tt seems to me there is a great need o* reform in our town as regards Mie above. As a worker ami a householder, T feel it my hounden duty, !i\. ihe interest of my fellowAvorkers as well as myself, that something- should be done in the matter. I think, sir, you. with many others, will agree with me when T say there are many married men with their families living in our midst in search of omployfinoiit. This, T feel sure, could bo stopped '.to a g'l'eat extent, as they are to a certain extent a help to keep our town prosperous, and help our Borough Council to get their rates in. T propose that one way of stopping leakage of population is to find them some of the casual Pimp! oyhi cut and that, s'a<y a^iani is seeking work, say from the Borough Council or .Railway Goods Shed,> lie should be able to certify if married or single. This is one way of many tii at would help a married, man over a slack and very tiying time, as soinc are in at present. I have seen single men given work and a married man is to stand by. I ask the 'question, Who needs it most? T trust some one with a tin ore able pen than mine will take the matter n,p for the sake of the householder. Trusting, sir, you will not think Yam taking,. 'up too rmich of your valuable space. — F am. etc., HOUSEHOLDER. THE CONSITMPTTV'E ANNEXE. (To the Editor.) Sir.' — T must confess to a profound feelino of disappointment that the generous efforts of the public, supplepientod -by 'v-Jovi'mmcnt subsidy, amounting altogether to over CloOOi, should only have resulted in the establishment of accommodation for eight patients, for the available room in the nurses' old home can only ho regarded as a makeshift. If patients in the worst stages of the disease can beneficially live on open veratfird'uihsi and in tents, it ap|p«%rs that several wooden "shells" would have been amply sufficient, instead of the two permanent erections now provided. I feel sure it was not m ihe minds of the donors to provide funds for new Quarters for the nurses, however desirable for these deserving attendants on suffering humanity, but for the above speci.fi> purpose only. Tf ground space were a desideratum, surely the annexes might 'hnve been erected where the .new home f o r the nurses has been built. I—T1 — T am, otr. t A SUBSOTtTIYER. STATE CONTROL. (To the Editor.) Sir, — ]\Fr Brooks stated on Wednesday night that he was in favour of State control of the drink traffic. I asked him if ho was in favour oF the Ooverrunent providing houses for the finoking of opium. TTe replied he, was not, as the habit was degrading. Is not ihe drimk habit degrading ? And yet he would have the Govern merit provide houses for the purpose of celling intoxicating drink. A public rnp.n like Mr Brooks must have seen some of ?he misery and degradation caused by diink, and my small experience leads me to^lieve there is more sorrow, starvation, and death caused by drink "than would be caused if opium (curse that ft is) were as easy to obtain as drink. Drinking to oxcess is the whiYe man's curse, as opium is the curse of 'the yellow man. and for the welfare of hnmomity we should ban them both. Apologising for taking up so much of your valuable space.— T am, &c., A WORKING MAN.