LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 569, 26 July 1909, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

KARORI TRAMWAY PROPOSALS. Sir,—lt the council's present proposals are defeated at the poll on Wednesday, tho residents bejond Church Hill need not despair of getting better travelling facilities in the near future. If the proposals are defeated—as they are likely to bo—it is because of the clumsy attempt of tho council to get ono end of the borough to pay for a line for the solo benefit of tho other, whero tho land very largely belongs to land speculators. If'.tho proposals meet with disaster on "Wednesday, the council is entirely to blame. The ratepayers will (even if their interests are beyond Church ,HHI) do well to reject the piesent proposals, for the council is likely (at least it ought) to accept tho offer and give the residents an immediate service adequate to its needs, and one which will satisfactorily nil the gap until more acceptable proposals arc confirmed at a poll and, tho new line opened. The council should bogin by getting a fair and reasonable adjustment of itb present heavy indebtedness apportioned hetween Ivaiori and Übo city and Makara County. As tho £8000 and the major portion ot tho £54,000 loans uerpfor road works which are now in the city, tho city ought , to take over a fair proportion of both ol these old loans. The city might also take over the existing lino up to its boundary (the Deviation), and oxtend the penny section from tho Gardens to that point. By and by, when tho new line is running, trarnc to that point .would not only show a profit but would warrant tho extension of the present ten minutes service to the Gar- 1 dens to that point. The Karon' Council could then run a twenty minutes service (with extra cars on Sundays to the Cemetery) to the Karori Post Office and a forty minutes' service to Makara Hill. The fares could be orio penny from tho Deviation to Karori Post Office and one penny from there to thei terminus, enabling residents beyond Beacham Street to'get to Lambton Quay for 4}d. instead of s}d- as now proposed, lo enable the borough to construct tho extension, tho council should (in accordance with the Local -Bodies' Loan Act) divide the borough into two rateable districts, one district being the borough east of Beacham Street and Parkvalo Road and the otner the district lying west of these streets, but any other .point would possibly equally well sorvs the purpose. Each district would then vote for and take upon itself the 'burden of the line within 1 its own area, the cost of the irosh cable from the power-house Vii'g equally divided between each district. Such n scheme, being much moro equitable than the present" proposals, would commend itself to ninety per cent, of tho ratepayers, and be endorsed, at the yoll. . With such a schenio in operation and a loop-Imp through Sydney Streot (which must also be kep; steadily in view) Karori would go ahead by leaps and bounds.—l am, 'etc., , ■

JAMES W. HENDERSON Karori, July 23.

THE DEATH OF DON CARLOS.

