LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 209, 28 May 1908, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

LIGHTS WANTED. :kir—Might I call attention-'through yom valuable columns to the very, dangerous state of the south end of Mitchcll Street, Brooklyn: On. th-q bno side, on a circuitous road, .then is a' steep, embankment,. over which oil .one of these dark nights someone will fall, and then there will bo more than the prico of a couple of lamps to pay. On-;so /dangerous :a ;paii of the road the. greatest, light is heeded, but what do wo, find Why,- ■ there (ictually . isn't' l a lamp' from "about. threeguart'ors, of the way lip Todman Street to well into - the r north end, of Mitchcll. Street. . A doctor and nurse, being called up'that way Recently, described it as most,dangerous,, and so it: isj (and the sooner a couple;of powerful lamps aro put up the. south end of tho road the . better, or else, I feel . certain, , over the embankment someone will go, l and for the limbs broken somcono will have to pay pretty ; heavilv.-f-I am,' otc., ■ ■ Maj 2G • LADY GUIDE. MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE. i Sir, —I seo from your excellent paper that tho Hutt ; Borough Council, 011 the motion of Councillor Russell, has;resolved to v ask the Gpyernmejit tointroduce .'an amendment to the Municipal , Corporations Act, so •. that non-ratepayers shall, bo prohibited from becoming candidates ' for ' a Mayoralty or a borough •' councillorship. . ,In . other . words, Councillor . Russell,-,woulil draw a. distinction between; the 'main who pay rates through His .rent and, the man\who pays, rates in the wiiy: of interest 011' a.mortgage.' .Tho Legislature has .said, (whether rightly or-wrongly) that Athe life of tlip. rent-payer, is just 'as vnhiablo as that of the ratepayer. ,It sees 110 ; re'ason why tho , ratepayer. 1 (maybe a speculator) shall ,have, all -,'the-:-street lamps and footpaths arid bicycle, tracks, whilst the rent-payer, who. epriis an honest living and his way, must' needs go "cap 'in; hand to-tho local authority for anything he wants. No,: Councillor Russell, your, move is a retrograde/ono.; -It is, undemocratic. -It is'unjust." Who has -tho greater permanency in a township, : the. : rent-payer or tho , ratepayer ?. Thq':formor usually ; has a large- family' ,to maintain, and cannot - afford to nioye from one. placoy tp : anothpr. The. latter,: maybe,' gets, the neighbourhood of his property highly improved,' sells 'at a. profit, and quits.; After all, it "is the-land, and not the. individual, which pays- the 'rates, -v Surely, .then,' the Ifind hpld' by the. toiiant' is 'as secure as that held by . the. owner, mortghged or otherwise. I ivm aware that this ratepayer "bogey", was used. as a lever in tho'last by-election, and I ivas surprised to. know, of-',thp. number .of allegedly. intelligent people who were deluded' by it. But'; Councillor Russell's proposal'to disfranchise tho,.- rent-payer absolutely beats illl: And he a ! Government/ official!—l am )tc.j [ '■-■■■ May 26. PHEW ' ; ' IDEAL (SIC) SOCIALISM. , 'V, ' s correspondent B. ttaxwellj does'.describe" the Socialism- hp. refers namely: tho.. of • the' in Palestine, etc:,'as ideal Socialism.' Jut. your .correspondent', fprgot'lio. place"- prelistoric > 111'-'front', off: idealf-nr front - of . ideal socialism. Ihero' are, 'of course,'' ideals -and deals,'. and the. termi'prohistorio 'placed' ; in ront" well ...describes tho,"Noah's ■: Ark.-' period' his rcniarks liavo .'refer!hcQ;.to.;'::;M(^qrnvSo6ia!ism;primarily is based' iflon/economic evolution—up'oll' tho clearest position and cbncepjnO]). of tho main;., facts if.existence.. .'lt has-reached. th6';.scieh'tific or insitive, stagey ~The-problem of '■'•mythological niracle-wprking.ideals ;is,out of tlie' question. jCiitiniGntalf' .•-•roiiiantic ■ ideal or.Utopian »ocialisrh, i>:iz.,^imagin_ativ.Q:, romances evolved mt'of- Ijhe iunejr consoidftshess'ias '■anity^'aud.^.a/Jjpstjof-' othersyj'is' bt'it /'dead,: £?• ..'-oftv; "brfe jloflj '. VW.' modern;, working ( men,', as' their e'ducalori requires, are deficient' in.a high degree in iract)cal:,;:a.bility! intelligeiic'e.