LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 990, 3 December 1910, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

TE WAIKATO SANATORIUM, \ Sir, —Ouoo again the above - subject 5 has como up in the House, and I aril glad indeed to see that Mr. Hcrries, M.l\, is showing some interest in tho matter. That matters are in a bad state I think must by now bo pretty generally known, but it would be wise ' if the Minister could bring himself to give tho true facts of tho case to Par-. Jiameut. Thore can be 110 doubt that tho present moment 'is ripe for combined action on tho part of the interested'parties of the Do rain ion, and it is to be hoped that tho suggested conferences, both in Wellington and Auckland, will bear good fruit. Lord Kitchener, said the.other day in London: "I am sorry to think that England lags behind other nations in tlie struggle I 9 r .^ l€ prevention of disease by means of improved treatment and sanitary methods, but this conclusion forces itself upon me;" etc. So speaks one of the most observant men of the day, and wo must admit tho charge is grave. Dr. Valmtine, Chief Health Officer, appears, if reported rightly on the 19th instant, to have decided that cost should not deter us in providing ."the very best accommodation and treatment possible'' for incurable cases. This is refreshing, coming as it does.from the man who has so much power in these matters. But in connection 1 with early cases there is still something for the Chief Health Officer to perform. "When he.took over the charge of Te Waikato Sanatorium he had high ideals, 110 doubt, but I think an unbiased judge must admit that they have not proved a great success. Twelve months ago were, kept waiting for admission owing to the number undertreat- • ment; to-day'.tho namo of the sanatorium is viewed with disfavour from North Cane to the Bluff. Let the Minister toll us why. T subject : is a very large one, and • I x S M,°V r kgislators will not rest content till it has been thoroughly threshed out. hanking you in anticipation.—l am, "WILLIAM TELL. "TOO MANY INSPECTORS?"

Sir, In your columns a few days ago n' le Government and the Hon. I. Mackenzie with inconsistency on the question of pork inspection. Tho lion: gentleman said, in effect,, that it was unnecessary; now he is reported as having said that we cannot have too much inspection. I must havo been correct, nen, in what.l said, and it is. because am glad that I am not wrong that I am writing to let the public know that the Minister 111 charge. of agriculture thinks it is 111 the interests of the public (or something-'else, possibly votes) that all milk that comes into Wellingw. J 1 ?"®' '.plenty of inspection, out that it is unnecessary for that domesticated pet, the pig; however bad he may be with tuberculosis, to suffer nii lnt v£ m - ty compulsory inspection, .the Minister's thoughtfuiness for the pig is wonderful, and ouens up all sorts 01 conjectures. However, I would respectfully suggest to the. Hon. gentleman that in future ho turn his attention to tho public aspect, and be less friendly for tho pig. As I said.before, 1 am so glad tho Minister has given a demonstration of his inconsistency —I am, etc., 11. G. HILL.

Sir,—lvevor before in tho history of fvew Zealand was. tho political outlook rooro dismal from a democratic point of view. Tho Ward and Massey parties are now practically one ; and tho same. They may ■ quarrel ovor ■ nonessentials, but tlicy aro. sound on ; -tho Goose. Borrowing millions to please scaremongers is Toryism to the last'degree. Tho most ardent Liberals aro utterly sick of the many ' different milky-watery land bills the Government havo tottered forward, and then dropped at the .bark of their brothers in bogus opposition. Tho orio thing that they all shirk is an_ increase in the. land tax, and this is tho one thing that democracy. demands. However, Mr. Fisher challenges tho- Government to increaso tho land tax, and this. political acrobat poses as a democrat. That thero is a gentle surprise in store for tho Government is noiv admitted'on all sides, but whether the many disgusted Liberals will .vote Opposition in despair, or whether a strong Democratic, Labour party will mako things interesting at tho polls yet remains' to ho proved.— I am, etc., E. STEVENSON. Hastings, November 28.

MR, M'LAREN CONTRADICTED. Sir,—You repoi-t Mr. Jl'Laren, M.P., as alleging that ho had interviewed representatives of small dairymen, and they were in favour of the Bill. I am the only representative of small dairymen, and am. specially, supplied with money and authority to fight the Bill tooth and nail, with combined support from Dunedin, Christchureli, and 'Auckland. Dairymen would gladly welcome a, real depot—which will be impossible till the real basis of such. a • movement, the railway, is oil a bettor footing— but that is not.now. All wo have now is impotent pettifogging, and there is a very prevalent feeling that even if tlie Bill passes the Upper House, no majority of the City Council will bo found ready to stultify themselves so far as to lend-a hand in its favour.— I am, etc., ' HENRY BODLEY, Hon. Secretary • Wellington Licensed Milk Vendors' Association. Incorporated. • November 18, 1910.: \ : ;