V; /:'Sir,-it ; "was : with ■ considerable .-surprise that '•:!'■ perused ; you'r-biographical: note:■,with. death,of;i ; Don./:'Carlqsi;! the "'legitimate.: King ■ ; ;ofi.irranco : Spain: ■:.Uniting..in:his:ipereon ;the,v.:crown -of/two. ■ nations, -/great, in :the, history; of;; the-world, • it is; I>think,-'tovbe:' regretted.: that■■: you 'shquld'-haveseized.this opportunity to.indulge, v ; in Asome' .very-uncomplimentary •;■ remarks ■■''i»ncernmg'-.j^t.- , augnst; ; .pMßbniigeV.'aiid- : m3. - ■ : -'family.,.j -Moreover,'. the 'majority,' ,! of ; '; your, -charges -are','not-.'■statementsV/pf/iact,':-, .but '/hearsay/' allegations, , /-tnworthy ■"■ of \ credence. , a; tactician,:- but 'this --was jhis',.ni.is--::forturie;-rather than his fault.,,,Tall,.handsome, ■ and. witti engaging;manners ) 'ihe , ; was iWithout. :-:,dbuttS'-one-'or^ra^-pluok^t';o.f:soldiM:s,:during-the' Carlist war.-- it: must hot be.ioverlopked .■.■thatHheVrtrength\'b|,;-'tJ^ v Qarlist;,i)artyi;does' • nob* lie :a'mongJth'o .-city, loafersvand empty "windbags; who-.play so<promihent'„ a; part, in the ,■ political -life .of ..Spain,. but . among■ the : hardworking; i peasantry.,of,,the north, /where ■,'td ; a: : ;manv-theyj.regard;;Doii /Carlosi, as'their rightful -kin£." '£2r-y';*)■ -..; '■■^i.J : ; : ;/W; y.-//Rj;; -■ \ -". fou- state that -Don"parlos: was supposed, ■ to , have Cassisted:the author .of "Kings in -'■Exile,", .'and'-:to have burnished- material.- for-■ihei.work;.-Although it,; is: 'a .'very; trivial. ; 'matter,' I "may -that'it .seems very r un- ; likely, because.l)audet in his book does-not express any':love > for!exiled;:monarohs, and,, fon ;the. ridicule.'., Ybuf Teferences:.to ;Dpn\Carlos ,and . his "deflections : ! fro'm- morality may.:ber-true, ' but4tdoes'nbt follow- that-he.iwas weaker. : thah":other-moil]'::becauses persons /.in- ;an .'exalted.sphere'.of-life:are exposed.to.tempte-. ■''■•tions^frqm\-which; l i;:ordin'ary : ;j;'.;-mbrtals.-:--;are. ..immune, -i • Several';'popular.'..[monarchs'v. in (all. ; ages'haye'-been'; iinmoraliliyer,s,:but , this-has ■ : not prevented' them'frbm .'•' ; being-. : . excellent 'sovereigns, •' of r^Heiiiry:/of '.•Navarre/; : In ;.conclusion,,.l- : should,. like to state .that I .have/, noticed '. /that; Whenever. an; ; unsuccessful.public.' personage: dies, xhis..fail,'ings are'magnified arid.;: his>-;virtues, over- ■ looked:-, Oii the/otber /,/band,-. should/: the/ .- obituary. notice: refer,:-to ■ someone ■ who ;.■ has; : /,attained/the:;uoal";pf,>his hopes, /.then .no "anecdote is .too •..absurd, and,;no. flattery too .;-.:. ;://:Y,f'■/"; w-'/y::-/;Y/ -.•"'' Sir,--As ■;;improvemen : ts-in 'the city's sur-; :. rouridingsV nb.W. l.the.'.order : of; :the day/liwouldysuggest that.!one, or two paths ■ eliould'.■■be.'.cuf ; on ctbe.iside^of;;the,Tinskori ' hills:overlpbking : ,tha,;.town. : -There:is :at.pre-. sent ..the remains, of an old bush- track .which'. traverses.:, the ;hillside'. , -short dis- ;. taiice -'below Mrs; '■ Rhodes's*gate to.. : the :ex;;trernity. of , , the';range.'"above''Northland,; and ■; by:; .widening ; and .improving this -track, 1 and .•connecting -it; with •.the.'- Wadestown '. and A Northland y a ; r very::' pleasant .-'.-.walk: : jwould : At: some later:date this ■ could be , 'converted ; into ./a;, drive., -\ ,'Ahother. ■:path" might'Valsp'.be cut,-to. commence, at; a 'point"on , ,the■rbad '.. just:.behind;;Mr. .ToUiurst' s .;property'/and ;fornied-:sp. ; as;; ; to -meet/the ' old v-busfctrack/-:l : am^sure/comparatively;...;few ''.-:■ ' people: in -.kJiow what a.'i.very.-n----:terestingview.!pf:tho city, and its, immediate ■■V6uHurD's';cail, ; ie^obtaJiied,-'tromV. : ■■ hills , ,' and'as,the;altitude,pf thel track would ■" be, , , roughly .above : '-'sea-levelj' the: Sutf ;Valloj\':tq }the/ribrth and ..'. Cook Strait to"thd',sou_th""are;.-both,.;brought- : ''with.in.jtiici"range of .vision. '-.As:some.. of; the: '■': gullies'-'-facing' the, tpwn : .are ; ; very 'suitable-, for , :-thergrq'wth of-'n'atiyp'-'shrubi , ;.trees,. : our • '"• ihdustripus.Mayor, might advantage ;to : .- the; Thorn'don •.end , of .the •city.-.^^woTk ! ;qS i some . Vof , '.-his -these,niiniature '/, vaileys.-J^m^ etc^*■ •; ; - >;\':'■ ,'- ; .\ £ .-:■':-,V.r~ '■•■ -f;s>r >; >.."...-i ■■ ;,' : ;/'' .;■ : - '-;■. ■; ; ''.i-'' , . "■■-., f.'/M.J .K. ; ''■:: ] '-i}. see ;; by : . this\ moruing's paper ;that .;■ niy: ;suggestion'•; has .been forestalled !r : io' .'some ■■ extent in '■.the/.Wades'tdwrilE'pacl at 'the joint indicated : by: me fpr-tbo' cbmmencement- of ':track' lends itself: admirably; by;the; , natural ■;fprmatiohL of the ground. to.; the -purposes of. ■• a.-plantation; . : : S> r- ■■■' '•■''■'■.' ■ ~;- -: ''-■'■' '' ■^^v:^;'l)R.^FiHp^Y^ND:-;rtß.viHbQCi:V;:> ; .reading" the/speech'.of the; Hon. ■Dr. .Findlay.ctd> the. Dunedin; .electorsi' the -subject-of.his address:,iiponvth'e."!questiori of ■the, duty of:-the Government-:, of, :the.day to -'-■■' the' people, particiilarly i'with Tegard to the ■:"'■ acquisition;: of .property", by : .the..Crown from V tho ' '.-"subject, , seeinsd:,' familiar to'.. ■-. me—l V thought I-had; heard., intich'-bf :it^^.recently, and, being, of, an..inquiring turn .of :mind, ■: I '• searched wjth .the; :.vie\y, of finding out •:. -where I had: read of it. - I found ! the greater ': part in .the speech- of. the late- Minister! for, ".-Lands'in Parliament.'oiv that /memorable.oc-■"■casion-when vMr. Hogg >,immediately,after- ■ .found :he was not; the, person he was. : - supposed to '.be when included .in the Cabinet; ="'■ v-Now, if .anyone::.will; take, the' trouble to v , compare-the'two spoeclies,, except that one. is, 'in thovernßcular understood of the people, : ■'•■ and the' other in that 'say;,,.the- Hon.- Dr. ,vFindlay, , no:will Eee little..or;,no difference m .-■"• the underlying, principles: ~.y. ;,:: .._,,. :'- -I-Would call the attention of ithel.cunbns. ■'■■■■ :to the fact that the.late Minister■for...Lands, ■ cSnstitutionally holding Cabinet "rank by election to Parliament and appointed by Parliament a Cabinet Minister, finds himself called ! : o pon forthwith to resign office, while tho ! Eon Dr. Findlay, of Cabinet rank, tho re'•';'Jected of the electors, taking that rank not '|t too handa of the electors, and oonfirmod

