PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20346, 10 November 1937, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write In ini. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, tbeir letters will not appear.

IN AUSTRALIA (To the Editor) Rir,—Would the spokesmen for the Social Credit Movement let interested parties have the official explanation of (he small vote polled by candidates in the recent Australian elections? I have not seen the oompleted figures, hut the first choices showed that the Social Credit candidates, with the exception of one for the House in Queensland and one for the Senate, had polled surprisingly small aggregates. In one New South Wales seat the progress report gave the candidate 5030 votes and his opponent 26,500. For the Senate in Queensland one Sooial Credit candidate had 070 votes and another 24,500, but their opponents were then 153,000 and 123,000. And is the movement confined to New South Wales and Queensland?—l am, INTERESTED. Hamilton, November 8. NEW POST OFFICE (To the Editor) Sir,—ln your Issue of November 8 "John Citizen” asks the position regarding the new T Post Office. So far as I can make out it is this: Protests have been made and a petition, supported by nearly two-thirds of the rating value of the whole borough, has asked for the retention of the old Courthouse site as an open space. I These protests have gone to the Post-master-General, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Transport, but j apparently the wishes of the major ! portion of the citizens of this city are of minor importance in November, 1937. However, it is fairly safe to say that our wishes will at least be given a hearing in November, 1938. By that time it will be too late to save this area, but it is certain that the majority of the ratepayers will not have forgotten that they have simply been ignored.—l am, eto., R. CHALLINEB. Hamilton, November 8. PORT WAIKATO CHILDRENS CAMP (To the Editor) Sir, —Recently I reoeived through the post one of the Waikato Children’s Health Camp League bonds, and de- | oided to go and make a personal inj spection, and I want to say that I was amazed at the whole outfit. Muoh has been written regarding the situaj tion, but neither words nor pictures i oan adequately desoribe this beauty ! spot. Naturally the practical side I attracted me most, and I was delighted with the lay-out, extent and quality jof the buildings. Nothing appeared j to have been missed—the dormitories, roomy, airy and well-equipped; the | consulting room, with qualified attendants when children are in oamp; the spaoious dining room and ooncert hall; the large kitchen—all designed to meet the requirements with the minimum of labour, have to be seen to be fully appreciated. ! But the main feature was the enthusiasm and efficiency of the management. It is no light task to cater for , the number of children entertained each year, but that is only a small part of the activities of Mr W. H. Paul, *Mrs H. C. Ross, Mrs H. D. Cobb and their helpers. Almost every week-end Jis -spent in -supervising the farm ; attached to the camp, keeping the i whole place in order, and keeping . everything in readiness for the next j camp. The more I saw the more I admiration I felt for those responsible for the promotion and carrying out of this great humanitarian movement, and I left with tho determination not only to purchase a bond book but to become a sustaining member of one of the most appealing and best administered camps I have yet seen. I commend this appeal as the. best investment I know.—l am, etc., F. J. FARRELL. Hamilton, November 9. FRANKTON JUNCTION (To the Editor) Sir, —The interesting article which appeared in your Issue of November 4 indicates the progressive policy adopted by the Railway Department in dealing with the constantly expanding freight traffic taking place In this centre. The travelling public, however, must, I am sure, endorse the views expressed by “Traveller” concerning the urgent necessity for better facilities on the passenger side. I had occasion only last week to see a lady off for Wellington, who was leaving by tho evening train. Knowing from past experience of the difficulty In obtaining porterage for luggage, which in this case was considerable, I took her heavy portmanteaux along early in the day, only to find that tho gale, at the level crossing on the western side of the station was locked, and it was necessary to use tho overbridge, an impossible hurdle with heavy luggage. After travelling the length of the station and searching foi some time. 1 was informed at the parcels office that the porters did not arrive for duly until just before the arrival of the train some hours later. Eventually'one of the station staff was obliging enough to leave his work and give me assistance. This is not an isolated instance. It Is a positive nightmare for ladies and I hose who are imt physically strong to travel the distance necessary with luggage. Since closing Hie level crossing it Is ten times worse, as it is .not possible lo get anywhere near the platform with a car. The sooner we have a railway station worthy of Hamilton, and adequate for the growing volume of Iraili.• the heller. .Meantime Hie Department should make lemporary arrangements lo minimise Ihe present inconvenience which travellers 1.. and from Frank lon have lo put up with.- - J am. etc.. A. R. (JOLLIER. Hamilton, Novomber 9.

