CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18502, 25 February 1930, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald.” Sir. —In your report on a concert given by a visiting band yesterday, you state that “they created a most favourable impression.” So far as the performance went, this is all right, but from my point of view they spoilt the whole effect, and created, in many minds, a very unfavourable impression by not standing up (as our Band does) when playing the National Anthem. I wonder why?—l am, etc., SALUTE. Timaru, February 24. WORK ON THE WATERFRONT. To the Editor of the “ Timaru Herald." Sir.—ln Friday’s issue of your paper appeared a report which, in my opinion, is very misleading. In dealing with the labour on the waterfront, the report stated that all available wharf hands were absorbed, in fact, a considerable number of extra hands could easily have been employed. This, to my way of reading it, means that there was a shortage of men, but I can assure you such was not the case, there being idle men in the vicinity of the wharves all day. Further, as you may be aware, one firm advertised for 50 men for that day, and I was informed by one who applied for a job, there were a few put into the store. The others were told to go down to the wharf, and they would be sure of a job, but some of them got no job, and some who the same firm engaged to work on the ship started work at 10.30 *and finished the ship at noon, when they were paid off, and advertising for a crowd of men to get li hours’ work, is, to my mind, not playing the game, especially when there are always a lot more men available than are required. Is it not a fact that while seventeen men were waiting down at the wharves on Tuesday afternoon, in anticipation of that firm giving some of them a job, their men went down to the wool stores, and engaged men who were working all day, to come and work on a boat after tea, thus deprivling the men who were out of a job of a chance of earning a few shillings. Is that playing the game?—l am, etc., FAIRPLAY. Timaru, February 23. EARLY HISTORY OF TIMARU HARBOUR. To the Editor of the “Timaru Herald.” Sir. —Some days ago, Mr J. L. Potter notified through your columns that a date he mentioned was the sixtieth anniversary of his appointment as supervisor of harbour works at Timaru. I am afraid that Mr Potter’s memory has played him false, as it was about the year 1877, as your files will show, that the harbour works proper were started, when Mr John Hamilton was appointed clerk of works, a position he filled for a number of years. As far as memory serves several old residents and myself (dating from 1867), Mr Potter was never clerk of works to the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works, afterwards the Timaru Harbour Board. Perhaps Mr Potter

is confounding the harbour works with ! the construction of the first experi- i mental block at the root of the present | breakwater, built by Messrs Crawford ; and Green, which was afterwards washed away, after a lot of damage had been done to the old landing service shed, and scooping out a large space between the block and the shed, which cost about £BOO to repair the damage. This work was done by Mr McKenzie. Mr Potter is taking his dates from the “Jubilee History of South Canterbury,” which your files will prove are quite misleading, and which states that Messrs Crawford and Green commenced their contract in 1869. As .a matter of fact, it was some years later when they commenced the work, shortly after the abolition of the provinces, in 1876. When Crawford and Green the building of the block, either from want of knowledge or a belief that Old Neptune would not interfere with the work, they neglected to secure the casing down, with a consequence that when the tide returned the whole of the work, including the casing, was washed away. The late Mr J. Cliff, security for Crawfo.d and Green, for the due completion of their contract, came to the writer to send two stone- , masons working for him at the time, namely J. Brehaut and J. L. Potter, to drill holes in the reef to insert a lewis for holding down the casing, containing the concrete. By this means the casing was secured, and the contractors were able to complete their contract. Messrs F. Jones and P. Sinclair (blacksmith) made the lewis. This vas about the year 1873 or 1874. I believe Mr W. Williamson, civil engineer to several local bodies, supervised the work. Mr Balfour and Mr Smallwood were drowned in the harbout on January 9, 1870, when they came to Timaru to interview the Board of Works in reference to harbour works. It was some years after that the Board accepted Mr Goodall’s plan for a breakwater, after receiving a plan and j report prepared by Sir John Coode, after a survey and a considerable amount of data prepared by Mr Elliot, who spent some months in Timaru, collecting information for his client. Sir John Coode eventually sent out his plan, which showed an open viaduct from the shore, with solid ! work some distance out, with the object of allowing the travelling shingle to pass. Fortunately, at the time, we had some sea captains on the Bbard, namely, Captain Cain and Captain Sutter, who spoke strongly; against the plan, which was not adopted. Some time after, the Board i called for competitive designs for a breakwater, when that of Mr Goodall. C.E., was accepted, the work being carried out by Messrs Allen and Stumbles, under the supervision of Mr Goodall (engineer), and Mr J. Hamilton (clerk of works). In writing this letter, my object is to correct impressions that are abroad, and to make the past history of our harbour works as correct as possible, as I have resided in Timaru since January, 1867, and have always taken a keen interest in the doings of our harbour authorities, and I think it is only right that the true particulars should be stated. —I am, THOMAS FODEN. Evans Street, Timaru, February 24. N.B.—Sir John Coode did not visit Timaru, but sent out Mr Elliot, to make a survey and collect data. HOT WATER ON THE BAY. To the Editor of the " Timaru Herald.” Sir.—ln your columns to-day appears a paragraph voicing complaints regarding the arrangements to supply hot water to excursionists on Sunday, and stating that at one time, as many as 70 were waiting to be served. I do not for a moment question the estimate of 70, but in fairness to the management and the staff, I would point out that the trains discharged about 1600 people on the Bay just before 12 o’clock, and to supply all the required hot water severely taxed the efforts of the attendants, but when frequently for payment of twopence a pound not or 10/- note was tendered the people themselves caused much of the delay. The wonder is that the number waiting to be served was not doubled. —I am, etc., I GEO. BAIKIE. < Timaru, February 24.

CONFESSION OF FAILURE. To the Editor of the ” Timaru Herald." Sir.—Your clever editorial of February 24, under the above heading, would be a more valuable summing up of the present political situation, but for its obvious, though unconscious, anti-Labour prejudice. Contrary to your assumption, there has never been any "United-Labour alliance”; and no assurance of “work for all” under the United Goverment. was made by any Labour member. The attitude of Labour has been clearly stated and consistently maintained, viz: to support such measures as it approved, but, above all. to sustain the electors’ vote of no-confidence in the Coates Administration. The Labour Party must certainly accept some responsibility j for what the United Government has j done, but it cannot accept any responsibility for what, in spite of Labour’s utmost efforts, the Government lias failed or refused to do. If you were helping another man to fight, and he dropped dead, would you hold yourself responsible? Mr Holland is '“king-maker” in this sense: he leads the Party that holds the balance of power that will keep the United in office, and Reform out, just as long as, in the circumstances, that is the best possible course in the interests of the j country as a whole. But Mr Holland j does not issue orders, as you state, to I his own party, any more than his party can issue orders to the present ■ Government. He is leader of the , Parliamentary Labour Party by popular vote of the members. The only sense in which he dictates Labour’s policy is that, like most chairmen, he may exercise a “casting,” as well as a “deliberative,” vote. It may interest you to know that the Labour manifesto, which you published, in abbreviated form, on Friday morning. 21st. inst., and which the City dailies published in full, represented the unanimous decisions of the Party Caucus. After next election, be it soon or late, Labour will be, I trust not only in office, but also in power. If we fail then, it will be time enough to throw bricks. Meanwhile, let us be fair!—l am, etc., CLYDE CARR. Timaru, February 24.