by Parliament, but by gift of. tho Government of' the day and by virtue of a seat in ', the' Upper: House, canVpromulgate i with impunity, the principles Mr.' Hogg;so .-, dearly loves, 1 and-which the. Premier• is supposed to abhor. -Why is this ? If ian ; answer can be'given to this political.conundrum,' it will bo perhaps of interest,to the electors.—l am, etc.; ■> % CONSTITUTIONALIST.; .vjnly;-^-' , :.■;•■;■.■;.- •' ;; ,: i': - : ; >;'; THE COST OF GOVERNMENT. : ; Bir,--Can a few remarks in The Dominion t . In. your issue of. July 22 I notice a : tabulated statement ot the annual .appropriations of the &oddon. Government for the yearsl9o4-5 and IBUo-o, BhowiugV the .increased appropriations -tor .oaeli year, also '*o 'WarlGoveniment- appropriations for the years 1906-7, 1907-8, and 1908-9, showing' an increased ■ appropriation of £490,000 for -the -latter,year. -;. Will you kindly "let your' readers; know. if you include the , miHaonf or'W purchase- of ;the. Mana■watuirailway in'this increase? ; As au asset, this "purchase is full .value for the m< ™9 v Perhaps even The Dominion wijl.allow ttas.. Liberals and even workingmen can digest figures—a fact still to be learned by Toryism and Tory newspapers. :. r lnsinuations: and half-true statements 'have"no weight; outside Opposition newspapers.■■■'. ,' . ;' .._:■• .- : : Inbtica Dr.Findlay gave a interesting political address in Dunedin. Evidently it did not'suit"your book to give your read-, ers the princrpal part. of it—namely, the tax on wealth in in comparison to that in Now- ZeaJ-and, much to the , advantage ot New. Zealand, and. if the present proposal before the Ho'usa of Commons will fight its .way to'the Statute-book, the tax on wealth in' England wiH be almost 50 per cent, higher than in New Zealand at present. ;The hackneyed, phrase of -taxation driving out capital, must ■ certainly ; apply-- to the Mother. _ Country.' I<et ; us hope if it does.put capital.to. flight , in .England .it may waft a'good part, of it in our direction,--I;am, etc.; ;. v . : ■" ! . : r.:}.\ <'■:■■■. , . ; " BOOWMAN.. •'■;:■ July 23.v;;7'/ :. ■ '";'■[' '.. ; -.-■ f-' :.'-■•■ :■. : [Our correspondent is sadly in error in. his ivipw ,of the figures quoted by us, ■ which, ■by the way, 'were ; 'taken.from .'the official re-; ' cords.' 1 The table he-, refers -to is as follows:— ,':'v'/.i' : .'.■• "•'. "'Seddori'Governnient.; ■■■■"'; .v.■;■ ■ ; . :■ . / Annual- .. Increase over- .*';..»'; ~:[ .appropriations, previous year.. K VI.. 3,964,930 : '■ •...: 4,252,233 - : '; 287,303-, . ■'. ';• >.: ; . /Ward Government. . -'■ ■■'~. , ■ft : 1906-7T... : 4,736,806 : :'■ '484,573 . > 1907-8-'; :.. 6,085,344 '■• 348,538 , ■ v; 1903-9 '; .::.'. 5,375,483 ■: r, 490,139 '; ' careful to explain that these figures represent cost of. government. They have nothiogto dp'Wjth.tSie heavyiiicreaso'in the public'debt,, , .which is quite a separate matThe , ' .money for... ; the, . Mahaw'atu; raiilwiay.:would be..added to tlie public debt;-and we. quite 'agree' with our'■•. cai-re-epphdenf that' that expenditure will ,prove. profitable;'to--the icotmtry... What Wβ were proving,. when ■■■ we;quoted the table ■ -given above was .the, enormous increase in the cost t of ranning thfj.variious/Departments of. the. State-.tinder'..the. Ward■..Governnieii.t—this is exclusive , of;j.public .works': expenditure and permanent, appropriations such as the interest, oil our'public, debt. To quote from the article in question: : "In ; ,three years; the Ward Goye'rnment raised iihe .'annual, appropriatipnis, - from' : £4,252,233 to £5,575,483— an increase of £1,323,250. If; the figure had .■remained at tho level at. which Mr. Seddon left-it,'-the - cost for -tihe past three years would \ have .been . £12,756,699. ~. Btit . the ■ methods : of.the Ward , Government resulted-:in.tho;-actual total: being £15,397,633. Tlie. Government, that is to say, has ; wast«d £2,- ; 640,934 "on' the, Departments alone in thj>ee years. And even, now it only proposes . to save '£250,000 ■■ a ,yoar—after)wasting. over a yeat;". As to our correspondent's referenco to. the. report of Dr. JFindlay's Dujiedin speech, we can only say that, he sWuld blame tho Press; Assooiation,.' Whkh Supplied the report to the press'of the country. 'We did- not-'haye furt'lier.'.details than -those supplied';to publish;]: j ,;. .;.'■''.;/..■ ■ ;:'

