LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1203, 11 August 1911, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

A GOVERNMENT PACKED JURY. THE MOKAU MUDDLE. Sir,—A? an old colonist, I flimik you for insisting as you do in your loader <if August 9 on the vital issues in the Government's action in tho Mokau laud muddle. The Actinir-Prime Minister labours tho point, that tho Government did well in not buying Hie land, because, while .£53,000 was tho price' asked, Ministers were advised that ,£35,000 was full value; but you cxn'osa the puerility of this argu-ment-by showing that the lower valuation did not take into account the minerals on tho property, while the syndicate gave tho higher price, largely on account of those minerals, and is selling the surface only, while reserving the mineral rights to iself. This is the whole position in a nutshell, and clinchingly shows ho* cgrcgiously tho Government iailcd to ses and secure the public interest in thp matter. On the same plane of egregiousness stands the Government's conduct with respect to the committee appointed to inquiro into this precious and most undemocratic transaction. Tho Government is emphatically on its trial in the matter, and it insists that the case shall be heard by a packed jury, one of whom is the Acting-Prime Minister himself! Could anything be more preposterous, or, indeed, more pernicious, as a'means of ensuring "<i full and fnir inquiry, and an impartial finding"? From the hiost favourable point of view, the Government has committed a gißantic blunder, \yhereby (he miblic interest has been seriously sacrificed; and to cet at all the essential ins and outs of this extraordinary case the Acting-Primo Minister has it referred to "a committee of twelve, nine of whom are sbunchest of the 'staunch Government supporters (including two Ministers and a Government Whip), and three members of the Opposition, one of whom is absent from New Zealand at present." Let it not bo forgotten, either, that the Acting-Prime Minister himself is on this most extraordinary tribunal, which is, politically, iind»r the circumstances, neither more nor less than a packed jury. What a farce; nav. what an unblushing attempt, to secure the acquittal of a Government on its trinl for a mnst grave, if not a very gross, failure to protect the public interest.—l am, etc., THE STRAIGHT THING. '

STREET TRAFFIC REFORM. From your issue, of to-day I notice iho city authorities aro dt last bent on reformjng portion of the street traffic. High time, too! I'or moro than two years I havo urged on various, councillors and the Traffic Inspector this and other reforms relating (directly to public safety. To limit motor-cars only to the- present proposal is very good in its way. but does not go far enough. It should bo made to apply to drivers of all vehicles, and nvon though a proviso allowing 17ft. of clear way is to apply, no vehicle iu our narrow streets should "be allowed to stand, attended or unattended, , at Ihe KTißStcstDil trnin stopping-places. Then, again..why do not tho council deal with vehicles driven or ridden instead of leading over fnotpath-crofriiiss giving access to and exclusive lisa of private rights-orV way. This should be attended to forthwith, and mado to apply to cycles, thus removing one of the most dangerous practices in the city. Another iiiatter requiring earnest attention is the use footpaths aro put to for commercial daylight storage purpose?. In certain, congested parts of the city this privilogr: is greatly abused, and tho attendant damage to footways is never recovered.—l am, etc., RATEPAYER, OUR RAILV/AYS. Sir,—Your repeated references to tho .way urn- railways aro mismanaged makes mo think you' will welcome a word of explanation as to why 1 believe exposure is required of the doubtful transactions that are being worked behind the seaivs. Any casual' observer will notice that in matters lying under the public eye the Department aro cynically''regardless of criticism. What, then, may wo imagine, goes on behind, where the public cannot see?. Is it true that contractors .for stores gst double.and treble market prices? If you want to know, get a number of tho Gaiette, showing prices paid, and you will see. I may as well explain what I mean by "cynically regardless." Take-the lavatories. Not one in. ten has a lookingglass. No wonder people don't use themObserve any man or woman, who, during or after a journey, "goes into tho bathroom." The very first thine they do is to consult a mirror. Ono does not iifc !■• lavatory for a full toilette; tho idra is to see if one has a smut on one's nose, or egg on one's beard, or a dirty collar. Take the iron gates outside carriages. Invariably they will only shut when violently bangpd. The , guards maintain this i;i part, of the design! Of course it is puch thing. A single drop of oil in th» right place, and they shut "swestlv," with very small pressure. Tho violent banging they und.er.eo makes them wear out, which, of course, is very much in pomeono's l interest. Take tho coach timetable in th« Railway Guide. In a par I havo written letters to tho Minister raying the Ashley Cl'nfon coach leaves at" 0 and not at 8. He takes no notice. In tho June Guide it was still 8, and probably is so still. I could writn out a li c t of a dozen matters that urgently nejxl am. etc., "• i< lIUW bJill. Tane, Eketahuna. August 7, 1911. WILL MINISTERS EXPLAIN

