PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20819, 1 June 1939, Page 11

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. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good fair. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

MATERNITY BENEFITS

(To the Editor) Sir.—Regarding maternity benefits, the women have the franchise equal with the "know-all” males; let them decide the question. It is their right. I will gamble on their ruling, especially after reading the Minister’s explanation of the Act.—l am, etc..

MOTHER OF SIX Hamilton, May 30.

POPULATION NEEDED

(To the Editor)

Sir, —I noticed in to-night's Times I an article by the Dominion Migration ! and Settlement Association on the subi ject of New Zealand’s population | problem. It is all very well for the j association to advocate more immigra- | tion, but will someone better informed ; than myself in these matters tell us where these people are to live when they arrive in this country? They cannot live in tents in motor-camps while new’ houses are being built, and ! the housing needs of the country’s 1 present population are supposed to be able to t-ake up all the builders’ time lor 15 years, so what does the associaj tion recommend should become of their proposed immigrants?—l am, etc., SEEKER. Whitiora, May 30.

BUSINESS MORALITY

(To the Editor) Sir, —There is one thing that stands

out quite plainly as a result of the statement made by the Prime Minister in connection with the Supreme Court j and import restrictions, and that is that it defines exactly where the Cabinet i of this country has its place in the I scale of business morality. While we j must, owing to the majority it enjoys, admit that the Government is our rep- | resentative, it therefore proclaims to | the outside world the exact standard : of our national morality. | When it is possible for the leader of our nation to speak as Mr Savage has, i done in regard to circumventing the law of the land, is it to be wondered ' at that the public cannot foretell what ' the future may have in store for us? If we lose our sense of honour we have nothing worthwhile left us.—l am. etc„ INTEGRITY. Hamilton, May 30.

PROBLEM OF STRAY CATS

(To the Editor) Sir, —I wonder how many other people are worried as we are by stray cats? To-night, not by any means for the first time, a starving black kitten arrived. It was obviously a house cat and used to being handled. Therefore it was obviously cast forth from a passing car by some being lacking in humanity to make sure that the unwanted pet either found a home or was destroyed, and quite willing to place his responsibility on whatever unlucky host the kitten might choose. We already have three cats, but we will have to feed the stray until we find it a home or, failing that, we must destroy it. To my mind, this dumping of unwanted cats is sheer impertinence and cruelty of the first water. I understand the S.P.G.A. will destroy animals free of charge or for a small fee, and it is only just and right that owners should shoulder their own responsibilities. It is kinder to destroy than to let the starving creatures roam. They do not all find the homes so airily expected, and those that miss become a problem.—l am, etc., JUSTICE. Te Rapa, May 30.

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

(To the Editor) Sir, —In reply to “Footballer’s” letter, which appeared in the Times on May 23 under the heading “St. John Ambulance Brigade,” and in which he stated, inter alia, “This organisation is entirely dependent upon donations from the various sports bodies for funds to carry on the good work,” I would like to say this assertion came as a great surprise to me, for hitherto I have I been under the impression that the street collections held by “St. John Ambulance,” were in aid of the brigade. Since reading “Footballer’s” letter I have made some inquiries of "the man in the street,” and none of those to whom 1 have spoken seems to know what exactly “St. John Ambulance” is. i Some seem to think it an ordinary i business organisation with salaried j officials and wage-earning employees; l others that it is purely a voluntary association dependent upon the generosity of the general public for funds. Naturally, then, the question arises, are the “St. John Ambulance” and the “St. John Ambulance Brigade” two distinct bodies, or are they two divisions under one controlling’body? If, as “Footballer” states, the brigade is dependent upon sports bodies for fmrds, what becomes of the money obtained from the street collections? Personally, I am only too ■ willing to give a contribution to the l voluntary worker, hut if the St. John i Ambulance is a business organisation j embracing the brigade I do not see ' u 'by I or the public generally should j be called upon to give it donations if, j as "Footballer” would have us believe! j the brigade does not benefit by them. I U the "brigade” is a voluntary a »-

| socialion and the “St. John Ambui--1 ance” a paid concern, then the similarity of names is rather confusing to the uninitiated, and would not "St. ' John Voluntary Service Brigade” be a more descriptive title than "St. John | Arnbulauee Brigade”? I trust “Footj bailer” will enlighten me on these j points. —l am, etc., NOT A FOOTBALLER ! Hamilton, May 30.