Sir, —I see by your paper this morning that tho doctors ill Invercargill are endorsing Dr. Ij'yffo's recent criticism of tho Attorney-General's proposal with regard to the enforcement rf tho C.D. Act. Doctors differ, and will continue to do so, and make mistakes too, just liko ordinary mortals;- but why they should bo the solo arbitrators ill i this matter I fail to see. There aro ( other aspects of the question as well ; as tho medical one. Wo aro always hearing about justico as between- man and man —women aro waiting now to , hear of justice as betv.-een man and ( woman, and it is against injustice in , this particular Act that, women have, j and always will be, in arms. It was , refreshing to road in Hausard that Dr. Findlay admitted "in the past, women had not been justly treated," and that his proposals were not only to cope j with a great evil, but to do it with as little injustice, as possible to ahyone. Surely women will rally to his support , in this vital question, which is not only , an individual, but a national, one. j I would liko to say a few words on 1 Dr. Fyft'o's letters, which X only' saw a day or two since. I am glad to seo \ that he thinks a woman can como to a ] logical conclusion about anything. The only logical conclusion sho can como < to about the . Act'is: That it was do- i vised to protect men from tho conse- 1 quenco of their own wrongdoing, and ; that at tho expense of tho women and that tho vaunted medical etiquette i has served the samo end. This is no I woman's logical finding, but tho finding ] of a man. In Dr. Fiudlny's speech in 1 the Council on the question he says:— < "I have a profound respect for tho i etiquette of tho mcdical profession, j but in some respects it is unfair." Ho .1 then gave a concrete example, which ; 'proved that medical etiquette will ,coa- I

ceal.a man's condition from his wife, <and allow her again and again to contract diseaso through her husband's misconduct, and yet, in Dr. Findlay's words, "keep silent." Further ho says: "Etiquette of this sort 'deserves 110 respect, and I believe a great deal of tlio suffering of innocent women is duo fc t-o this kind of etiquette." Who - is 1 the doctor protecting, I would like to , ask, in such a ease? Neither tho 3 woman nor the children. It is time tho 1 bogey of medical etiquette was ex- ; ploded, and simple justice put in its > place. But this is the direct and ) natural outeome of Dr. Fyffe's assertion that: "As long as men are men and women women tho profession of Rahab must exist; not will, but must exist." Appalling doctrine, worthy of an Omar Khayyam than a member of a Christian church! It has lain at the root of all legislative efforts in the past and rendered them futile. Women were made to believe in its truth because they knew no better, but they havo entered into their inheritance of knowledge now; they are the "lieirs of all the ages as well as men, and I hope will scorn tho soul-destroying idea that evil is a necessity." Dr. Fyffe is a [ member of a noblo profession, and his words must weigh with young men. , He should bo careful that no utteranco of his own on questions involving such dire issues should appear to justify vice. His Church teaches another doctrine, and warns men that they have power over their own actions; that life was'given him to "Shape and use, arise and fly The reeling form, the sensual feast; Move upward, working out tho beast,. And let the ape and tiger die." In conclusion; I can' assure Dr. Fyffe that women are getting more sense day by day, just because they are not taking a man's word for everything, but are thinking for themselves, and already . they seo that the lessons of antiquity (which Dr. Fyffe recommends Dr. Findlay to study) only prove that in tho past men sinned and suffered and excused themselves by laying tho blame on Nature, as they do at present. I hope Dr. Findlay may rather see in these lessons tho truth "that men may rise on stepping-stones of their dead selves to higher things." I think ho is on the right track now; but then I'am only A WOMAN. THE EXAMINATION OF OFFICERS.