Sir—A few days - ago there appeared in the papers a letter of a very effusive character from J. W. Redmond, acknowledging the courtesy of the Minister, for Railways in granting hjmsdf and his coadjutor's free passes over the railways during their peregrinations extracting tno dollars out of the pockets of a, portion of'tho people of this Dominion. It may perhaps be of interest to yourself and others in this country to learn that when the clergy who canio out from England to conduct tho late general mission hero a request was made that a. concession—not free passes, mark you—on their railway fares whilst travelling through the country should be allowed, but was absolutely refused. Why this differential treatment • Presumably tho former were considered by the Minister for Railways as distinguished visitors, but in the opinion of myself, atid I venture to assert'of the majority of the people of this country, they were neither distinguished nor desirable. Further, it would be interesting to know whether or not they paid income tax on the .£IO,OOO which it is stated they scooped, and which is demanded and extracted from oversea commercial travellers, theatrical companies, etc., before they aro allowed in leave the. country, or whether differential treatment was 'extended to them in this matter also.—l am, otc, ■ ' , ANGLICAN. A FOREIGN OPINION. Sir,—One of the leading Danish papers, Fadrelandet." had an article on the Confewnco of Colonial Premiers in London. It says: "It is evident that the British Dominions have developed statesmanship according to British traditions;, conspicuous for sasacity and practicability. Tho only exception seemed to bo New Zealand. The crude and amateurish notions that emanated from this distant and isolated British possession were speedily suppressed bv tho Conference."—l am, otc, O. E. HUGO. Nelson, August 5, 1911. .

ANOTHER RAILWAY GRIEVANCE, Sir,—On rnlcl, frosty mornings I liavo freciucntly hoard passeneers by the 7.13 a.m. train from Upper Hult to Wollhijjton complaining of the cnltlfloss of the interior of tho cars. I can assort without, fear of contradiction that: during tho win tor months n railway carriage leaving Upper Hutt is several degree* wilder inside: than out. This is a matter that rests entirely with the Nail way Department, but despite the fact that representations have repeatedly hccii made, no action has botti taken. Hie, coiiseriuclice. being- than passsngcrs by this train n.ro still subject to cnld , feet and red nose?. Sir, as a way out of the difficulty which the Railway. Department appareatlj

thinks decs really exist, I would suggest that each night (wo footwarwPi's lie placed in each of the carriages of the (rain leaving 'Wellington at 0.25 p.m., and removed again the following morning. Those cars stand nt Upper Hutt all night, u.'id come hack by tho 7.43 a.m. train the following morning. As tho fcotwarmers are supposed to retain their heat ovor twelve hours, (ho result can l>o easily surraiscd. Tho expense to the Railway Department would l>3 v?ry small, as the'feot-warming tanks are on the station platform, and the time occupied in this work would not exceed ten minutes night and morning.— I am, etc.. PASSENGER. Upper Hutt, August 7, 1911. MOKAU LAND TANGLE. DEFINITE INFORMATION WANTED. Sir,—lf "Pair Play," whose letter appears in this morning's Dominion-, will supply certain information, lie will assist tnoso who' have the country's interest at heart in this wretched case of tho Mokau and tangle. What is needed is knowledge of the exact number of Native owners who were present at each successivo meeting of owners at which any definite course was agreed to; how many nt tho Maori Land Beard meeting at Te Kuiti, when the proposal to sell was negatived; how many at the meeting which decided to ask the advice of BelJ, Gully, and Myers; and how many at tho meeting at which, as "Fairplay" tersely puts it, "an . insignificant Jlaori agent settled things by urging tho Natives to consent to sale." If "Fairplay" will, through your columns, publish the information for which I ask, he will render no slight service to those who have at heart tho country's interest, which has come to be so seriously prejudiced by this miserable Mokau land tangle. If "Fairnlay" is not in a position to supply the information, perhaps someone else will do so. The service will bo invaluable, whoever renders it.—l am, etc., - NUMBERS 'WANTED. August 7. THE OBLIGATIONS OF CITIZENSHIP. Sir,—When giving an account of the oases where individuals refuse to send in thsir names for enrolment, I .would ask you to publish at the same time when they finally refuse what their calling or trade is, who employs them, also their, father's occupation. As an employer of labour and a taxpayer, I consider .these particulars should be published, so that one may guard against employing them in any. way or dealing directly or indirectly with thoso who employ them, or those who ore responsible for them. They are undoubtedly undesirables, and tho less one has to do with them in any way the better. —I am, etc., "PRO ARIS. ET FOCIS." OUT WITH THEM! Sir,—Tho suggestion of an anonymous letter writer that porsonal animus moved me to write my last letter to you is boneath contempt. Mr. E. H. Taylor, M.P., and other members of Parliament, who arc so thoroughly well satisfied with the Government, and especially with its iiscal arrangements, will shortly have the task of justifying before their constituents the 3s. lid. in the pound income tax which this Government, by the Customs tariff, still levies on tho small farmers and the wagc-carncrs. It is a tax so monstrous that all Hie men and women of small incomes ought to riso against it and sweep to oblivion those Parliamentary representatives who have always given the iniquitous tax their most cordial support. All ■ tho weary years this 'Government hns been in office the keenest land hunger has existed in everv town from Auckland to Invereargill, and to this hour tho Government is without a satisfactory land policy. This is in the last degree disgraceful and criminal. A ■ Government that will not satisfy the land hunger of the people has no claim to the support of any business man.

