CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1424, 15 July 1915, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor). Sir. — I notice in your issue of Tuesday’s date that Cr Whibley takes exception to myself and Cr Henderson not submitting a report to the Cooncil re the street lamps, and he is also reported as having said we were the chief movers in the agitation. Now, Mr Editor, I think Cr Whibley must have lost his head at the time he made the remarks reported. If he will sit down for a few minutes and peruse the figures and information he has collected he will agree with me when I say that he has been a very quiet agitator on this question. He goes on to say that the meters were read at first. I would like to know who told Cr Whibley the meters were not being read now ; and also his remarks about the boy with the new toy. I think Cr Whibley is just a little bit disappointed at not being allowed to play with the new toy himself. Now, Mr Editor, Cr Henderson and myself were appointed by the Mayor to read the meters, and they have been read. If Cr Whibley cares to come to my residence any night alter business I will let him know how much gas the lamps have consumed. Also, if Cr Whibley has a memory to carry him back to the last council meeting I attended, he will remember Cr Henderson gelling up to speak on the street lighting, andjthe Mayor telling him he was getting away from the question, which was at that time the gas manager’s report, as it was on Monday night. Now, Mr Editor, if Cr Whibley wauls any more information, as I said before, I will provide him with it at my house, or, if he likes, I will give him the lot at next council meeting.—Yours, etc., Cr. McCou..

(To the Editor. i Sir.—l was surprised to read that the Council refused to give any assistance to the School Committee in reference to the removal of nightsoil. I do not think the ratepayers would have objected to the free removal, and I am surprised at the Mayor’s objection to assist the Committee, seeing he is the Committee’s representative on the Board. The Committee should have sent a deputation to the Council and gone into the matter more fully. I do not think the Committee have had a fair deal from the Council. Another thing, Mr Editor, who authorises the Town Clerk to make statements to people as to what the Council will or will not give or do before any matter is submitted to the Council, which he did in this particular case. As the servant

ot the Couacil he should hold his tongue until asked to express his opinion on this or any other matter to come before the Council. I hope the Committee will again bring the matter before the Council. Thanking you in anticipation, —I am, etc., Parent.

(To the Editor.) Sir.— With reference to your leader in Saturday’s issue I shall be pleased if you will allow me space in your valuable journal to point out what I consider was an inconsistent and unfair repremani to our Club. You start by issuing a warning to us not to look for pleasure in return for services rendered, and continue to state that ‘‘this is not the time for giddy social pleasures.” Now, iu replying. I have no wish to hurt anyone’s feelings, but to deal with your warning. First, are young men (the greater number drawing a wage) who voluntarily pay 10s per month for the pleasure and honour of contributing to the local effort, getting or looking for any return in any shape or form beyond the pleasure above stated? They are not most decidedly not. If they were it would not lie forthcoming. So now the point is this : because we have decided to hold a dance with the object of getting our admission fe- s subsidised by the public, the whole of which money, with the exception of what is charged us for the hall, will be banded to the Girls’ Guild,J and you immediately infer that we are looking for a return for our services and want to have a good night out. Well, may all those who attend our dance —including ourselves—have a jolly good night out. But why should we, in holding this dance, be looking for pleasure any more than the public did iu attending the big dance held in the Town Hall on June 3rd ? Because in your following issue (of June sth) by way of repremanding those who did not attend that dance, you published the following : ‘‘Sackcloth and ashes would be iu keeping with the nalioual sentiment if the Mad Dog of Europe had his iron heel ou our necks, but pray God that will never be,” or, in other words, why should we abandon pleasures in the anticipation of being under German rule. So now, sir, may I ask what the Club has done that it should require the warning article you published in Saturday’s issue. It was only the fellows you were referring to, because you gave the girls encouragement at the same time. And what it is that has so suddenly changed your views on dancing ? Personally I believe, without wishing to appear callous in the matter, that to die game a man must live game. Anyhow, consistency is always admirable. Thanking you. Yours, etc., Ciiarrks Simmons. [Our correspondent has adjusted a cap for his own wearing from the article he quotes, and has created from it magnified extremes quite outside our thoughts, and befitting an ultra-sensitive nature. The general application of the article was a warning to young people not to allow their social pleasures to eclipse personal sacrifice iu a great and noble cause. While we appreciate the efforts our young men and women are making, the signs were not wanting to prove that the warning was fully justified,— Ed.]