Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 987, 2 June 1930, Page 10

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

PIG FOOD AND BACON Sir, — Could you oblige me with the information as to why there is a high tariff duty on cereal pig foods? I see that farmers in this district are complaining that if the duty were removed they could produce much more bacon than they are at present doing-. Perhaps some of your farmer readers could enlighten me. I would like very much, to hear from someone who really knows. THE COOK OF THE BREAKFAST TABLE. PSYCHIATRY In .reply to our Supreme Court judges and also to your editorial upon ‘•Social Alenaces,” I should like to ouote the following from Dr. Alanson White, superintendent of the Government Insane Hospital, St. Elizabeth’s, Washington:—“The courts are a hundred and fifty years behind psychiatry in dealing with both the insane and the criminal.” —“World’s Work,” May, 1930 HUMANIST. ALBERT STREET TRAM EXTENSION Sir, — I note in your Wednesday’s issue with considerable regret that Mr. R. A. Laidlaw has seen fit to use language that one would scarcely expect a man in his position to use. concerning other business men. After many years’ residence in this fair City, and possessing a considerable knowledge of the business community, I do not remember having ever seen such a charge being pubbusines. men. such as accompanied me to the meeting of tin Transport Board. With regard to the subject

that led us to interview the board, my association has no fear of open and fair criticism. However, should Mr. Laidlaw st : ll adhere to his statement that Queen Street business men aro imbued with “selfish motives,” I would remind him it is just possible the words might be turned round and point to a gentleman in Hobson Street. Air. Laidlaw well knows a passage in a famous book about the “mote and the beam.” It is worthy of consideration at this juncture. F. N. ANDREWS. THE FARMERS' CASE ! Sir, — I consider your leader writer the best leader writer in New Zealand. His very excellent leader in Friday’s issue, dealing with the deficit of £3,000.000 anticipated by Air. Forbes, had one serious fault. It is incorrect to suggest that the railways can be made to pay their way by “the simple and obvious process of making farmers pay on the same scale as other users of the services.” The plain facts are that the only considerable railway concessions paid back to the railways are those on lime and manures, largely refunded by the Department of Agriculture. Huge concessions to manufacturers are not refunded at all. The railways are not losing on the agricultural freight side, but lose heavily on suburban traffic. Boasted “cheap” freights on manures are higher than ordinary manure freights in other countries, and the“concession” has been offset T>v huge increases in freights on farm produce, e.g., ordinary rates on butter *tnd cheese, where competitive transport has not compelled reduction have been increased to two and a-half to three times the 1914 freight rates, i could | write at greater length and ! the most confirmed agricoo’u -V«*t . Dominion, but rnv present merely to show the other side. A. E. ROBINSON.