OUR READERS’ OPINIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3708, 18 December 1912, Page 6

OUR READERS’ OPINIONS.

MOTORING ON UP-COUNTRY ROADS. tXO THE EDITOR, i Sir, —Do you not consider that steps should be taken to stop motor cars travelling on up-country roads after dark, especially with bright headlights? It is bad enough meeting cars on narrow cuttings in the day time. A car passed Tarewa the other night about S p.m.,- and going round a bad bend met a boy riding. The horse, so frightened, rushed down the bank, and fell backwards on the boy. Both happily escaped unhurt. Had it .been on some other part of Alorere hill he would have been killed instantlv. —1 am. etc.. “ANONYMOUS,”

THE MAYORALTY

Cto the editor.)

Sir,—The time is now opportune 1 hold when the young men of this town should come forward in larger numbers and offer their services as our representatives at the Council table. If I had my way Air Pettie would be succeeded by a young man—one of Gisborne’s own sons —who should have the advantage of travel. Nothing is more lacking at the present Council table than fresh solid ideas, backed by experience, not length of days, but by actual acquaintance. AVhy, its problematical if more than a small proportion of the present Council have had sufficient experience to sit as the guardians of the people’s interests. You mention the names of Air Sheridan, Mi- Kirk. Dr. Collins, Air Lysnar, Mr Bright and Air Smith. AYell, I think we have had enough of the first four. The trouble- about the other two is that they would be too one-sided in their qualifications. Air Bright is a good financier, but I don’t think he claims to he much of a practical man. Alv Smith is a practical man, but lie lias got far too much of his own affairs to attend to. You know we liave some smart young business men about who could probably do as well for the Borough as thev have done for themselves. I don’t suppose 1 ought- to mention any names; but the residents will guess who I mean.—l am. etc., ‘■"WORSHIPPER. OF THE RISING iSUN.”

BIBLE-IX'-SCHOOLS QUESTION. (to the EBITOIt.I Sir, —As one who favors the present system of education I should like to say a few words anent the Bible-in-Schools movement. The Education Act, if I am rightly informed, stipulates for not less than 20 hours of instruction being given each school week. In the case of this district the minimum was originally fixed at 25 hours; but in order to allow clergymen to hold a lesson it was reduced in most instances to 24f hours. Now the Bible-in-Schools movement is, it is patent to me, nothing more nor less than an effort to make (Bible teaching a part of the regular syllabus. Is it not a fact, however, that the syllabus at present is over-loaded? There is also every chance that it will be swelled by lessons on health, etc. under the new scheme. What the Bible-di-Schools people want is that the teachers shall be compelled to give Bible lessons to the children in addition to the privilege which the .clergymen at present have. I venture to say, however. that the teachers as a whole are averse to the proposal, likewise most of the committees and parents. The whole solution of the problem would be for the churches to make the Sunday schools more attractive and so encourage good attendances; also they should visit the homes a great deal more than any of them ever think of doing. My motto' is that the public schools should be only for physical and mental training, not training in religious matters, and thus they would always remain State .schools in every sense of the word.—T am. etc., j “AGIN THE PROPOSAL.” < THE PROBLEM OF THE BRIDGES. (To fhe Editor.) Sir, —It need not shock anybody if it turns out that the bridge problem is still far from settled. .Mr Pettio 1 certainly made out a long oa.se for the retention of the Ivaiti bridge; but he begged the question the whole way. I cannot agree with you. Sir. that very much was gained by holding the conference. It certainly came out that the Borough wants a permanent bridge at Gladstone Road. But you emitted to point out that it also came out that if the Borough wants a £20,000 bridge there the* Cook County and the Harbor Boa'd intend to see that it pays practically the whole of' the cost. Has it ever struck some people also that once the new Waitnata bridge is up the next problem must be—-not to straightaway erect a new Haiti bridge, but to attend ftp the Peel iSJtreet bridge first of all? ■ I personally believe that there should be a small permanent bridge at Gladstone Road; hut unhesitatingly all the fast and the big traffic will ho diverted by way of tlm Peel Street and the Ormond road bridges. As far as I can see Mr .McDonald’s scheme is bound to be adopted excepting that a small swing bridge will be thrown across the Turanganui river at Gladstone Road.—l am, etc.. “DISINTERESTED.”