Sir, —One of the drawbacks to the new system "of military training, as with tho old, will be the difficulty of obtaining capable officers, for it is an open fact that many good men. are lost to the service through failing to pass the necessary examination of fitness for their rank, as it is at present constituted. ■ • Military men appreciate fully the absolute necessity of obtaining the very best men to act as leaders, and the considerable demand on a man's 1 time to qualify in the many subjects essential as a commander of tho smallest unit in these days of- scientific warfare. A business man holding ranis as an officer in tho Territorials, who is thorough in his duties as such, and keeps abreast of modern principles in the many details of tho profession, can have little time for pleasure: therefore,it is. necessary to look for the best men for tho service and to encourage and keep them when obtained. Now, I think' it will be readily admitted that tho Department offers encouragement in many ways, but in the matter of examination of officers which, under the present system, so many capable men are lost to the service, it is possible there is room for much improvement-. * ' The procedure under tho regulations is that an officer to pass for tho rank of lieutenant .has, three papers, averaging some thirty or more questions set him on various subjects,, and this entails a full day's .writing—after which ho has to .undergo a test for practical fitness. This is often carried out in a drill shed at night, with only a small muster, and frequently results in nothing but squad drill, with uso, of rifle, etc., which. does not really show the officer's trub capabilities. It is tho. theoretical part of tho examination whore so many men fail, and, whilst not - decrying theory, without which practice is not intelligent, it should not be allowed to prove a stumbling block for good men, particularly when it can bo taught to a large extent by officers' classes held periodically at frequent intervals, and by a system of, say, quarterly examinations dealing with one subject at a time, and on tho result of which, beyond publishing' the names' and- marks scoretl, in tho annual report of the Defence Force, an officer's commission should not depend. It may' be said that an officer who onco qualified by a proper test of practical fitness for his particular rank would not bother to attempt, or bo half-hearted in his endeavours to qualify theoretically; but a regulation as follows could provide for that:— An officer should be allowed to qualify for a commission by a proper, test of practical fitness lasting not less than two hours, and at ■■ which' a cortain number of men must be present. This should be carried out. in daylight and in the field, and should comprise: Handling a squadron or company in close and extended order; instructions to skirmishers and their leaders—judging distance, rapid recognition of, and making , known, targets, Tiro control; ground in relation to fire; reconnaissancesmall tactical scheme embracing ' dispositions for f advance, flarik and rearguards, or outposts"; semaphoro signalling; questions on "camps — horse management, etc;; marching; writing of short reports;. writing orders. Many of these subjects aro in. the present regulations, and officers aro frequently examined in them, but not in the practical and thorough manner which their importance warrants. Another objection to this ..system , may bo raised, that officers would remain too long in ono rank or too long . ill tho service,, to the delay of new blood and energy, but that could bo , provided for by starting with men 'at the earliest possible age, and making the practical test, as, above, for a commission within one year of appointment, the.said commission to hold good for a period of, say, four years, by the end of which time'a further test should bo enforced, aiid unless a certain age.of marks, caro being taken it is not set too high, to be laid down,'is scored in tho quarterly examinations (theoretical) in the fourth year of service;, as', a commissioned officer,., the commission could be cancelled. With officers of higher rank the period of renewal of examination could bo extended consider- ] ably, but a system of correspondence or ' advanced classes for these officers only : should be in vogue, whereby they do 1 not loso touch with modern develop- ' merits or their former training. ' Having regard to the severe demand 1 on a man's time to bo really efficient, ' and the great valuo to a force of quali- ■ fiod leaders, it will not bo seriously con- ' tended that an officer should be induced j to retire at-an. early age, any more - than nori-efficients should bo allowed to 1 retain their appointments. A good officer will appreciate a high < standard being set and rigidly adhered < to, ensuring''as it will more' respect for i tho. rank held both from his superiors 1 and his men. , 1 Our present system, by which, after 1 answering, the many questions sot on s tho examination papers, an officer i passes or fails, is nnsatisfactory—al- i though- tho regulations allow, for a sec- < ond attempt on reappointment. If it s is the latter, yet the knowledge of subjects of failure is withheld, would it i 'not be-better to let an 1 officer know the < actual marks scored to 'each question f thus showiiyi him the subiects in \rhick t