THE NECESSITY FOR RADICAL REFORM.

Sir,— Your article on the political creed of Mr. "Harold Cox, the; British member of Parliament for 'Preston, - is rather amusing to ;anyone "who has. watched the career, of that fossilised',- politician. Considered from tho .standpoint; of evolution, 'I suppose that 'Mr. : Cox's .case ~ ought; to ibe regarded as One of arrested;'development. ■ Just as the monkey could reach': a .certain stage beyondthedog, but stopped short of .becoming a man, so-Mr. Cox reached that stage of individualism where, during .the second half of-, the nineteenth: century, Herbert 'Spencer and his friends found a spacious platform for •their .high-sounding : phrases. ;But there -. Mr.' Cox stopped; ...'."-He,'.could , not. reach ; the radicalism .of John. Stuart Mill, .whose ideas have -: been, further, developed ;by Mprley, /Gladstone; Bannerinan, and many less, famous .members of the Liberal party. To-;day is : the. day of, the Radipal party.. Shall, the development of Liberalism in : its widest sense .stop■■ td.ere?;-,■,-f;•■.'' /;Y '. . ■-' .v-.'; '...: .;■; : '--. .1 .The'.whole .of. Mr. Cox's political ideas -are based upon the fallacy v that no inatter how complex the condition of society, the mere .worker, uneducated and ..without ■'. financial advantages,'can. control his /own destiny. The thriftlessness and ignorance (?) of the poor, .and- their unwillingness' to; do .the. things which he, Mr. :Oox; would : do ;in 'order/to rise in: the, world, .are the;'great themes of this;pedantic,politician. ■ Ontheso grounds he opposed the Old.'. Age Pensions Bill..; Ho. forgets,-, when he lauds individualism, and'free.; competition,, that the. great 'majority, of bur -fellow 'citizens never. : get an equal chance to compete or to develop itheir individuality. ■ The children of the. poor must leave school at the age of four'teen or thereabouts, many of theni before that age. Defective education is, therefore, a- ; handicap right, from the start. They hav.e rip .'financial "start in life," but they are; compelled by, , poverty ..to. take the first job "that; offers. 'In.", later years, they have to contend ;;with •unemployment,' broken time,, /etc. How .would Mr. Cox "and his friends ,like to ,see, their ;own : .ohildren subjected to so: , severe a discipline? Then,. again,', the children ,of,-a'/large ( number of.the workers ,/are .brought: .up amid : such -surroundings as the purlieus of Tory' Street, and it is, hardly [likely; that .'.-all the children, even .of such .paragons of independence and honour, as Mr. Cox.and his friends, would grow, up inorally and /mentally: healthful amid such. surroundings. So far .from-sacial;:reformers desiring to alter'conditions without altering" ' indi-i.viduals,-it.would be truer;to say that, after J a century of well-meaning effort, it is : pretty obvious to all.who care about the improvement of: the condition of the worker that it is hopeless to;-try to improve, the people without altering some of the conditions in which they; live. Mr. Cox and his friends, limited by. individualist theories, are unable to recognise ithe. powerful influence 1 of the State; as an. agency 'to ; this end.- They object, for instance, to-the eight hours', day, the limitation-of; women's and children's work in factories, and, amongst other similar objections; they are inhuman enough to object to old-age- pensions. .But the public has a strong protective, covering against these pundits, otherwise, in the ordinary course of evolution, the State could not survive..,lt ignores them; 'Tho whole secret of Mr. Cox's failure to gain a hearing/from any influential body of opinion, Liberal or Tory, in England, is this: It is not worth while to damn him by . arguirierits; • he' is damned -already 'by his absurdity.'

