THE FURNITURE UNION AND ITS MANAGEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1180, 15 July 1911, Page 10

THE FURNITURE UNION AND ITS MANAGEMENT.

Sir-Pome time ago the secretary of the Furtiture Union, through a misconception of his duties, made it necessary for me to publish the fact that this union Ins no paltry scruples in regard to its membership-employers of labour, as well as employees, find shelter under its wing. I.ike his namesake ot old, Mr. Horiarty's challenge to all and sundry appears to end in'shutting up like an oyster when forced to the scratch. To quote from, a letter of mine that appeared in your paper-.—'"T find that a member who holds a'responsible position in the union runs a furniture business (which lie advertises in tho daily press). That he is an employer of labour is freely admitted, as men in the trade speak unreservedly of having worked for liim. In fact, I have declined an offer of a job from him myceK." This statement still holds good, ami T want: Jlr. Moriarty to come along and refute it-for- the-Mko of-liis-union. 1 know that ho has made tho excuso that I wish to draw, him into print. M"ell c

in tho interests of trades unionism, ho liNist eifher come into print, do his duty, or get out, as I consider that a secretary who is well paid for his services should" not pursue a course so litllo likely to benefit the causo of those who pay him.—l am, etc., A. E, ADAMS. Napier, July 10, l&ll. NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS. Sir,—l have had occasion recently to use a considerable number of newspaper wrappers, and it appears to .me that the chargo for them is very excessive. 1 can buy envelopes cut, ioldcd, and gummed for 3s. Gd. « thousand, yet tho Government charges mo -Is. 7id., beyond their face value, for. a thousand wrappers. Not only is the chargo excessive, but it is inconsistent, for letter-cards and post-cards are sold at their face value. I hliall be interested to know whether there is any sufficient reason for the high prico of wrappers—J. am, etc., QUEHIST, July 11, 1911. THE RECENT HONOURS. Sir,—Much surprise has been expressed in tho city as" to why Dr. (now Sir John) Findlay was knighted. I think I will be able to show the true reason. When the Parliament was last sitting and the discussion on Sir Joseph Ward's intention to visit England as Prime Minister for tho purposo of attending the Premiers' Conference, thero was torno rumour that Dr. Findlay was to accompany him. When the question was asked as to why ho should, the House was informed that it was in order that he should represent the Dominion in what is called "the Webster claims," tho Dr., it being implied, being the only member of the legal profession who had sufficient ability to do so, though it was known, that Mr. Skerrott, K.C., would be there, with a probability of Mr. 11. D. Bell, Iv.C., also. I havo carefully read all the cabled news from England in which tho name of Dr. Findlay .was mentioned, but I have not seen any mention of "tho Webster claims," either alone or in connection with that of Dr. Findlay. I have therefore come to tho conclusion that tho information given as to Dr. Findlay's mission was to say the least "misleading," but that is nothing for the present Ministry.

I have just seen that Sir J. G. Ward, Bart., and party, and Sir J. G. Findlay, and party are leaving! England shortly for this Dominion. Noiv, it may bo 111 tho recollection of many of your readers that when Sir Joseph Ward " was leaving New Zealand on. his first visit to England to attend the Premiers' Conference, he had a police escort' to accompany him to the steamer. I believe I am correct in stating! that a detective accompanied Sir Joseph Ward to England to act as a body-guard for fear of an assault -I'llat might bo committed by somo ex-New Zealander who had a supposed grievance and hnd uttered threats. No nssaultvor any attempt was reported. Evidently Sir Joseph Ward iiad not quite got over his fear, and instead of getting a detective to again accompany him, he, like a goodnatured man as lie is where tho Dominion's money is concerned, and as there was to bo all tho glamour of a Coronation, with tho natural amount of titles flying round, asked his true friend and follower, being tho head of tho police, and therefore thero would be more eclat, to accompany him. As a reward for such generous services, tho British Li'crni Government were applied to for the decoration of a K.C.M.G. This will, I think, account for the title.—l am, etc

ONE WHO PAY'S'. - THE BARONET. Sir.-Could you inform 'me what the ? c . a ' Leader intends to do about that .£30,000 that it is said lias to be inado over to tho heir to a baronetcy? Would it be out of place to suggest that this amount be taken out of the Consolidated ' Kevenuo and charged up in tho usual -As our Baronet has spent the. whole of his .timo. for,.the good of the Dominion) I think it would be only a fair thine for tho taxpayers to find this paltry sum or how. would a subscription list fill tho bill Say one, .shilling from every individual. Another question I would like to ask you, sir, lias anything been done by which this Great Liberal Leader can be welcomed back to tho Dominion in a manner befitting his rank and lineage? If there were any sparo Dreadnoughts on hand, tlioy could he dispatched to meet him either at Sydney or Melbourne. I shall feel very much disappointed if this is not taken up enthusiastically by tho Great Liberal Party—l am, ctc., GENUINE LIBERAL'. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. Sir,—New Zealand so far has not had a railway accident of any magnitude, but the Wellington-Auckland express has twice had a narrow escape, and, as time goes 011, there will bo more trains running, and the tendency is to run them faster, so that the chances of having a smash will be greater. Wo read only too often of railway accidents in other countries, one in England only last year, where the wreckage takes fire and burns to death the unfortunate passengers caught in the broken carriages, and nearly always the fire is started by the gas used in the lamps. Tho cars in New Zealand used to be lighted by electric light, but that has been given up, and now gas is used everywhere, and there is not a single appliance carried on our trains for dealing with jflre. A few patent fire-extinguishers or buckets, or both should, I think, be; on all trains, or, better still, the electric light should be used again, instead of gas. Experts are considering, this point in England now, and I hope that you will do what you can to minimise thia danger from fire. K. W. DALRYMPLE. Bulls, July 10. PRESBYTERIAN HYMN BOOK. Sir,—l see by your issue of July 12 at a meeting of the Wellington Presbytery that thero was a discussion about tho several, hymn books at present in use in tho different churches. First, we had "Psalms and Hymns." Then "Church Praise," from which had been omitted some of the finest hymns and tunes. After a short time there was another alteration', and tho Church "llymnary" was introduced, but did not . find much favour. Now, yet another hymn book is being substituted with almost half the psalms and most of tho good old tunes eliminated. I would like to know who is responsible for all these alterations. According to tho Scotch Presbyterian Church every uiem■ber has a vote. These alterations have never been submitted to tho congregation, the ministers and session having apparently usurped the right of choice. Upon what authority? Thanking you in anticipation.—l am, etc., PRESBYTERLVX.