j improvement was necessary, and allon - him .to improve ivhere weak,-instead ol 5 this exclimyo. and .unintelligent silence. > and, again,. .Jbeforo examination, whj ■ not, _ monthly or quarterly, send • oul > specimens of examination papers, calling t for return .of them a fortnight ■or sc > later, mark and criticise tho answers, 5 and return them again to tho applicant, ) This would help to general knowledge, > and be a fair preparation. While now > so many, away from the biy centres, arc • unable .to avail themselves of. classes of > instruction, lectures, or even intercourse 1 with their brother officers, whore much • can bo learut, and have to depend on i a little casual instruction or to reading ; alone. When it is remembered how ; many practical men, particularly in the : country, and whose. pursuits put them t at a disadvantage with their 1 town s brothers'in the matter of placing their ; thoughts and ideas on paper, often a s difficult thing with somo men, though > perhaps in all ■ qualifications most valu- > ablo leaders, it will be seen .at what dis- ■ advantage these men 'are, and sufficient co S, nislln< ,s taken of this fact. ' ,r? ere ' s -lis o the question of. natural ability to lead men, personality and decision of character, of which our regulations. apparently take no count. Alany men can command well, and enforce their will by sheer personality, and yet may be indifferent at answering questions, on examination papers or writing orders, but with a capablo assistant for the latter part would doubtless command more successfully than a weaker spirit/ To those who have given this subject much thought it will , be hardly, necessary to point" out that 1 wo have men with a fairly high standarc! of training yet. lacking in personality,, end consequently. unable to make > fullest use of that training, whilst others, not so'capable educationally 'are eclmsed for want of opportunity. . ' t, ii successful leader in an army should be both student and administrator, but if we cannot always get both in combination, then, for an irregular, force, the latter is as necessary as the former. _ In a professional army the weakness of indecision in junior officers, dangerous as it is, but covered by numbers, is perhaps, not quite so apparent. . But a man who can obtain the fullest obedience from his following, -thus commandthe truest senso of the word, is a distinct advantage over an officer who knows, but fails to influence. I\ would not have it thought that I depreciate the_ highest training possible for an officer, it is vitally necessary, and where coupled with . tho qualities of a natural leader, it is ideal; but I would ask consideration for those whose opportunities are few and difficulties many, that sanie better system of examination of officers should" prevail, and that personal characteristics should be taken into . account, where' from .sheer disadvantage" from his. daily occupation a mau is passed over, and his more fortunate comrade by virtue of his position and calling finds the thing quite easy — I am, etc.,... , FAIRE SANS DIRE. December 1. THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS ENEMIES.

Sir, —Commenting on the statement by -the Prime Minister that lie believed that a Higher Hand was responsible for the death or ruin of fourteen of his' opponents, you say you do not think he ; meant to •be irreverent, but that you think that ho laid himself-open-to ridicule. ■ May I havo a small space to explain why I, a co-religionist of the Prinie Minister's, but a hater of his. politics, am unable to see. in his statement any matter for 'laughter? When I was a bov,. living with my own people, I heard, I will not say a scoro of times, but a. thousand times, my dearest relative say,' of. a small or large accident ..averted, that it was -the hand 9f God. As I' grew older I came to believe, more firmly than I believed in anything,, that God was for over watching over and.saving his faithful children.; My relatives, my Catholic friends,, the" whole Catholic community ' ill which' I lived, would constantly, with a moving simplicity,. refer, serenely and unquestioningly, to their Father the healing of wounds and tho prevention of calamities. Yet, and I wish to - say this with tho greatest firmness and.emphasis, I uover, never heard a Catholic, or. heard of a Catholic, referring to God as having stretched forth His hand to. aid one .of his creatures by injuring or slaying another. If all the.good Catholics I have known are a sufficient body from which , to draw a sound conclusion, as :to;the true feeling of tho best Catholic laity —and nobody_ will contend, otherwise— ,that lam right;in saying that .tho Catholic spirit cannot. conceive of.'.God as tho partisan avenger, of ono of his creatures. ' The preceding paragraph is neces-' sary to an,understanding of this present paragraph, and the point .of viewfrom which it is written: It is manifest ' to. me, as it must bo to all ■ sensible people, 'that. tho Prime Minister's object in making' that dreadful statement —a statement that is an. offence against the Father—was to. win, ..the sympathy of tho Catholic laity. I hope, and I believe, that ho has' missed Lis aim. Had he said that ho believed that a Higher Hand had raised him from the depths, ho .' would , have reached the hearts of thousands of- good Catholics and doubtless of many- no'n-. Catholics also.-. And if there had been I any sincerity in his statement—sincer- I ity would not have justified, but it would have palliated such a statement in such a place—that is'what ho would havo said. But,-wanting sincerity,, he betrayed himself. Not only will .earnest Catholics 1 remain unmoved by his appeal: they will be unablo to feel aiiything but horror at such a. fearful suggestion as that God has laid destructive -hands on tho-Prime Minister's enemies in order to aid him. 'Tho Catholic faith has'so much, in the way of misunderstanding and misrepresenta-; tion, to contend against in this age that it is indispensable that it should bo guarded against the injury of any general conclusion that such a travesty of its spirit as is contained.in the Prime Minister's statement is a true account of ■ it. I trust : that all candid nonCatholics will believe that this is quite opposed to tho, true Catholic spirit.—l am, etc., A CATHOLIC OPPOSITIONIST. THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE MOKAU PETITION.