: -Tho, , greatest social-and economic force of our time,- , as I' apprehend the matter, is the accumulation of wealth' caused by the development of machinery and , labour-saving methods of production. The average man under such circumstances is a mere unit, whose destiny is in the - hands of his employer. That grand fetish of free competition, and the equally grand moral doctrine of. "the.devil take, the hindmost," do not allow the worker muolr time for mental developments The State, in every civilised country has, however, enacted moro: or less stringent laws in order to change some of the conditions of the worker. The Factory Acts are not observed by every" employer as : a result' of proaohing,. but as a result of compulsion, and I/think it will be admitted "that they .are- not only benoficial but necessary. If they were observed a hundred years ago in Lancashire, we should not see so many stunted-.'-.forms of men and women to-tbiv. As economic development Drocee<le»

monopolies ariso from tho possession of great wealth. The land becomes moro valuable. Every . increaso in prodnctivo power only tends to enhance land values alid at the same time to depress tho mero workman into a profit-earning maohino. Ino employer controls him, and then comes tho trust. ... This is a now force in evolution, and it cau'not bo stopped by law. Individualism had its day, and did useful work in destroying a number of State excrescences such as the old Poor.Law; it will yet do work in England by destroying a State Chtirch. It will'then die, having accomplished its piirpose. Its doctrines will be useless in the Face of tho now conditions. Tho trust will develop in the meantime; many hundreds of workers will be driven out of employment as each new machine or process is adopted. The day of the small factory-owner is done. Now these aggregations .of capital are not due 'to the wickedness of the capitalist, as many seem to think. They are the natural evolution of present conditions. It would be' better indeed if the State, backed liy an educated democracy, gradually nationalisad the sources of wealth, beginning with tho land, -.which is the most important.of all; but whether wo like it or'not, tho State will ultimately be compelled m self-defenco to nationalise the sources of wealth, lne strong.position which we can here take up is.that we do not appeal, mercy to .what "ought to be," but to what in the ordinary process 'of "evolution "must be. ' The State cannot under modern conditions allow private wealth to grow as it has grown during;the past century. But it. cannot ■ stop such a growth by regulation. At length it will be nerccived, as the trust becomes more and more powerful, that it had a useful mission. That mission will bo to deliver the deathblow to the individualism of the last century, 1 and to make it plain to the nation that,. as Mr Ramsay Mac Donald, M.P., in the Town Hall, ill-Wellington some time a"o, "individual rights can only be preserved by the joint 'efforts, of tho whole community. Instead of feebly struggling against this abuse of capitalism • hero and there,, it will bo perceived by all that the power of the State will be broken by the power of capital, unless the sources of wealth are owned by the;nation. In the United States the advance guard of the workers now .recognise that Itis.useless to rail at tmsts, Instead, we have the favourite battle-cry,of Mr. V.ilshere, "Let the Nation Ovm the Trusts.' — I'am,!etc., . : )OBSERV ER. ': July 20. ■'. ".. . :

I;,'/'-''';;,' BAD MANNERS. Sir—Mr. J. : W. Tibbs will not enjoy the concurrence of many 1 parents in -his strictures". "What is the name of this mountain?" "St. Bernard,": said the boy—a laconicism which" will appeal to the hearts ■ of• ■ a practical people..,. Courtesy. begets courtesy, and, if it, was necessary for the boy to' say "sir," it., follows . that ■ some handle- was equally necessary on thtv part of the examiner. Hence we ought to have: •"What'is'the'name of this mountain, boy? f'St: Bernard, sir," and if the reporter was following copy, ; things would ■bo ' getting mixed. "Boys will be boys" is a hackneyed axiom, and as boys who had, perhaps never before .met '■'■ an "Excellency," and may never again (it has only'occurred once in nearly sixty years in my experience), a mixed crowd of them may well be excused'its omission from a medley or "good mornings."— •I anyetc., -. . g BNRY BODLBY> ; July 20, 1909. ; ■'■ :''■'. ' . : :. ... "THE SCOTTISH ASSEMBLIES." 'Sir,—ln your "Religious Activity" column of July 17 you giave, a report of the ■ proceedings-: of above. There is one'decision arrived at, .the recent Assembly of the Established Presbyterian' Church, which your summary does not touch .'upon. ; With yonr permission I will'give itj as no. doubt it would be of some interest to the 'members of the Presbyterian Church ,in New Zealand, and more especially some of the- .ministers that hold .so fast to the- "Confession; of Faith"; of the Church; I quote' from the "Scottish Chronicle":— . ;

