OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1943, Page 3

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

USE OF COLLEGE HALL (To the Editor.) Sir, —As a parent of children attending the West School, may I be permitted to express my views on the statements made by Mr A. Owen Jones at the annual meeting of the College Parents’ Association and at the Trust Lands Trust meeting. Mr Jones, in the course of his remarks defending the action of the board in refusing the hall to the West School children, stated that had the West Home and School Association applied for the use of the hall for an afternoon function, the board most likely would have granted permission. This is in contradiction to the board’s reply wherein they stated that the hall could not be let to outside organisations. In reference to Mr Jones’s remarks stressing the laxity of morals prevailing at the present time, am I to understand that the incidence of immorality in the town is such that the board consider it unwise to allow even the children of the West School, and their parents the use of the College Hall at night time? I am at a loss to understand why this subject of laxity of morals should influence certain members of the board when considering the advisability of letting the hall for a school function. In my opinion certain members of the board have no intention of co-operating. Mr Jones would rank higher in my estimation if he would openly admit this, instead of attempting to evade the issue by casting reflections on the conduct of the young women of the town. I also fail to see why Mr Jones should be influenced by the opinion of an outside teacher that the West School application was “a lot of rot.” Would Mr Jones not have been wiser in seeking the advice of a West School teacher? If the teacher quoted was interested enough in West School affairs to give his opinion, then surely Mr Jones could have published his name. —I am, etc., THELMA HAYWOOD. Masterton, April 15. OUR OWN & ALLIED FORCES (To the Editor.) Sir,—-One or two incidents which are going on here and in other parts of our country are a cause of much disquiet amongst our own soldiers, especially men who. have returned from overseas. One is the playing of the American National Anthem at the local theatres before our own. Certainly play it as a compliment to the Allied forces, the same as in English theatres where they play the Polish and Canadian anthems, but our own first. Secondly, why is it that an American band is going to lead the Forces Parade in Wellington on Friday? Surely our own boys are entitled to that honour. After all, Poppy Day is our boys’ day. Taking most things just now, our fellows are getting a rather raw deal. It is a pity the people don’t give some consideration and thought to the New Zealanders who are away doing a really wonderful job under many hard and trying conditions, and no grumbling. It appears only those who have sons and fathers overseas ever give them much thought. I could say a good deal, but guess it better to leave, and just say that there are very few who have returned home who are not only thoroughly disgusted but would rather be back in the fighting than to be compelled to take some of what is being “dished out” here at home—Yours, etc. SECOND ECHELON. Masterton, April 13. A LAUGH REVERSED (To the Editor.) Sir,—At the play-reading session of the Little Theatre Society last evening, while intending to pronounce the word “laboratory” as generally used in New Zealand, I unfortunately pronounced it as I had been taught, i.e., with the accent on the first syllable, much to the amusement of some of the audience. On consulting the Oxford Dictionary I find that I am correct, and the joke is on the audience—l am, etc., V. J. Masterton, April 15.