Prompted by a letter in the Spectator some weeks ago,
I proposed—and my local Rural District Council passed—a resolution to exclude children under sixteen (except such as were employed by butchers) from slaughterhouses. The R.D.C. sent a draft by-law to this effect to the Ministry of Health for approval. The Ministry replied that in the absence of any statutory authority for a- by-law of that nature they were unable to approve of it. So I suppose that unless the occupier of a slaughterhouse objects to their presence, small children cannot legally be prevented from seeing its sights,— E. P. S.
INDIAN SOCIAL PROBLEMS:
It has been urged that what was done in the case of " Suttee " can also be done in the ease of evils such as child marriage, but it is not generally known that the former. evil was confined to a few families in one caste of the. Hindu community. Child marriage is a _` custom " peculiar to 90 per cent. of the people of India : Hindus, 'Mosleins and Parsees. -EXperience ShoWs that it 'is not easy 'to legislate, and to enforce legislation when 90 per cent.' of the people are opposed to such enforcement. The number of those opposed to remarriage of widows amounts to about 10 per cent. of the total population.—J.. D. JENKINS, Homerton House, Poona, India."
Do-Aitaik REFUSE.
Re " The Litter of London " mentioned in.yaiir iskie June 1st, I was Much 'stitick whenrecentlySivitterTand' by the excellence of the municiphl dust van-in the Canton. Vaud. Its - metal cover had a square hole. on- -to which was tipped the receptacles from each house. ..These. were tall galvanized iron boxes exactly fitting over the opening on the van, their covers swinging right back as they. were turned over. A touch moved the van's- Cover into position before moving off, and no dust' Or. smell was perceptible.-
—R. H. • • - - • -
HOUSES -*ITH NORTHWAED ASPECT.- Some of -the principal houses cin a laite estate I ldiecr- houses dating from the -eighteenth-century or "earlier=are so planned that their chief rooms face -north. Can any of your readers suggest -the reason for this ? One suggestion I have heard is that sunshine was deliberately. avoided Jest valuable tapestries and curtains should be caused to fade.—G. .S. 1-1EwiNs, Weston, Hawkstone, ShreWsbury.
MEN'S 'DRESS REFORM: - • - -- We have received a letter from the Men's Dress RefOrm Party; signed by Dean Inge, Mr. Guy Kendall, and a number of other distinguished persons, calling our attention to the activities of this body, which is working for the adoption of some sane form of dress for men. The Spectator has alWays been a friend of this cause, and regardi the present form Of men's dress 114 unhealthy-, inconvenient, arid- uncomfortable. • It therefore welcomes the initiative taken by the M.D.R.P., application for membership of which should be sent to the Hon. See. .Men'A Dress Reform Party (M.D.R.P.), 39 Bedford Square,. See., W.C.1., . The letter states that membership entails no financial liability and no obligation to carry out immediate personal
reforin. • • -
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