■ "The. General Assembly of, the Kirk of Scotland,has abased itself ( to : ,tkiss_ the feet; of iCaesar!, Priding .itself ' its spiritual in;. dependence, its constitutional freedom, ithae delibei'ately consented to make, the law of the Church subservient to the law, of the State) and has agreed to send down to Presbyteries an overture declaring that there is no rule in the Word of God prohibiting marriage, with a deceased wife s sister, and that no ecclesiastical censure should follow such a union. No rule in the Word of God prohibiting such a marriage! Neither i is there (as lord Balfour :• of ' Burleigh declaored):any definite prohibition of polygamy 'in Holy Scripture. , If, therefore, th-e State should' legalise'polygamous unions, what logical' reason could, the Assembly advance for, refraining from bringing, the law _of the'. Church into line in this matter also with tho ■law of a latitudina.rian . State ? It; is the public and avowed law of the Kirk, as , expressed in its Confession, ■ that ■> marriage with a deceased -wife's'; sister is incestuous, .and/therefore sinful; and thing's have come ,to'a.sorry pass when'the great leaders of n great Church . rush forward : pell-mell "to change the doctrine of their Church in order I'to' -.square it with the loose and unscriptural devices of a Legislature composed of Jews, Agnostics, .Atheists, and nondescript religionists.'of every kind., Brastianism never gained ;a greater triumph.. It is am ominous victory,, and it teaches' us, for one thing, that the battle of spiritual independence has still to ■•.be fought and won in Scotland."— I am|;eto r ,' %' ■ •■■■ ■ . :

■■■■■ ' .THOS.'M. MILLIGAN. . July 19, 1909.-, / - ; :: . .-:'.' THE CURSE OF POVERTY. \ .' ', Shy—The other day I read an interesting article in-your paper ' on authors and .the different kinds, of books published in, present; day. Will you allow me'to say that 'thereiis'very , -little encouragement in this country for the author who writes books on themes which" have to do with the supreme 'interests of life? I have: written several books which remain unpublished because they have to do with the serious and philosophical concerns ofvlife; 'I could write book, after book, but to what use if no publisher would accept them because they do hot pander to sensationah'sm and adventure? The man who, can write. a good detective tale or novel will make money and a name, while another mail who searches into' the deep , things of the problems of sociology and the ultimate facts of the universal truth, who devotes his life to efforts-for the good of humanity, is not wanted in this country, and is martyred almost directly he arrives. My object in. writing this letter is to advocate the formation of some sort of society as an "Authors' Advisory Guild," the main object of which would be to advise and assist authors in the production of their, works, and to encourage more especially that higher class of literature which has to do with the progress and .knowledge of things pertaining" to the , cosmic consciousness and life. I can only throw out the" suggestion in the hope that some one with means will take it up. I have' written a book entitled "The Open Bar, or Liquor's Last- Chance," • which would do much' to,-. solve the drink problem, since it shows how State control of alcoholic liquors "can come to pass with due compensation to "the trade." ;In this book I claim to have discovered the elixir of life by the application of radium and, other elements to alcohol. Another book of mine is "Tho Psychic Secret of Eternal Youth," which is .of-, tho utmost importances to humanity and especially to the Church, as it shows how Josus Christ rose from tho-dead. -,■"•• The curse of poverty prevents me from making any - use of my works at present. My book on."The Open Bar" is being printed by Messrs. Johnson and Sons, Farisb Street, Wellington, but I can only pay tho money in as 1 am ablp to get it in small instalments. Surely, anyono who has made a new scientific discovery and worked out all- the details of its application should find - support from the medical faculty. There is much I should like to say, but your valuable space forbids, but having been crucified on a cross of gold for the sake of Socialism, pleaso allow/me to conclude by quoting a passage -from n writer named Curtis Yorko, m his, book, called "Hush." His words should certainly call a "hush" to this country at tho present timo of economic pressure and distress. On pa«o'7o ho says, "There is no ciirse lite poverty. Some kinds of adversity may bring iiut. the nobleet and best in the human EOul,