-. r Bitt l v yo\i ould;hardly-; , pDrsiiade'them'that :ifc was iieces-' ary ,to ,take,iio;thotight at. all-for'the mor- ; ow, trust blindly ;to some modern' Moses t prophqt,.such 'as Brigham Yoiing, to lead hem out . of wage bondage ' : to' r somo '' ; ne'w; ountry flr paradise", where,'they were likely. oue ted-and clothed, as your cprrespon'deht Maxwell, says the-Israelites woro." without labour or exertion "on their '.' parts:>ocialism of .that ■,character may'. be ideal, to pme-. tastes.' - But''.to modern • students'"of (Opialism- it,_ <>r, this: class ' of .Socialism,- has ;ot a fossiliferous smell about it.' Socialists' qaspn ' such views', are poisonous; insanitary' nd: dangerous; .-that; ,so. far .from being" llowed - to' roam .'and.'pervade :tlie' intellectual imosnhere as ( \Maxwell' asserts/ they liould ■ be.disinfected l and ;.'relegated"\to the auseura of ancient", antiquities in' air-tight ases or; buried out. of the road altogether. >' i am. surprised .that;.any/individual" as vdur orrespoiiaenfy/'who •assiimeß'.-.the.-rolo- of, a aentor,;'should entertain /contrary. ideas —I .m,- etc.;:.:..-'-; 1 .. ECONOMIC',SOCIALIST." - THE CONTROL OF SPORT. Sir,—! Followers of sport in the-Empire city re aware..of the.manner,in which the ; eoit rol of various branches; of,sport' has drifted uto tho-hands of a.sclect few. 'These eentle.havfT l been; constituted" veritable 1 9. 01 '- b! i l ! s , J" the local realm' of; sport, have,' 0 -."oubtj^beon- honoured above.their,-follows' n account of their capacity,'.for organisation nd .administration. The principlo, of .having ■,lew, to: do tho work'of many is capable of' irther expansion. The thoiiglit has occurred D- the .writer, that tho time'has arrived when lieroV should -bo a federation of all sport ocli.es 111 this district, with the control of all ranches: of sport;placed in the hands ,of ; a eneral Executivo consisting of not inoro than : ix iiiembeis. J?ho iiaiuos which niost readilv 3commend,themselves to ; t-he-writer for the roposed ..Executive ; are : tho following •— [essrs M'Villy . (chairman), > Day, .Isaacs, uiitay,,. Galbraith, ■ ; and,: Coffey. Tlieso entlemen have already shown .their versatilo bility'to-ruii' such diverse forms of sport as le /Rowing, , Boxing,; Rugby Football,- and thletic. Associations, .It would.be no'strain iV-them, to also 'und6r.ta.ke the: control of' all Übs /such , as', sr/immingj ' hockey,. bowling, ssociation football, shooting, . coursing, etc! The present system,of having.nominally a ifferent Executive for ;eacli .branch of sport isults :• in a tremendous. economic wastp of me, breath, -and .'money. :. The proposal, .oreovor, would be in the best interests of tho ipmbers -of tho. Executive themselves. In;ead.of, being torn from; the bosom of their imilies. to attend, different meetings every ight in the ...week,], the Executive .would - be, bio to meet one :night in tho week l and disase of, the'wholo busijioss, 'A' programme >uld bo drawn- up thus 7 to 8 p.m., Rugby iotbalj; 8,t0,9 p.m., boxing; 9.t0 12 p.m., II other, branches of .sport.. .Many young ien t '.:whp, aro:now in ; 'duty bound to att'eiid icetijigs. of their club, would be free in the nowledge -that. matters, could-safely be, left ) the Executive,, and their surplus lergies could be,turned to other purposes; he reform would lio hailed with delight-by ard-wprked-./secretaries' of . clubs whoso 'finnot sufficiently nourishing to allow :■ their'.getting d decent-salary for.their.misirocted energy., Under. the now schejno the sneral secretary, to tho Executive'would ipersede all others of that ilk, and, in view: : .'his manifold responsibilities, would have )' bo givon a highly-paid salary , and a large :aff. -v. ■ • It goes without, saying, that-a -momber of le Executivo ■ should not bo debarred from 3ing appointed to the position' iof,- general :protary, or. tho position of, of -any : jorting body going on a tour within or bejnd the Dominion. The saving cif rents for ?p r of rooms .for club meotings would: alone j 'siifßciont to' pay ' all -expenses, and the toration ; would doubtless recommend itself 1 the': wives, and .'families, of tho over-worked idividuals who 1 iiow control sport ill' pcrniitng the heads of tho household to spend an icasional ovoning ; at.home.—l am, etc.," - icocoa. May 2G. .;- .. .'. j TAILOR-MADE AGAIN. Sir—Tho Tailors' Union representative is again written under the above heading t ; answer to mine,'.signed "Fleeced.'- -I imire his pluck- ; in fighting such' a losing imo. He accuses me of ignoring the point tissue,'-which drew forth,the comments of

