IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1928, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

UNEMPLOYMENT. TWO KINDS OF CHARITY. (To the Editor.) The letters which have appeared within the last week should spur to action all who are fortunately in regular work. What are we going to do in this matter? Why should hundreds of decent citizens—engineers, accountants, bookkeepers, and in fact men of every trade and profession—walk the streets of a so-called Christian countrv in search of the necessaries of life’ f s Christianity, avowedly founded on brotherhood. extinct in New Zealand? If it is still living among the various denominations Catholic, Anglican, etc., how comes it that nothing is done by them to solve the sad problem ? Charity in the sense of a palliative is not charity in the sense of brotherhood, without which there can be no Christianity’ worth the name. Unemployment affects evervbodvit is a national question, and if the nation were really Christian it would have been settled long ago. We are told that the State can do no more, and we all know that the employers of labour are overburdened with taxation. What are we going to do? I surest that what follows would solve this problem: (1) Workers, wherever possible, to work halftime, so as to make room for one of the unemployed; (2) workers on full-time (the majority) to contribute one shilling weekly to a fund in order to provide a living wage for those on half-time until times „et better Neither the employer nor the State would lie penalised, and the surplus from the fund would more than pay for its administration. .LT.

MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

The Mental Defectives Amendment Bill being due to come before the House on Tuesday, may I through your columns make clear one or two points in the bill not clearly appreciated by the general public? I know that some members who have voted in favour of laudatory motions passed by their societies knew nothing of the provisions of the bill. May I point out that the bill does not provide for borderline homes? There is a permissive clause in the bill, but Dr. Grey in his report clearly states he is not satisfied that such institutions are of any value. It does not provide for the sterilisation of sexual perverts or criminals. Again. Dr. Grey is opposed to this method of treatment for such. It no longer provides for a representative of social workers on the Eugenics Board, which is now to consist, except for one member, of Departmental officials. It provides for a bare majority verdict on the case of an alleged mental defective. There is no provision by which sterilised persons can be removed from the register, as it is not pretended that sterilisation removes mental defect, so that though Dr. Grey specifically states that the o]>eration does not interfere with sexual passions but will allow of their satisfaction, these unfortunate people will not be allowed to marry. In his report, Dr. Grey admits that “‘carriers” mav pass on the “plasmic taint,” yet no provision is made to deal with carriers, so that if Dr. Grey’s theories hold the passage of the bill cannot prevent the birth of mental defectives. In view of the fact th- social workers admit that environment has a great effect on the incidence of mental deficiency it will be noted with surprise that there is no reference to environmental conditions in the bill. Among the people who may l»e reported from a “reputable source,” and who will be unable to prove to the clinic that they are not eligible for registration, segregation and sterilisation, are those who have become mentally unbalanced by reason of (a) nervous breakdown, (b) senile decay, (c) shell shock, or (d) the menopause in women. CHAS. W. BOSWELL.

HOCKEY GROUNDS.

The Auckland Girls’ Athletic Association is appealing to the public for funds to finance their venture in leasing the Remuera hockeygrounds. There is no doubt that the Athletic Association leased these grounds without being willing to pay for the privilege of using them and now expects the public to finance the ground. Why should the public pay? That harshly-treated body, the Hockey Association, has spent about £4OO per annum in the maintenance and improvement of this fine sports area, and has never asked the public for a penny. I know that the association has levied its players very heavily- each season to meet this expenditure, and the Girls’ Association will now reap the benefit of the sacrifices made by uncomplaining hockey players. If anybody deserves to be helped by the public it is the Hockey Association. This association now finds itself without grounds, without funds and no assets except 500 enthusiastic players to cater for; surely an unenviable situation. It is a disgrace that this game, proved by the recent Indian visit to be the king of winter sports, should die through the arbitrary action of the Dilworth Trust Board and the general lack of playing fields. I am sure the Hockey Association does not want monetary assistance but merely a suitable ground at a reasonable rental. H. W. COULDREY.

STORAGE OF AMMONIA.

In a recent issue of the “Star” it was stated that the fire on the s.s. Port Napier was due to the explosion of cylinders of anhydrous ammonia carried in the hold. (“Anhydrous,” by the way, means free from water.) Having been asked by several people if there is any danger attached to storing ammonia, I feel bound to state my views on the subject. In the first place, cylinders of ammonia may be stored with safety anywhere at ordinary temperatures, such as occur in factories and holds of steamers. Secondly, ammonia cylinders will not explode or collapse at ordinary temperatures if supplied from manufacturers of ammonia, as they always leave one-third of internal space occupied by gas only in order to allow for the expansion of liquid if subjected to accidental heating up to, say, 212 degrees Fahr., which temperature would hardly be exceeded under any circumstances except fire. Thirdly, an escape of ammonia gas or vapour will not cause a fire; it is not capable of spontaneous combustion. Mixed with a certain proportion of air, it is a mild explosive if ignited with a flame, and the gas will burn when issuing from an opening if it conies in contact with a flame, but will not continue to burn if the flame is removed. Every care is used in the manufacture of ammonia cylinders, and as ammonia has no actign on iron and steel no internal corrosion can occur unnoticed and weaken the cylinders. A sudden escape of liquid ammonia will result in the release of large quantities of vapour due to the rapid boiling of the liquid, and this has the effect of extinguishing or smothering a fire. Users of ammonia may rest assured that providing fire does not come in contact with their cylinders there is no risk attached to storing them. W. T. WEBB.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

“STAR” READER.—The name Remucra is wrongly spelt. Mr. George Graham, the well-known Maori scholar, states that it should be “Remui.era”—“reniu” meaning a skirt or kilt, and “wera” meaning to burn. The two words conjoined have reference to a gruesome incident which took place many years ago near where the Dilworth Institute now stands. The original name of the hill now known as Mount Hob<-.n was Ohinerau, called after an ancestress named Hinerau. The prefix “O” is customary where places are named after persons.