somo griefs or trials may havo a purifying, ennobling effect; but not long-continued, sordid, grinding poverty. I do not mean modorr.to poverty, but the poverty where one has not merely to warn; personally, but to goo those one cares for want too; where overy generous impulse is checked, every •'intellectual craving unsatisfied, every possiblo relaxation and pleasure haunted by the grim spectre, 'Can't Afford'; whore one has to appear mean, unsyinpathising, uncveful of all things beautiful and attractive, blind to everything, save the wretched problem of how to'mako two impossible ends meet; and I where—worse than all—there is unavoidable debt, and consequent, humiliation to a man of honour. It may bo good discipline for n time; but it must bo a comparatively short time,'or every fine feeling, evory noble impulse will be crushed and trodden down perhaps never, to riso again." There is a paragraph for your readers — somewhat ooridensed from the original; let them "read, mark,, loam, and inwardly digest it, let them know that it exactly corresponds to my own.case, and that, of a great many who have come to "God's Own Country." Is it not.time that, having seen through the darksome horn of party politics for so.long, and now that we are full grown and understand as men and women, we should put aside the childish trinkets . of tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee, and stand up face to face with.the economic problems before us, grapple with them, putting away alj self-interest, and endeavour to solve . them by such practical measures on "Tho Road to Socialism," as I am trying to show in all articles I am writing.—l am, etc., J. B. MORTON BARNES. ■; July 15. ■ THE CITY AND THE GASWORKS. Sir,—Nothing that I have met with during many years of colonial experience has reminded me so. much of the famous "Threo Tailors of Tooley Street" and, their never-to-be-forgotten declaration, "We, the people of England," as the report of the -remarkable and "bullying" deputation from tho City Council to the .Acting-Prime-.Minister on Monday last in reference to the laying of a few gasipipe3 through a short portion of tho public thoroughfares in Wellington. '■ Again and again the deputation declared, "Wo. the people-of .■Wellington," "We, the people of New Zealand," protest with all our might against the , proposal of the Government to grant leave to the Gas Company to lay down a few gas pipes in the old Borough of Melrose. ■ . '.-■'.■

Sir, interests of this city and of the Dominion at large, and,,to save ourselves from becoming the laughing stock of generations to come, it is high time that the Government, or the people'themselves, put a full stop to the stupendous pretentions of those self-constituted spokesmen who through one cause or, another manage to get themselves pitchforked into the pity Council and forthwith pose before humanity as "We, the people of Wellington, "We, the people of New Zealand," etc. ' , As a ratepayer, a citizen, and a native of the city, I deny the right of these councillors to pose as bona fide representatives of tli<s ratepayers against whose vital interests they aro always fighting, even as they are now doing against tho Gas Company, the heaviest ratepayer in this city, and its many shareholders, who are individually and apart from- the company, also very heavy rate- < payers , to the city treasury.. ■' The council' itself is not a ratepayer, although it is the wealthiest corporation in the city, and owns about one-half of the city properties, including the Town Belt. The unfortunate ratepayers of Wellington are in a decided minority, numbering less than 10,000, out of 30,000 electors on the'roll, and cannot therefore claim representation, notwithstanding their henvy taxation; Many of these 30,000 electors'who are represented on the City Council are now "scattered to the four winds of Heaven." Some are working on Queensland sugar plantations, somo are breaking stones, on the roads of New South -Wales, others are "hewers of wood and drawers of water" in various countries, arid \ the city rbllis being purged of their names only tegive place to others of the samo roving class. About two years ago the Union Steam Ship: Company quietly began operations in Evau's Bay with a. view to ths. erection of. large' workshops, and •• • eventually • making Wellington the headquarters' of its magnificent fleet, the. largest: fleet on- this side of the equator, but : suddenly :' the Harbour Board swooped down on them with an Act of Parliament in their hands, and the company had ; to beat a speedy and ignominious retreat, and the foreshores of tho bay aro flijill as desolate and unproductive as. they were in tho days of Adam and Eve.: If strong companies like these are unable to stand, and are swept away in tho fastrising tide of municipal and political greed and taxation, how can small property owners and ratepayers like myself possibly stand — I aa\ etc., '■ ■ . . . .. ■' ■■••' . NOT'A SHAREHOLDER.' July 20, 1909. ■ ". '■.'., Sir,—l have read very carefully the correspondence which has been' published in reference ■to the negotiations between the city.' corporation and the Gas Company, and. am amazed to find that the point of greatest interest to the ratepayers has been carefully, perhaps unwittingly; avoided by both parties: So' far as one can read, the only difference between, the corporation and the company is a paltry £250 per year. The company offers £250,. and the corporation 'wants £500 for the ■ privilege of' connecting the' Miramar works with the city mains. Surely, sir, there is a more important issuo than this involved I What of the goodwill of the > company when, say in twenty-one years' time; the city exercises "its right of purchase? The company, if it pays the £500 per year demanded by tho council, will have, contributed only £10,500 for , the concession. What guarantee have- the ratepayers that the company will not, in twenty-one years' time, assess the value of the concession at £50,000, or £100,000 for that matter? The City Council, as guardians of the ratepayers' interests, should insist upon the selling price of the goodwill being; determined and legally stipulated before the negotiations are completed.—l. am, etc., . RATEPAYER. WHERE DOCTORS ARE SCARCE. Sir, —I would like to draw your attention to the urgent need of more medical men in the. Eltham district. There are only two at present in the whole county, and they are ■some nine miles apart, too far away in cases of emergency. Only the other day, when one of them was called to a case some distance away, Eltham was left without a medical man,when the sad burning fatality occurred, and it was found necessary to call the. Kaponga doctor, nine.miles' distant, to Eltham to attend the sufforers, a delay of nearly two horns taking place before the sufferers received medical attention.. It is useless to - argue that medical men can bo procured from Stratford (nine miles), or Hawera (12.miles). These men are too much occupied with the requirements of their own particular districts to do more than come in for special consujtation, when arranged for. In fact, that is the only time they are-seen in the Eltham district. There is an undeniable opportunity for a really good medical man in this district. Will the medical fraternity please note.—l am, etc., "SCALP." •