- W.W." niul himself. The only point at issue in my first letter was: Could 1 sell as tailor-mado" a "suit mado off my premises if made by a tailor." The 0110 he introduces is not tho point at issue, not being even hinted at in my letter, so ho is quite wrong, and it is ho who ignores the point and ro'uses. to answer it. if he will look at my lirst letter lie will see this is correct.' • W.l'.W." offered to answer any conundrums (questions) which'l liked to ask. I asked , a great number, which lie dare not answer, as every one would;have been a condemnation of both . himself and the parties ho is trying to shield. Perhaps, sir, before going any further I might suggest to you tlio groat importance of the question now at issue, and introduced by those two tailors, and not by, me. -The Conciliation - Board is to meet, here in Wellington; next month to decide the 'conditions and .rate of wages- to be paid to -tailoresscs, also to the comparatively few tailors working in the tailoring shops* all over New Zealand, such agreement to last for three years. This means the condition under which probably, half a million of suits will be made annually. . 'Perhaps this knowledge will induco you "to spare room/in .your columns for any further correspondence that, may., take, place-on either side, as the matter appearing in these let-t-ors will bo used in evidence.as to whether the present iniquitous law will be renewed or not'for'.another three years. Wo shall then see which' isido will avoid tlio point at',"issue. ..The, questions' I have asked will liavo to be answered,, and if these tailors do-not' answer them, perhaps I will get someone'to do .so. .-' ' ,; , Now, for tlio question- asked by 1 "W.T.W.," one of tho executive of the. Tailors' Union, in his last letter, viz..: "Is it. fair doaling to \ sell 'factory-made' "suits to the. general public as 'tailor-made,' charging the same price and giving l an inferior firticle as regards fit,and workmanship?",l will'answer this or , any other fair "question" the Tailors' Union can' put to me,' and .my answer to this ono is,: .'' Most unfair''and dishonest!" There, is '.no mistaking: "this Vanswer.. But, sir, -who is doing, this ?,' Certainly- notthe people : "W.TiW.".,:aceuscs; viz.,.,"those who have - not workers."; on their promises.": It is. about thirty years since -I first took chargq tjf atailoring and mercery business, and Lhavo never known it to "be done; But, 'sir, tho nearest to it is being.'.dbne by 'some-of the'tailors in this city; who have workers; on. their, promises,' yet - send, suits to- factories to bo made, arid sell them as tailoivmade. on'the : preriiises. : .; Mi slit I ask: can,. "W.T.W." give- me a single 1 example! of. any,'tailor, who lias workers on his premises' ever having sold a' suit as "factoryrmiide."'vTlie'member pf your 'staff who visited, the factory: found : that i'this business was being carried on. I",did." not, want to. expose these' people; but' I-could not 'so ; well show . up the hypocrisy : 'and'- inconsistency of, such tailors without doing so, au,d where this .comes .in. is in ,th'e,:fact that these same Tailors' Union' riietnbeis are working ,in.: theso'i,very shops among crowds of girls, .who .are. '-making' suits, which -aro sold as' '.tailor-made). and these same pious'tailors aro- aiding arid: abetting these tailors,' and trying to,; abuse ithose who .-solid'/■suits to factories (who do not keep - workers on- the premises), and charge a ,fair priqo for' the gc^s,>:viz. , ;^2^lssi/'fo*;^3 ; ;los.. : .pOT*-Buifc.-? '■ :j Another point.: the factories have 'the' best cutters ,'procurable-;'for money..;; Tlitree J of. the, best, cutters': I, :hav'oV known went .from tailoring, shops -to .factories/-anifritlie factory, girls are »just as • good; as.; the;tailors'' %irls/ And both are good as.gold.' I have answered '.'AV.T.^V.'s"'•question.,-, I- wjll- ask .hint olio: Is it/fair for,any'mari'to'Work..in ia.4ailoring roomi.vwith;va'-;gi;eat many .--more: girls' than men, .and; see' these, girls'making-"suits which his' employer: is selling * as-'-tailor-made -at ~5.105. 'to '£6 10s.,| and raise! lit) word of. protect, 'while he . uses all. his vocabulary of abuso'; against -turning"' out as good work material' at 'half; the-price which. I .myself and:others' are doing P— , Sir,- I enclose , you' a copy of' tlio conditions -proposed by 'thiis-sTdilbrs''Union',' which they wish tp be put in ,force ''for.