PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21157, 5 July 1940, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents whose letters «re welcome, but tor whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. XL 13 essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear. ECONOMY IN PETROL (To the Editor) Sir, —Everyone will agree with the Government that it is necessary to save petrol by every possible means. It therefore behoves us to seek ways and means of effecting the necessary economy and at the same time avoiding hardship as far as possible. Already the restriction is bearing heavily on many business people who have to deliver goods, and the general effort should b£ towards protecting those who live by the use of petrol from any further hardships that can be avoided. Sunday motoring accounts for the consumption of large quantities of petrol, and it is here that economy can be made without imposing much hardship. 1 know it is hard to suggest that those who may be working every other day in the week should be denied the pleasure and the recreation that a motor drive on Sundays affords. 1 would also be averse lo anything that would prevent the people from attending church, but at the same time I believe thousands of people could and would avoid Sunday motoring if they realised how important it is that petrol should be saved. Walking should be more fashionable. Whether the position could be met equitably by legislation I am not yet certain, but possibly the matter would be worth careful investigation, if petrol must be saved, let it be saved with as little hardship as possible to those who use motor vehicles to earn their livelihood.—l am, etc., HIKER. Hamilton, July 4. STILL HITCH-HIKING (To the Editor) Sir, —A week or so has gone by since the correspondence in your columns on the hitch-hiking of soldiers was featured and nothing has yet been done by the Government. I wish to revive this urgent question and hope that others will assist me in gaining what is only right for our boys. Since I last wrote I have heard of a pilot, in training at New Plymouth, who hitch-hiked from New Plymouth to Hamilton and had to walk up and down Mount Messenger late at night. To catch the train he would have to go to Marton by railcar and then connect with the Limited, and altogether it would cost him £6 or so to get home and back again. Taxis cost enough from the airport to the town, and those down there tell me that the few shillings a day the Government gives them for offering their lives for their country practically all goes back to the Government in travelling expenses. I cannot for the life of me see why free passes cannot be granted on the trains for the soldiers and air force trainees, particularly those who are in camp so far from home. The trains have to run and they are never that full. If the second class carriages are full the first class are not, and it would not cost anything to issue passes to soldiers. Even If it cost a thousand pounds or more the taxpayers would meet the expense willingly. The Government says it will do everything for the men who ere fighting for freedom and yet it cannot even supply free travel passes. But this Government must consider the public works employees, getting much more money, and despite the war, it has voted £20,000,000 for public works. If the position was giot so unfair and petty it would be laughable.—l am, etc., MOTHER OF ONE OF THEM. Hamilton. July 2