ft is often said that tin's Government "gives the 'people what they want." . A nioro impudent falsehood was never utr., tored. The people hayo always wanted their land hunger satisfied; they have always wanted equality of opportunity, and they appear to.bs as far away from it unw as ever. As I said in ray first latter, the last state of the landless toilers J3 worse'than their first. All'the facts prove it.- Therefore; I say "Out with this Government!" Let the cry go up from ono end ■of the country to the other, "Out with them!" When they have gone, and not till then, will the long-suffering people have a chance. If their successors do no better, then will come n mighty democratic Government Hint will, make short" work of the monopolies nnd their confiscations of the- people's hard earnings.—l am, etc., EDWARD T. EVANS. MR. FLETCHER AND THE IRISH ENVOYS. Sir,—lt is not because, Mr. R. Fletcher attended the "banquet" to the Irish Envoys that lias caused "Another Britisher' , and "Easbe" to rush into print. The reason is too plain—Mr. Fletcher's sin.in the eyos of those two,, who havo not the courage to sign their own names, although they appear to l>o bursting with indignation, is that he is standing for Wellington Central at the coming elections. "Easbe" states, that Mr. Fletcher's presence at this'.lvuiquct has been noted by many of the electors of Wellington Central. That sentence speaks as to who aud what "Easbe" is. I wish to state that the electors of Wellington have also noted "Easlw's" and "Another Britisher's" letters, and a great many of them . understand thing's that these two do not give them credit for. In conclusion, were I in Mr. Fletcher's place I should sooner have a. crust of bread with the Irish Envoys than I'd sit at the most'sumptuous banquet and be compelled to have cither "Another Britisher" or "Easbe" as my guests.—l am, etc., M. WATSON. August 7, 1911. DOMESTIC SERVICE. Sir,—l am writing in reference to some remarks passed by Mr. Barry M.L.C., in Saturday's paper. I am ill domestic service in .tho country at present, and very fortunate so far. I worked in several private, houses in Wellington. I left my last place owing to a breakdown, and in consequence could not resume my work for six months. I was up at five in the morning, and did not get to bed till between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, owing to late suppers and euchre parties. There were three bells to answer, the telephone, electric bell upstairs, and front-door bell. Often when cleaning the stove the mistress would ring the bell and keep me running about waiting on hor. There were twelve rooms in tho house, and also three children, and'ono girl to do I know several girls who would go into domestic service only they prefer to go into a factory as thev only work a certain number of hours. There has also been a good deal of talk concerning the high wages the girls demand, but some want a taste of domestic service and then they would think the wages wore not eo wonderful after all. I am sure the girls would take loss wages for shorter hours; also there would not be so much trouble to get domestic help. Whilo in Wellington I received 15?. a week, but in the end it cost nioro in doctor's bills and thehospital; so now I prefer small wages' and comfort. —I am, etc., DOMESTIC WORKER.