PUBLIC OPINION.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17978, 25 March 1930, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION.

As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. A RAILWAY INCIDENT. (To the Editor.) Sir, —On the 13th inst. the 4 p.m. rlamilton-Paeroa train left Hamilton about an hour late with a few carriages and a long rake of trucks. Approaching Ruakura the sudden application of the brakes caused a violent jolt and a packed carriage of travellers were thrown violently in all directions. A schoolgirl who was standing was thrown through the glass door, and when the guard saw the damage he immediately took the girl’s name. Now, sir, I was not. present, but my wife’was in the carriage, and from her account the guard would not listen to the protest that the happening was the direct fault of the driver of the train. The unfortunate girl w : as frightened to and later received an account for 12s 6d, which amount, I am given to understand, was made up by voluntary offerings from some three dozen ■ohool girls and paid to the department. Now, sir, I presume the department considers it has done a good stroke of business in collecting the cost of a glass panel, but if they realised the indignation of those who habituallly use the Hamilton-Cambridge train over this affair they would also realise that over the next few years they are likely to lose a thousand times the amount in loss of passenger fares. I understand that a number of the school girls were forced to stand up, having given their seats to elderly passengers.—l am, etc., W. P. KENAH. Hautapu, March 22. P.S. —The girl in question is quite a stranger to me. I write as a protest against an injustice and in the hope that railway officials may take notice that such happenings’ do not tend to popularise railway travelling.—-W.P.K. SCHOOL ATHLETICS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —-Might I crave space to draw attention to the fact that the school boys and girls of the Cambridge schools have been truly overlooked by not being represented in' the South Auckland Public Schools’ Amateur Athletic Association’s annual sports, which took place .- at Rugby Park, Hamilton, on Friday, March 21, there being about 2000 children representing 10 town and country schools taking part. The account leaves an old athlete wondering why the sturdy limbs of the Cambridge boys -and girls were not given free play in helping to keep Cambridge to the fore in these events. As Cambridge is included in the South Auckland territory, I naturally ask myselfwhy is it that Te Rapa, Gordonton and Fairfield -schools carried 1 all before them, and that the meeting which fell due on March 21 was not even known to the boys and girls of Cambridge? Does not this show a lack of interest in helping to develop a sport which has ranked high with our forefathers and helped to make them the men they vrere. —1 am, etc., LE3 JONES, i Hon. Secretary. Hamilton Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club.