CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16619, 26 August 1918, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE.

TIMARU GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. To tho Editor of tho'"Timaru Herald." Sir, —As a country parent of daughters, I noticed with pleasure a year or two ag> that the High School Board was taking :i step forward in the matter of girls' education l>y providing a hostel for the accommodation of country girls. It is with corresponding regret that I notice now that though tho hostel has proved itself an abundJint success, the Board seem to entertain no thought of increasing the accommodation, yet this is, of all others, a time when the education of jrirls is of vital importance. Beading the account of last Board meeting T. notice a proposal to extend the already fine accommodation for the boys met with an enthusiastic reception. Yet no voice seems to have been lifted on behalf of the girls, who are in excessivolv cramped quarters. It seems to mc that a duty lies on the Board to provide a reasonable amount of accommodation for their secondary pupils of both soxes, and certainly to provide for all these before they provide for any preparatory pupils. From the report of the meeting, so far from the Boavd making any provision for" the girls' wants, they actually visit the girls' school for the purpose of seeing whao small or largo things they can remove for wile. On the other hand they seoiu to have vis't'd tits hoys? school to see, what the needs of the school are, and 1 o provide Tor patisfving them. It is iime, ror, that the Board remembered i.hnt they draw their revenues on behalf of tiiumls of the two sexes. The needs of the girls should receive ju>;t a.T symna'tlieric a consideration as is now paid to the needs of tbe boys T sincerely trust, that in the near future the Board will build a hostel for and not hn.vp them sleeoing in n tent or tho different private houses near.—l am, etc., PARENT.

THE LICENSING QUESTION. To the Editor of the "Tiuiaru Herald." •sir, —uu behalf of the- "kltVciunoy Board's ProptiLal Campaign Committee'' 1 should l:ko to araw the attention of your readers to the fact that a second petition is now in the field —a peKt'on promoted by "the trade" with the real object of securing the of tho liquor, traffic as ao present./ The subtlety.of this petition may decoivo some .of your readers. The petition asks for one ballot paper instead of two as at present. On the suggested ballot paper there are to h>> three issues:—National Continuwncs; National Ownership; and Nation Prohibition. A bar© majojrity is to tarry either issue. This seems* innocent a the first glance, buff it is no* so innocent as it seems. To carry "National Prohibition" tJiat "M;ue must secure more votes than the combined rotes' for "Continuance" and "National Ownership." Takq <an example: Suppose 500.000 electors vote at next election as follows:—National Continuance 100,000; National Ownership 150,000; National Prohibition 250,000. WBiftt happens? The liquor traffic goes on its evil way just as at present though 400,000 votes mo caiUi agniust Hie system, and though "Continuance" polled the fewest votes. In tho above example no J&sue secured a bare major.cy of ■ tJie voies cast, honce ho' liquor trade and ad its evils aro continued. It is Very much Jiko a ca»;e of "heads i win, tails you lose." The real intention of "the trade" •n sending out this deceptive petition is to bind i'he liquor traft.c more firmly thanooverr r upon the Dominion. I write on bahalf of tho Efficenny Committee to warn your readers against having anything to do with "the .trade's". .paCition. To sign it means the hanging up of the liquor question till next general 'election, which will : not take place till 1919, and mav not take place till 1920. The interests ' of our country demand a poll th's year on the l'nes recommended by .the ' National Efficiency Board. Reniember : also that the ..National Ownership and ' National" Prohibition mentioned in "the ■ trade's" petition mean "State Pur<-cImI-is" first. Are you prepared to | s : gn for that?—T am etc., • THOMAS STINSON. ', Timaru, August 24. | U)