Sir, —It is all very well for the chairman, Mr. Davey, and tliose of his committal and others whom ho called to his assistance in, the House yesterday, as reported in your issue of to-day, to testify that lie was an impartial chairman,' and to attack Mr. Okcy for writing a letter to the Prime' Minister pointing out that tho procedure adopted by- the committee was in prejudice of fair investigation of the case, and disagreeing in part with the findings in iho report. Mr. Davey should bear in mind that "casting reflections" and stating facts aro two different aspects. The questions to be considered as far as Mr. Okey's letter is concerned arc those of facts, only, and if the full complement of both Houses were to give Mr. Davey a golden character such would he asido tho issue, i Shortly: , (1) Did tho chairman inform" Mr. Okcy and. myself at the onset that tho committee was only sitting to determine in what mnnnor the petition was to bo. inquired into, i.e., wfiethev Lwas to be examined at tho Bar of the HouW, as prayed by the petition, or by some other form of open inquiry, as I understood, by "competent tribunal," as recommended by,the Legislative Council Committee of 1908 ? I say yes. We were so' informed, and wore misled theroby. Th(s committee converted tho inquiry into w'hat the chairman stated Was a complete one, thereby preventing the full facts becoming known. From August 12 last to this day. outside the

17. committee room, except what is., .con-. jf tamed:-in the six short paragraphs ."of. 3j tho findings, which I say are'contrary V 1 y in material points to tho evidence given, Parliament lias not even seen tho -. g evidence, much less the public, and it : - 10 adjourns to-morrow until next session. s, .. .(2) Did the chairman prevent my giv-'. t, ing evidence as to what transactions i " took place-by a solicitor-in-England,' w and others, with, respect to • the pro■e porty, referred to in the. report, and )f that Mr. Davey informed the Houso in >0 presenting the report .were fraudulent, ~ h aill | which I required to show followed :'i n and ivere.connected with the dealings ■ g m 1 say he did so act.. iv w the chairman prevent, mo—. o hen he was urged not to do so —bring- ; x n ing evidence to show that statements ■ . n made, by thb witnesses brought by thoir other side, material.to the issue,' wcris ' a contrary to truth? " I say, he did so., h and, further, that in'the .case lof onol ■.:.(■ i- Particular witness-tho committee had' : - documents; before it showing that tiiia it wa s stating/,what' was iiot . -the : . ruth. It is stated by. the chairman' - ' >1 a " d °tners in the House that 1 was d , to. ask questions. ' Quito so,. i- but- the witnesses .-not being .'on 1 -oath no benent would. have ■ arisen: they - would only have stated the samo things V °X®. r asain. But Mr. Davey and those- > with him. should surely bo-aware that>r cross-examination and cvidenco in ir- - 5- butfcal are two distinct . elements. I ' - > P. 05 ' 4 '™}' relied upon my undoubted' . a to produce this evidence —a course .. e -1 have before seen prohibited w ; ■ ''; S 11 other places, whet-her'in Parliamentary V ,t Committees ■or Courts of. Law: 'Mr' [- Okey certainly protested' strongly, aid" [- so did I, against such treatment-being ' ; e meted out to me. ,t . W) Mr. Okey comments, on the. ip. 6 regularity of Dr. Kindlay being supplied W'Hh a copy of tho evidence given ; by my - . • ' y side, let I was refused a copy of-tha . , i !- evidence given by the. other side- The [i excuses and reasons put forward canr not weigh against tho fact. Not:bnlv : . ' ' e this, but : Mr.. Davey actually handed > n?y documents, deposited f<sr\ inform a- ■';> - tion of the committee - only; .to-;. Dr. -' '• i, Findlay, and when tho same were rot quired for copy or reference,, they: wer©. ,' . '.-"-a - not to be found, as Dr. Findlay wan _ absent at Auckland. 1 ■' *"■ >. , s (5) Mr. Okey refers to'-'the comiiut- ' ' V 0 tees report, which sets out that'l havo by . improper means been deprived of 1 my legal rights and; that no. -mention", is . e made of a'medium to'recover the same. 1 Further—the committee did not report l -v; a the fact which was -before it, as' it 1 .should have done —that the. Supreme . ;. - Court here prevented .me recovering my* ■' s legal rights that'the English Court, by - order made, ruled I was entitled to do,J and which order supersedes' all '-prior 3 decisions and remains-.the superior- au- . - . r tliority as to the title,-: notwithstand- - ■■■.; i ing desperate efforts, to remove.it.. .i.':. . Mr. Okey, in his letter to tho Pto- . . ■ . l aier, expresses the\ belief that- had' - the inquiry been openly held, ana 1 > ■ tho evidence.taken on- oath,...' aV very - different conclusion - would have. . . Iwe.a submitted to Parliament. I have.-no.. S. ; '. doubt but that ho is "coirect,' and I ' . have made tlid urgent appeal'to tho'- \-: - Prime Minister to set up such inquiiy. - ' —I am, otc., ■ J. JONES. ' December 2, 1910. . . .