LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1056, 20 February 1911, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

1 "GERMAN OR BRITISH WIRELESS." In n November supplement of the Lon(lon "Times" one reads that tlio const proton ion works ill Heligoland arc now completed, three miles of. const being cased hi. a belt of special expanded steel and concrete. A t'for nil expenditure of nearly 18,000,000, accommodation has been secured for the entire German high seas ileet, making Heligoland the key to a manoeuvring bass over ninety miles in length. ]n. a later issue of tlio samo newspaper an interesting article appears, under the heading, "Tho Stato and Electrical Undertakings," in which it is made clear the German Government has been privately fostering electrical companies in their enterprises without tlio public being nwaro of the fact. It has been known for sonin timo in England that the German clerical firms must have been backed by some strong organisation, or subsidised by tho German Government, in order to cnablo them to secure many of tlio ' largo contracts in connection with tho electrification of some of the London railways. Tho significance of these facts —Germany's preparedness for war and tlio aggressiveness of her commerce into British markets, under Stato support, arc of momentous - interest 'to tlio peoplo of Now Zealand at tlio present time. . 11l tho correspondence columns of a contemporary I read with considerable interest—l may say somo trepidation—a letter signed "Imperialist," and if the writer's statements' are founded on facts, I must agree with his conclusion that Germany has given tho coup do grace to British diplomacy when our Government is persuaded to adopt'tho German, national system of wireless telegraphy, because of its cheapness. If tho sordid reasonings of commercialism are going to enter into tho Government's deliberations on a matter of such vital importance to tlio f dofences of our Dominion, I am indeed 'nfraid of what the futnro has in storo for lis in'tho event of troublo with the foreigner; When tho necessity arises for our contributing another Dreadnought to the British Navy, will tho Government negotiate with a German firm of shipbuilders for something cheaper than we get at Home? I haro-no-doubt we could get our men-of-war built in the German shipyards at half-what they cost England at present, if it suited tho policy ■ * " "an Government to subsidise the builders. ...... -...jierialist's" letter before mo it is quite evident that very gravo dangers may' arise from havinji a foreign system of .wireless established in Now Zealand. Tho important future developments and tises of wireless lio with nations, not with individuals, and if Germany is fostering some particular system of her own, which is not only being used and secretly developed, and improved iu her ov;n navy, but also ill tho' navies of her allies in tlio Triple Alliance, it behoves us to adopt tho British system*, which is likewise being secretly developed in our own Navy for purposes of defence. I must plead as excuso for intruding on your valuable space tho importhnco to tho publio of the issues at stake.—l am, etc., ALL RED. February. 18, 1911. WELCOME . TO THE CHAMPIONS. Sir,—l read in your contemporary on Saturday evening a paragraph headed "Welcome to tho Champions." I might stato it is a general rulo in any town where the champion band is returning that they get a publio reception. It is worth all tho effort to obtain that proud position to bo received the way tlio two champion bands were received on Saturday evening, which goes- to show that their e(Torts have been appreciated. In. referonM to tho paragraph, it states that tho bands will ho aecordcd a public reception in tho Town Hall (which has been given free of charge), which you will agreo tho bands aro justly entitled to. Then comes tho climax —a charge of Is. for .admission is to be mado to all parts of tho hall, tho proceeds to bo devoted to tho fund for tending New Zealand athletes to England. In tho place, fancy charging Is. admission to a publio reooption to anyone, especially ns it is in this caso-a numb?r of your own townspeople.-. It is positively ridiculous, and it only wants a moro able pen than •mini) to show up tho person or persons responsible for this charging'business. As a member of ono of tlio fortunato bands I am trying to protect our own interests. In the second. place, devoting, tho proceeds (which I strongly object-to) to tho expciiso of sending to England, a few Now Zealand athletes. I might here make it clear to -tlio publio of Wellington that the athletic unions aro in a, far better financial position than tho bras 9 bands of this city, and if tho promoters of this reception aro over anxious to giv* money away they should consider. their guests (for whom they say tho function lias been got up) before anyone, else, who 'might bo a resident of Dunedin, Christchurch; or perhaps' Auckland; otherwise it can only .bo summed up ono way. These two bands, which aro composed of working men, .tho majority of whom arq 'married, havo devoted three months to hard practico not only in their bandrooms but at home; they loso a weeks work or moro and tho wages pertaining thereto, which means that thoso depending 'on Ihem havo got to go short also; they go to a contest to represent tho town in tho two grades for. thai championships! they have tho unprecedented honour of bringing back to Wellington tho' two championship shields. .r<ow, the supporters of the athletic unions (who are very , energetic men) seo a way to mako money easily. They know that a largo" crowd of people will liko to show their appreciation 'of the successful efforts of both bauds, and, tho liall being frc* a chargo of a shilling would show a good' profit. In conclusion, I think it is about timo tho brass bandsmen of this citv woke un and bo alert to their own interests.- Thanking you m anticipation.—l am, ctc., 1 T. LAWRENCE, Wellington Garrison. .