LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1359, 9 February 1912, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE DEMAGOGUE'S SPEECH, Sir,—After listening to a speech delivered recently in Wellington, I came across these, lines: "There was a Jester, a foul lout Whom the court loved for graceless arts; Sworn scholiast of tho bestial parts Ur speech; a ribald mouth to shout ' Ju lolly's horny tympanum audi things as make the wise man dumb.'' 1 j« his Jc , stor lirciJ in Verona early in tho Hth century. Let us comfort ourselves with the thought that what pleased tho court then pleases the main in the street now Soon it will please only the man in tho gutter. Tho world moVes.-I am, etc., BRTJTUM FULMEN. WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY. Sir,—l wish to bring under your notice a blunder which tho present Administration aro about to make, and which, if carried out, will add another example to he wilful waste of public money that has been going on for years. It is in connection with the branch railway from the Main Trunk lino to Ractihi. ]t is stated on good authority that it is the intention to run this lino into tho Ohakuno station yard. This means an enormous .expense. Already thousands of pounds have been literally thrown away digging away hills, filling up gullies, anil putting huge culverts in. To enlarge the yard sufficient to make a junction of it will mean excavating more hills, etc., and tho ultimate, cost is beyond comprehension. I should say ,£50,000 won't cover it. All this expense would ho justified if it were not ior the fact that Rangataua possesses natural advantages for a junction, second to none in the Dominion. There are many acres round the yard, of level country, which would obviate the necessity of excavating, etc. In addition to this the route would be easier of construction. Seeing that tho finances of this country are not in a very flourishing condition I feel it my duty, before it is too late, to ventilate this matter, and trust that you can sec your way clear to investigate into it, and if possible, 6top it. It is only those on the spot who can seo what is going on. I am sure that it would be much better to shift the Ohakuno buildings down here, lock, stock, and barrel. A mistake has been made, but it is bettor to admit it now and put it right. Two wrongs don't make a right.—l am, etc., ECONOMY. Rangataua, February 5. HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE. Sir,—l sec the Socialists are sending messages of help and encouragement to the strikers in Brisbane, but I seo no messages of sympathy to tho gallant men there who are so bravely working to uphold tho cause of law and order in the midst,of great difficulties. Surely they are worthy of the deepest of all true men and women. Their trials will be ours (if I mistake not) in a very short time. So long as we allow such men as disgrace'd our last Sunday by their shameful speeches to have a free hand to poison the minds of the unthinking and the ignorant, so long shall we bo threatened with strikes, discontent, and general lawlessness. There is no country in tho world where working men are so well treated and so well paid as in NewZealand. The loafer, the idle, and the drunkard will always bo poor. These leaders of dis-uniou do not wish to see peace and contentment. They are making a very good thing indeed out of tumult and class hatreds, and the more they can stir up the mud tho better pleased they are. The hated "capitalists'—who are they in New Zealand? Chiefly working men, who after many years "of hard work (bad seasons, bad markets at times), have by their own intelligence and industry won well-deserved success. These men have been tho making of New Zealand, and are'tho backbone of the country, taking all tho risks and employing much labour! I think ere long wo shall see the pick of the working men cut themselves loose from the Anarchists in disguise, and band themselves together as free men,, for never has there been such a grinding tyranny as this under which wo aro groaning, and which, if it is not stamped out, will most surely lead to revolution (of course, this is what they are working to bring about). The thanks of all NewZealand are due to Tin: Dominion- for its fearless utterances during tho late strike. The threats hurled at that paper by the union lcadors aro compliments testifying to its influence with the public. All success go with those who have the courage to stand up for truth and justice in these days of nnrest. Tho next municipal elections will, I hope, give us a strong man as Mayor, and_ a council who have courage to fight for the right. If needful we were all willing and ready to do without tho trams for weeks or months rather than cave in to the unjust and ridiculous demands of the tram men, not one of whom should have been token on again. Tho truce is only a temporary patch-up, I fear. With deep sympathy for the brave men in Brisbane, and earnest wishes for their success,—l qui, etc., "HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE."