K.C.'S.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1601, 19 November 1912, Page 8

K.C.'S.

Sir—"A.J." lim in his lottor to you, mid many persons in communications to myself, liavo boon kind enough to refer to mi; in relation to tlio appointment of K.C.'fJ. Whatever it is possible to say as to tlio exclusion of others, it is right to iilliko it known that no criticism can bo mndo upon Ministers as to mine. I never applied, and therefore could nut according to thoprnctico have been appointed. My refriuining from applying did not arise from any. false or other soiisa of inferiority, or from any fear that .my application would bo unsuccessful. It arose from my Ixilief that tlio whole. thing ouglit never to have been initiated in this Dominion. Much was dono in tlio reign of Queen Victoria to clear away the privileges and special favours which prevented llio Queen's Courts and offices from being in completo touch with tlio war against privilege. Much has still to bo done. To Ihoso who wero in sympathy with tlio reform movement, mid who wished to restrain tlio power of patronage and tlio retting up of artificial distinctions, tlio action taken by the lato Ward Ministry, and followed by tlio present one, in regard to K.C.'s, must bo disappointing. sihly a liltlo later it may bo convenient to imvo a discussion on this question, but with foofcli pa.rl.ieH jti tho I-louso supporting patromigo and privilege, it is useless at present. When tho reactionary spirit in support of patronage has dono its full work, by tho creation among us of King's chaplains, King's physicians and surgeons. King's architects, King's builders, and King's everything'to distinguish those of any calling who may by merit—it may lw in the opinion of a party—or demerit, but not bocanso of any service to the public, obtain tho mark distinguishing themselves from tho main crowd, it will probably slriko people that tho sound rule is to confer no honour which is not the result of laws fairly certain in their operation. Is it not somewhat perplexing to find a Ministry which thought it necessary to remove from themselves and their successors tho temptation to make wrong appointments lending themselves to tho bestowal of patronago upon certain members of a profession, the members of which trno democracy requires should liavo equal rights and no privileges, no favouritism, and no trade mark except such as is given by competition, and the result of which is based on impersonal grounds. It is particularly desirable that tlio judges should bo kept free from accusations of favouritism, but. if the Chief Justice is to have a voice in tho conferring of favours, and the other -judges are to entliuso and draw comparisons as two' judges have just done in Auckland, confusion is sure to follow, to tho detriment of their usefulness—l am, CIC ". T. W. HISLOP. Sir,—May I, in reply to "A.J." in yesterday's issue, point out to him and to those others who may have- been misled by his letter, that K.C.'s are appointed not for bygone acts of drafting statutes, nor for previous civic duties,_ but for eminence in pleading, i.e., ability in the Courts. This discussion has' gone, to my mind, far enough, and the only point that has been so far made is that two of the Wellington appointments savour of politics, but as they have ability, why ■ should their politics stand in their way.— I am, etc., B.K. November 15. THE ART ALBUM OF N.Z. Wo have been asked to republish, the following letter from tho "Otago Witness" :— Sir,—ln your issue of June 12, under the . heading "Our Public .Schools Column," by "Magister," mention is made'of the coloured plates of our New Zealand iiowers painted by Mrs. Featon.. The majority of these plates have never been published, and, seeing that tho bulk of this country's .flora is- fast • disappearing under tho hand of man and by the ravages of introduced birds and animals, these plates may justly ■ be said to be of increasing value, as the years pass away. We havo Buller's "New Zealand Birds" and Hudson's "Butterflies and Moths," both beautifully illustrated in colours. Would it not therefore be patriotic if those who can afford to do so were to join in a subscription to raise funds for the purchase of Mrs. Featon's coloured drawings of New Zealaud flora? . It would be rather a large order to propose publication in book form, but, failing this, the plates could be lodged, with the Dominion Museum in the meantime. • We might accept subscriptions from ss. upwards, according to the enthusiasm of various subscribers, and by this means a considerable sum might be raised, for "union'is strength." . , Should a sufficient amount not bB raised to complete the purchase (which I earnestly hope will not bo the case),' subscriptions would be returned to the donors. The acquisition of the plates being of interest throughout the Dominion, we might ask the editors of leading newspapers to open subscriptions for the fund. I quote from a letter written- by Mrs. Featon to "Magister," dated Gisborne, May 17-.- . . , ... . „ "I have the original painting for the three volumes that I should be very thankful to dispose of if I could find a purchaser. They took seven years of Bolid and continuous work, and have been considerably added to since then as-I ob" taiued fresh specimens.- Mr. G.M. Thomson, M.P., .considers my collection, to use his own words, 'the largest, best-painted, and truest to Nature of any collection of native flora that has come under my notice in all m;- long experience.' My 'collection was formed from specimens from tho extreme north of New Zealand down to tho Auckland and adjacent islands, including the alpine flora. The paintings were valued at .£IOOO, Ixut I should be thankful to-take a much smaller sum. Can you offer any suggestion how to get them sold?" "Magister" wrote: — It will' be remembered that Mr. and Mrs. Featon's original intention was to publish three volumes, and of these the .necessary drawings m colour were made. Though Volume I was well produced, the response was not sufficient to justify publishing, tho other two volumes. Mrs, featon. is now continuing life's journey alone, and wishes to dispose of her work, and also of some Jcose plates over, from Volume I. It is \ cry probable that such a complete set of coloured drawings of our flora will not be made again, and for what they will cost it appears to me that the Government will do a gracious act by purchasing them." „ Now let us, for the credit of our country and for a purpose which may be read between the lines,, and that Mrs. Featon may know that her life's work has not been expended altogether in vain, rouse ourselves and friends in & determined effort to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion by tho purchase, of the paint'"'Then we can with justice approach the Government with a call to undertake the publication of them in book form and coloured facsimile. . As an instance, showing the lapid chan»e occurring in the general features of the country, I may state that when i came to my present location, some 27 vears ago, from an elevated position in the primeval forest I could look around so far as the eye could reaoh and see for thirty or more miles nothing but a rolling country covered by a dense forest. •Now, from the same position, I see land all in grass, with scattered giants of the forest, gauut and grey, with, here and there a farm residence. Where, then, is the native flora and fauna? All swept away by woodman's axe and universal fi &> soon as this letter is published I mil lead off the list of subscribers with B modest uote.-I TSi etc., wHiTE _ Wimbledon, Hawke's Bay.