LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

DIVERS,

Sir,—Tiie old-fashioned diver who did not sooui to liko seeing Mr. Shobrook's mime ill the paper says diving is not a dangerous occupation. Let Jiim tell that to the insurance companies and hoar what they have to say to it. As lor the sharks and octopuses, I am not at all surprised that t-liey seem to like liim, for his own conduct in trying t-o cast ridicule upon a fellow-craftsman by writing an anonymous letter to the press is best described as "fishy."—l am, ctc., •. ANOTHER DIVER. WHY A DECLINING BIRTH-RATE? Sir, —Yon have given us somo very interesting reading now and again on the declining birth-rato. A friend sent mo a small paper from' England. X looked down the "Situations Wanted" and "Situations Vacant" columns. There were 32 advertisements and. eighteen road as.follow: No. 1, "fa-milv must,bo limited"; No. 2, "man must bo single"; No. 3, "wifo to work in laundry"; No. 4, "no family"; No. 5, "ono child"; No. 6, "no family"; No. 7, "no family"; No. 8, "two children"; No. 0, "no family'.'; No. 10, "ono child"; No. 11, "ago 30, single"; No.' 12, "will, bo marred if suited" (whatever that means); No. 13, "married, no family" ; No. .1-1, "no family" ; No. 15; ''wife useful ill house"; Nos. 16, 17, and; 18, "married" (if any children not stated). This is taken from a "small country paper. - What must it bo throughout tho wliolo kingdom? In obtaining a situation in England tho chief tiling seems to be: "No children," henco "children not wanted." Horo is something to think over. Is'it so hero? —I am, etc., • A FATHER. TELEPHONE CHARCES. Sir,—The letter- of "Sunny Slope" in your issue of- to-day (January 13) calls attention .to what, is a very real grievance. I became.a resident of Wellington six months ago, and like "Sunny Slope" 'desired. to becomo a subscriber to tho telephono system. On learning of tho unequal and unreasonable charges, and finding that I was penalised for living at tho south end of Wellington, I decided not 'to connect. It is monstrous that tho .telephone subscribers at this end of the city should bo called upon to subsidise -their wealthier fellow citizens in Thorndon. That there ought to be a uniform rate within the city is a fact that admits of no question. Tho solution of tho financial difficulty (if difficulty there be), is so simple that it probably has not occurred to the official mind. If t-lio seijvico cannot bo maintained at a uniform rate of £5, let there be-a uniform'.rate. of £5 10s., or cvon £6'per- annum for.each private connection'. Tho Department can have no idea of tho loss it sustains through its 6ho'rt-sighted policy.—l am, CC '' WELLINGTON SOUTH.