Dear Sir,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 42, 30 April 1948, Page 4

Dear Sir,

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-piume is used the name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to abridge, amend or/withhold any • letter or letters. APPEAL FOR CHILDREN (To the Editor) Sir, —In a recent leading article on the United Nations appeal for aid for the Children of Europe you deplore the lack of interest as indicated by the small attendance at the meeting called by the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and in the article you ask the following : “Where were the people who fill the Church pews every Sunday and sing praises to the Friend of little children? Do they find it easier to follow a printed ritual once a week than to follow the footsteps of the Master all the week?”

While agreeing that it was deplorable that the meeting was so poorly attended, I feel that in fairness to the Churches something should be said about what the Churches are doing. The World Council of Churches is doing all it can to help the children of Europe and in response to an appeal from that Counciy the N.Z. National Council of Churches recently made an appeal to congregations throughout New Zealand. I do not know what help was given by other Churches in the Whakatane district' but as treasurer of the Rangitaiki Presbyterian Church I do know that besides contributing by parcels and in other ways, my own Church sent away the sum of £B9 13s 9d towards this one appeal. I know this amount is not so much as it might have been but it shows that Church •members are alive to. the position and will surely also do their share in a, general public appeal. - Yours etc., GEO. J. MURRAY.

SEWAGE DISPOSAL

• Sir, —The attached article refers to a method of sewage disposal that should have some appeal to the Whakatane Borough Council. If this report can be verified it is possible that here lies a prospective solution to Whakatane’s sewage problem. It at least warrants careful investigation by our Council before carrying out the drainage proposals (sewage) which are at present proposed. Another serious matter for investigation is that of a water supply. ' It is not too late yet to support Councillor Joe Creeke’s proposal that earth dams be used in a catchment area on our hills in such a way as to prevent the flooding of Allandale and provide water supply that would obviate some of the restrictions placed on our gardens each summer. Our rainfall at present seems quite sufficient to permit the storage of millions of gallons of good water. It should ,be much cheaper to catch the rainfall on the hills than let it run off and pump it up again. • I Yours etc., ’ PERMANENCE. The artjcle to which the, writer refers deals with a Dannevirke experiment in the composting of town wastes,' under which- materials successfully disposed of include abattoir and slaughterhouse, wastes, fish shop garbage, hotel garbage and general town refuse, street grass and cleanings, sewage sludge and effluent, dead animals, skin pieces and trimmings from wool stores, waste paper from department stor,es, sawdust and shavings, wood ash, hedge clippings, lawn clippings and garden weeds. The waste material is composted in heaps above ground level. It is ready for disposal after about six months, when it has nothing but a faint earthy , smell. The compost is readily saleable at £2 a cubic yard delivered within the borough, or 5/a manure bag.. Editor.

NOISY MOTOR-CYCLES

Sir, —A letter . I recently read in a city paper struck me as having an application locally, and I should, appreciate 'your allowing me space to repeat in part what the writer said. He pointed out that in his suburb there had recently been an increase in the noise made by motor cycles and, while he had no objection to any other citizen. deriving pleasure from motor cycling, he felt that riders in general could be a bit more thoughtful, particularly at nights and Saturdays and Sundays. He noted .that' a motor cycle club was to be formed, and commented * that, as a body of sportsmen, they would no doubt want to give • the rest of the Community a fair deal.

Other officials of the Whakatane Motor Cycle Club agree with me that that attitude is a very fair one, and we want to remind motor cyclists in general to remember that speed-track tactics are out of place bh- a public .highway.. Courtesy is an essential part of sportsmanship,, and we hope the local lads will always remember that. Yours etc., FRANK CAMERON.