THE POLICEMAN’S LOT

To The Editor Of The Statesman

SIR, – I was very pleased to see that someone had put in a word for the Reserve Inspectors. Seemingly the authorities of the Government of India do not realise how hard it is for a European Reserve Inspector to live and make both ends meet on a salary of Rs 150. I will just give you a little idea of some of the monthly expenses of an inspector; for instance, Rs 2-13, is deducted as income tax; Rs 15 provident fund; Rs 18 khansamah; Rs 10 bhistie; Rs 10 sweeper; Rs 9 dhoby; coals for cooking Rs 10 – making a total of Rs 74-13-0, leaving a balance of Rs 75-3-0 with which to keep himself, wife, and family, in food, clothing, education, etc. The children have to go to the hills to be educated; therefore there is an extra expense. Take a place like Assam, for instance, where living is by no means cheap. Surely something can be done to better the lot of the European inspector.

ONE WHO KNOWS.

Assam.

NEW ENTRANCE TO THE ZOO

To The Editor Of The Statesman

SIR, It is three years since the Government gave a big plot of land abutting on Sterndale Road to be added to the Zoo on condition that there should be an entrance to it from this road like the existing one from Alipore Road, not only to relieve the frequent congestion at the latter, but to provide a shorter and more convenient access for visitors going by tram; and the Corporation also gave a free supply of water on a similar condition. This condition was agreed to by the Zoo authorities, but now they are proposing to recede from it by putting forward a new proposal to open to the public the private entrance from Orphangunge Road in place of the promised one from Sterndale Road. The newly added area to the Zoo has been laid out at a heavy cost in accordance with the excellent plan of Mr. Shrosbree, in which this new entrance from Sterndale Road has been shown.

P. SAMUEL.

Calcutta.

MOTOR CARS – SELL OR KEEP?

To The Editor Of The Statesman

SIR, – I should like to sound a note of warning to those who are hastening to sell their cars in the expectation of being able to replace them with new ones from home at a cheap price. In the first place, unless one registered one’s name long ago, no one will be able to secure a new car, at least before next January. The days of cheap cars appear to be over. The builders of a leading make have announced that owing to the immensely increased cost of labour and materials, a post-war car, which in pre-war days cost pound 600, will now cost not less than 50 to 60 per cent more. A closed car, which I could buy in 1913 for pound 750, is now priced at pound 1,100, and the freight to get it out is also much higher.

MOTORIST.

Calcutta.

DOGS IN THE EDEN GARDENS

To The Editor Of The Statesman

SIR, – Kindly allow me a little space in The Statesman to bring to the notice of someone in authority what is now becoming a positive danger. Those owners of dogs who are in the habit of exercising them in the Eden Gardens in the mornings and evenings might, for the benefit of the large number of children who use the Garden as a happy hunting-ground, keep them away from the children, or select another spot for this purpose. Only this morning my child came back from the Gardens with the marks of a dog’s teeth in its leg. Trusting that this will meet the eye of those “Lovers of Dogs,” I subscribe myself.

A LOVER OF CHILDREN.

Calcutta.