There may be a few Labour members of the farming oommunity who are content with the guaranteed prioe. Whether this is so or not (and I doubt it), it does not affect the justice of our demand. The opinions of those who would place the interests of a political party before the national welfare are not worth considering. The case for the compensating price has been stated in these columns many times. If "Farm Labourer” desires, I will put It forward again. If he or anyone else can find anything unjust or impracticable In tho demands we would like to know of it.— T am. etc., B. FARMER. Hamilton, November 8.

BROADCASTING SERVICE (To the Editor) Sir,— Nothing more is needed to convince the electors of this Dominion that the majority are not represented in Wellington than the vote on the motion of Mr Coates that a commission should be set up to inquire Into all phases of broadcasting in this country', the vote being 40 to 15 against such action. I am confident that if a referendum could be taken of all eligible to vote there would be at least 80 per cent, in favour of a commission being set up. The whole matter -has created a very bad impression, judging by what one hears when the -subject Is under discussion. I think the Government would be well advised, in their own interests, to have a commission appointed.—l am, etc., E.C.H. j Hamilton, November 9 THE “CRISIS” (To the Editor) Sir,—The recent “crisis” in the boot industry has many interesting aspects. The president of the Footwear Manufacturers’ Association stated that “it was alarming to note that imports from the United Kingdom had increased 100 per cent, from January to May. . . . We say that Labour I legislation has put us off-side in regard to competition.” Mr Duckworth, for some unaccountable reason, omitted to mention that British boots have to pay British taxation. When they arrive here in payment for our exports they have a primary duty of 3 per cent, on their value, their “value” being their cost in Britain plus 10 per cent.; next comes a duty of 20 per cent., and then the, exohange rate of 25 per cent. Yet In spite of all these efforts to prevent Britain paying us.for our exports our boot manufacturers oomplain that they “cannot” compete. An investigation of the whole Industry seems to be called for. Throughout the Dominion we have a large number of small factories producing footwear by primitive methods at high cost. The burden of supporting these units is borne by the rest of the community in the high prices oharged. One or two large factories employing modern methods could cater for all our requirements at a fraotion of the present cost and without the need for “protection.” Mr Duckworth tns been kind enough to point out that “the correction of the position lies with the Government *and immediate measures are essential." | Having regard to the methods of I rationalisation recently employed in j the dairy Industry and the elimination of redundunt units, it will be Interesting to observe whether the same tape will be applied to the boot manufacturers as has been used for the measurement of the manufacturers of butter.—l am, eto., G. HUNTER. Horsham Downs, November 8. THE COMPENSATING PRIOE (Xo the Editor) Sir, —“Farm Labourer” seems quite unable to discover any reason why farmers should not receive equal treatment with other sections of the community, but bases his attack on tho compensating price on his affirmation (unsupported by any evidence whatever) that “it is only the Tories in the Farmers’ Union who arc making all the stir among the working farmers.” I am not a Tory, but a working farmer. T, and many others like me"! voted Labour at the last election because we were promised social justice; and now, because we dare to point out that the pre-election promise has not been kept, we arc called “wreckers," “Tory 1 racketeers” and a good many other things which are equally ridiculous. This eagerness to drag party politics into an issue smacks of a weak case. It is always much easier to abuse an opponent than to answer his arguments. It is the justice or otherwise of tho compensating price which we are debating, and I would like your correspondent to keep his remarks relevant to that issue.