--,another threo;'-years.;'--.''Do'ii't -laugh- too-' loud- when I'! "."toll; - you.!that' 'tlio 'nionil/e'rs ; of' 'the ; CpiiBiliation Boai-d,''..wlio are'"to. lip corning';,thes6' ; pricesasked, "know ;, as much' ptobably- about tailoring as your, office staff. You will notice that .'the items are'mot' in prices, but , in time, viz.', the timo tho tailprs are to be paid for'any particular ;ite'm .worked at Is. ,ld.-. per. hour. Talie ; .for, instance, it'pms.*,under ; "Alteration•'of .coats.". . There are;fifty-four;'- item's from shoulder : pa-rt -oiit, hfdf fan '' hour:' to', one;'; : back,;, right, out • 'of frock's, dress,' • morning, and .'shooting,' through . pleats, '.seven hours.. Then undor the-- item i " TrAiisers,";.. -52- : items, ; fropmouth's yCextra). half,,an,, hour,',,to bastq-,full (not beast) two hbiirs. j-If.iybu.(lb,liot understand -'all. tliis c ldridly;.?eiid to -Mr. .Innes,..the well-known.'"carrier," who, I -believe,-.is, one of the. Conciliation[Board, /and, ,of.courso, a judgo. -of tailoring,' arid -he -will give' you eipert.-.'information. , There' are probably about-, two ■ thousand; points; to bo. discussed and, settled. ; .Perhaps tho -subject is worth a leading -article, . and tho log worthy ; of a place , among " extraordinary , examples of colonial'''manufacture!"—l' am, -'.etc;, OLD FLEECE. ■ May, 22. ' MONOPOLIES. Sir,—An interesting, letter- by -Mr. Gray appears in a late issue, of The, Dominion., 1 quite agree with the writpr's opinions.' 'There are, however, other, monopolies than the-one to which ho refers. Whati for instance, v is .preference .to Unionists . 'but a monopoly?" It,is an exclusive; right to labour, no matter what: tho calling,, to obtain, some'distinct advantage over others possessing in!. every sense; an: equally moral right, , but'legally refused. by an award of the so- 1 called Arbitration Court. Its advocates are consistent in - one matter: thoy declaim; against' the competitive .system, and 'hence' shut --out all •' competition "by obtaining. an award- giving preference ;; they also* claim a' monopoly ~of. freedom, by, endeavouring -to banish the contract.' system, compelling; tho adoption. only; of such arrangements as arc expressly, and distinctly'to their own advantage at the cost of others; ; '- : When- therefore, tho Premier made- the statement quoted, by Mr. Gray: "'Take it from me, we have now 110 such thing as a monopoly Colony,.and wo never will have," ho stated what was not correot. ■ I do not.; altogether agree that the' Crown should hold a monopoly if tho' Water Power Act" be taken-- as an instance. It' will be remembered:that the Waihi Company' offered, 'to instal. electrical power' to' utilise the Hora Hora falls in order to work tho low grade ores, which otherwise wero "quito useless. The off erthey-made -was not in the nature of a monopoly;, After usin" such power as thoy required they offered to'supply electrical energy at the rato,of :£3''"los. per horse power per annum to anyone requiring it, and soil to th'o Crown' at cost (price the whole plant 1 if needed. How did the Government meet that offer? Br a fiat refusal Dog in,'the,manger.'like,;they neither used it: in the public interest, nor allowed others so to u'so it. • , r . OTie Premier more, recently oxciised their 1 ' conduct by making a statement that it would cost about £B,opo/000"to utilise:all the,'water power, and the co&t por .horse-power he put at;£B 10s. : Tho real triith is that the Government has neither mpAns, brains, nor will to act but. as,monopolists. It will be further remembered , thai,, this. : Act was . passed bv the late Premier,'and, of courso, supported by the present Premier.. But the, lato Premier had a keen appreciation of monopoly when ho could hold it,and exercise it at will Did lie not .obtain., the, alteration of-the Standing Orders .of tho Hojiso limiting the timo allowed to speakers, while as Premier he claimed, and,- most- certainly exercised the right to • speak: as i often and'as long'as he liked; was this not'in the nature of a monopoly? There'is, in my opinion, very, little difference ■ in effect , between monopolies whether secured by trusts such as the (lour trust-was.alleged to bo, and the 'legal ■■monopolies obtained by statutory onactincnt. In all cases tlio general public aro the, sufferers •It ill becomes-the Premier' to rail against monopolies, to'boast of their non-existence, when facts, -which, cannot lie. denied, all' point the other way.—l am, etc., . ' Agkicola. :.May.2G. . . ;