LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1563, 5 October 1912, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE IRON INDUSTRY. Sir,—ln your issuo of September 25 appears a discussion on tho above by the Industrial Corporation' of New Zealand at their annual meeting, and a motion carried to recommend Iho Government to pay a bounty.of to tho company promoting this scheme for the manufacture of pig-iron. Mow,.'sir, it is to 1m hoped that as you have often contended that this country has got rid of tho "Spoils" party, the Reform ■ party will fight shy of these so-called business gentlemen. If the .Government fulls'in with their wishes in this matter, it is possiblo that the R-cform party in years to come may be styled the parly that gave-, "Bonuses to promoters of companies." If, as it is often, contended, that what this country wants is clean politics, it is to bo hoped that wo also, get clean expenditure of public moneys. I hold, sir, that to give this amount of money for this particular industry would be a sheer waste of money. One could afford to let these business, gentlemen go their own road, if it was not for tho fact that it is just possible that, coming from such a body of gentlemen, who should know bettor, it.might infiuenco .the present party in power. Some timo. ago I took exception to the statements of two members of Parliament en this subject—ono Mr. Thomson, and Mr. Laurenson. The-utter ignorance of sonio men in high places on these matters of industry passes one's comprehension. I am sorry you did not find room for my -remarks-on'tho speeches of these two M.P.'s. Now, we have the statement of . another Mr. Laurenson, and he states that 10,000 mechanics will bo needed. This is likely to be taken seriously by some unthinking people. Again, Mr. Luke showed his lack of knowledge by insisting that tho Government should put up a blast •furnace for the manufacture of pig-irou. As I said," such talk could very well ■be ■ ignored. Whoever saw ono blast furnaco put "up for tho manufacture of pig-ii-on? 1 know most of the blast furnace companies of Scotland, and the least number is three. For the State to put up one furnace it would bo idle half of its timo. as anybody knows that'has any idea cf blast furnaces that it is almost impossible to keep them all in blast at one time. Where is Mr. Luke to get his hot-blast from? All up-to-date furnaces are blown by hot blast now; also' it should bo known.that these companies in Britain do not make iron from one ore; they use several, ores, and none of it is found near by. Most of it is imported. .Then again, they use all the by-products, such as ammonia, oils, tar, ana several other products, which' all -go to assist in the cheapening of pig-iron. Then these companies nave cheap coal quite close beside them, and own the coalfields themselves. ' NoW, this supply of coal is a very important matter, as for the purpose of malcing pig-iron a very hard splint coal is required. With a light coal or hot blast it would bo useless for making iron. I do not think any of the coal in New Zealand would be suitable for the purpose. Then a good supply of limestone is required. With a light coal on hot to keep the furnace working. Without something in this way a furnace is very apt to get. choked up; that is, the iron seizes on to the sides as it works down, and gradually accumulates, and if this is not checked sometimes very serious injury results; occasionally loss of life. Mr. Laurenson's 10,000 mechanics would not bo aWc to cope with these defects, as fur-nace-keeping is a very skilled occupation, and is not learned in a day or two. Then again a good supply of coke is required (not the. by-product from gasworks) as the furnace requires to, be. kept full up with .coke when she is on blast, as it stands tho hot blast better, and allows the iron and slag to work down to tho bottom of the furnace. Then again, there is another by-product used in keeping blast furnaces in order; I mean "pudtilers tap" or slag from puddling furnaces, where malleable iron is manufactured. This Is u very- usul'ul physio roithe blast furnace. I do not think there is any. quantity .of .this,in New Zealand. Then"a good.supply.of water is.-necded,' as a great quantity is required for a lot of uses in blastfurnace working. I fail to see .how,.watlviitlie.s conditions of the labour market here;- -it could ever bo a paying concern to manufacture pig-iron in New Zealand. It is quite, a common thing for a man filling a ; furnaco to put into,it about 70 charges, each charge 1 ton 3cwt'.', in .10 hours. .1 think Mr;,Lauren,son or. Mr. Luke would have some trouble [to find any hereto tackle that. How in 'the face of these,facts could iron be made here to compete with other countries, .where they havo everything cheaper? Why, the price of coal and coko hero would kill it for a-start; that is, provided they could get these articles tii) to the required standard. 1 hope the Government will lot this company go on thoir own, let them, have a lease as long as they like, as I don't, think it is ever going to be of much value to the State. There aro plenty of other ways for tho Government to spend money without throwing it nway on this enterprise.—l am, etc.. T. M. MILLIGAN. September 26. 1012. OFFENCES AGAINST WOMEN AMD GIRLS. LEGISLATION WANTED, Sir,—The following is a return showing the number of charges preferred against | persons for sexual offences from 1501 to j 1910 in New Zealand:— j ■ Charges.-1901, 79; 1902, 72; 1903, .83; 11901,'73; 1905,95; 190G, 96; 1907, 103; 1908, 103; 1809, 87; 1010, 91. •In Wellington (yoar 1.910) (here were IS charges, being the highest of all the police districts. . I afbert, Sir, that, it is timo that more severe penalties were imposed on men who assault young children and women, ruining them for life in some cases, than the paltry few months in gaol. | We must not forget that these islands are visited by the flotsam and jetsam- of all nations, and it is oniy right.for us to safeguard our girls from these degenerates. In New South Wales assaults on any girl, under ten years of age, render offenders liable to suffer death. In West Virginia assaults on females are punishable by death. ; If one turns' to the Mosaic code (recorded in penterononiy, 22-25) a man assaulting a betrothed woman shall be put to death. I consider that the Government should tabulate tie ages of the ninety-one female victims in 1910, .with a view of placing on our Statute Book a law to punish by death offences on girls under ten years of age, and those "procurers" of girls for immoral purposes shall be served likewise, We New Zoalanders. have the finest womenhood in tho world, and it is our duty to safeguard them—l am, etc.. ■> . SAMUEL PEARSON. TIT-BITS BY CABLE. Sir,—Your column this morning wa9 most interesting, but' are we expected to believe that tho kind of rubbish you refer to .is really cabled i Is it not well known that the office boy gets an occasional tip for cuttings which receive appropriate cable headings, and are inserted, to beguilo us simple colonials '! And are not many of theso condescending-kind and two-tailed calf stories really good enough for niost of us? " '■' Let-us look nearer at home—to Waihi, for instance. Two -, or three unruly 'females,' is. bad boy with a stone, and a garrulous fool give out! "special correspondents" material for a whole column of telegraphic nothingness,-which could be summed up in n single Hue, and the rest of the twaddle could bo written in tho publishing office. ' , But, indeed, tho Emperor Bill cablo. message is really an admirable fable. It gratifies people of tho most widely different views. Sonic of us believe this potentate to lie a very foolish and 'indiscreet person, a view which is amply sustained by the first part of the story, and completely confirmed by the second part. Others of our friends who worship any 6carecrow invested with a title and somo nice clothes and gewgaws, will derive great comfort from the example of profound magnanimity displayed by their idol. , ■ ' May it not be accounted to your discredit that von should ruthlessly shake the faith of" thousands by exposing Iho stage machinery? A two-tailed calf story will amuse and interest a vastly greater number of people than the bursting of the British Constitution, and so it is to bo hoped you will refrain in future from carping at the Press Association organisation, as, after all, the greatest happiness of tho greatest number should l>e your chief aim.—T am, etc., J .P. - P.S.—They pay 10 per cent., so you see - .it pays,