OUR BIRDS AND THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES. Sir,—Mr. R. C. Bruce and the Hon. T. Mackenzie have both poiined able articles're the above subject, but I beg to disagree with them as far as their conclusions on this subject go. No doubt both rats and weasels, etc., account for a certain percentage of birds and eggs. each year, but if either of these agents are entirely blamea-ble for the disappearance of "natives," how do these gentlemen reconcile their statements to t/ho fact that imported birds aro ever iiicreasing and that t'he wekn and kea are holding their own in spite of furry vermin,. small boys, and Acts of Parliament? Tho blackbird, thrush, and mina'h. are increasing year by year, as all must know who attempt to grow fruit. ■':'■■■

My own belief is that "our birds" are being "wiped out by no less an agent than tho liand of man. Their native haunts are of such as do.not meat, with the white man's approval—forest, swamp, and .prairie— which , have-rapidly disappeared, within recent years, and thereby bwer &ml feedina

grounds for them have gone and''been replaced by something that just suits importtd birds. These latter in new areas increase very fast, devouring anything eatablo. before natives can adapt themselves to the new mode of life, evon if they so wished. In plain words, "our birds" are being .ruthlessly, done. for. by starvation. As for the weka ami kea, .which still flourish amongst us, their habits are .different. The koa I know only by repute, and being a rilieep tatnicr, have no desire to make a closer acquaintance, but understand that with the exception of his'wicked trick of attacking live sheep, is somewhat similar to our friend the woka with regard to getting a living, and will eat anything from putrid fled) to picking tho eyes out of a boot; henco these two birds, as an instance, have- not suffered from starvation with advancing civilisation, but in some pla«s arc so holding their own that they havo become a menace. —I am, e °'' • A BOY FROM THE BUSH. •Waikaka Nga-turo, July 21, 1909.

THE SPEED OF TRAINS—NORTH AND SOUTH. Sir,—ln common with, I presume, most of your readers, I have been following with much interest your articles relating to tho injustice, suffered by tho North Island in the matter-of the railways. You have made it very clear to the public that the profits of the northern lines are' swallowed up in meeting the losses of tho southern lines. If I remember rightly, you have also pointed out that the convenience of the travelling public is much less considered in the paying lines than in the lines that do not pay; but the point wants emphasising. I observe that the deputation which waited on the Minister yesterday remarked, on tho slower speed of the northern trains, but I question if many people realise how much slower the best of these trains are thau somo of the expresses on the Christchurch-Duuedin, and Dunedih-liivercargill lines. . . ' Here are a few examples:' The train which leaves Dunedin. at 11.15 a.m., reachesChrisfcchuroh at 7.27 p.m., making a journey of 8 hours 12 minutes. The distance is 230 miles, and the speed from start to finish —including the long and,difficult stretch of 78 miles from Dunedin to O&maru —is a, fraction; less than 29-miles an hour. The train which leaves Inyercargill at 6.15 a.m. arrives at Diinedin at 11 a.m., or in .4 hours 45 ininutes. The distanco is 139 miles, and thp average epeed is a fraction over 29 miles an hour. . ■ , . . . '..

What of the trains in. the North Island? I shall select the three best for the purpose ■of comparison. The journey from Napier to Wellington occupies 10 hours.2B minutes. The distance is 210 miles—the average speed something less than 21 miles per hour. From Wellington to New Plymouth you spend 11 hours 45 minutes of intolerable weariness— tho .distance is 254 milos—the, average speed a fraction over 21 miles an hour. The Wellington-Auckland express takes 19 hours 13 minutes to cover a distance of 426 miles, with an av-irage speed of a little over 22 miles an hour. .

Comment on' these cpinparisons is superfluoi!s, but I .trust you wiJl continue to fight your battle for the' North Island, till ,we who'have railways that pay shall have'trains that run at least as fast as those on lines that do not. pay.—l am, etc., 1 ... .

PULL-SPEED. July,23. ' . . ,'