LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1793, 4 July 1913, Page 11

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A SCOTTISH PRELATE. Sir,—ln yours of .Tilno 30 appears the. above heading. I think this is a mistake, ns tliero was 110 Scottish prelate of the nam© of Lees, Dr. Cameron Lees was for a number of years minister of St. Giles's Cathedral, Edinburgh, which is a Presbyterian Church. What seems to be confusing is the fact that ho .was a Dean of tho Chapel Royal, but it must ba remoinbered that several Presbyterian ministers have held that title, ft was tho custom in Queen Victoria's days when she resided in Scotland that one of these deans was summoned to Balmoral and officiated in ■ Crafchie Parish Church, which the Queen attended when she resided in Scotland. I suppose it was to give countenance to the establishment.—l am, THO&7 M. MILLIGAN. ' July 1, 1913.

THE CAPPING CEREMONY.

Sir,—An' interesting letter appeared in your columns this morning from Dr. FyiTe, concerning the antics of the undergraduates of that University to wluch I have the honour to belong. He gete the facts accurately enough, but seta them out in such a way that the uninitiated would draw a wrong inference from them. . On certain days of the year at Cambridge the authorities relax their discipline, and the under-graduates are wont to sally forth (followed usually by a hugo crowd of townsfolk, who have come ou.t to see .the fun), and make merry. ' Such occasions are, however! rare, _ and this is the vital point—the authorities condono such conduct. At all other times strict order is insisted upon, and this is so iu the case of a capping ceremony. Has Dr. Fyffe ever seen anyone enter the Senate House attired in fancy costume? Has he ever seen a gang of students armed with trumpets interrupting and heckling those in authority? Has he seen them 'adopting the wall of the Chancellor's residence as a. boarding upon which -to paste bills advertising a debate, at th# "union ? Any remarks at the capping ceremony are invariably, addressed to a friend as he goes forward to receive the Vice-Ohancfllor s. "blessing," and not to the Vicc-Chancel-lor himself. Anyone going beyond those limits would be immediately "progged," and would havo to J>ay a fine of 13s. 4d. oi- be "gated." I know of one very weak and mild youth who was eo over-joyed at seeing his. friend approaching the timehonoured seat, that he. threw a pen at him. Result: Fined .and "gated" for a week. • ■ ' • The point that I wish to make clear is that members of Cambridge University, make merry at tha right time, in the right. place, with : .the connivance. of tho .authorities. Here in New Zealand the decree has gone forth: "You make merry ait the Easter tournament, qnd ■ on capping day in the morning and in tile evening, but at the capping ceremony itself we must have orderly and gentlemanly conduct." - I leave it for the public to say whether this reasonable request has been acceded to by .the students, and whether it is desirable that the professors and students of any college should bo permitted to 'set the wishes of those who are on a higher plane from them, at nought.—l am, etc., ANOTHER HONOURS CANTAB.. Sir,—All 3W me ,to convey my appreciation to your correspondent, Dr. Fyffe, for his letter in ycur columns. He, "I am sure, has earned the thanks of the students who took part in the carnival. He rightly asks what jurisdiction has Mr. Brandon and . his board (with one or two exceptions) over the . students of Viotoria College. Perhaps lie sees a chancellorship in the diistance. lloweveT, one is enough; more such as he are not to be found. As a non-Wellington Collegian, I protest against tho board s action in making our carnival an excuse for saying tilings which couild have been said itfithout referenca to the carnival.. Moreover, I venture to" say that any excess by-. Victoria College students is far less serious, than, the excesses of Cambridge students. Fortunately 'for.- us, Mr. Brandon is not tho only Cambridge man in New Zealand',' and the actiori. of 'Br.. Fyffe injwrbng, of the doing 3 o£ Cambriflgfl extinguishes Mr. Brandon's plea of "not guilty." Poor old fossils! Some people ivould like to see a procession of. mournfiTii, anaemic, weedy young men in saokcloth and ashes,'carrying coffins under one arm and books of "Donts under the other.'' Other people" prefer to -see a rollicking crowd of .high-spirited and .rhardstudying, full-blooded young colonials, out for a'day's fun,'and are prepared to put ■up with a certain amount of foolery. They take in the same manner as is given, that is, in good pant. Cranks and,hypocrites may call us fools, but it is not everyone who can be a fool. Let our elders look into their own dcjngs, and w<ud out their own evil, and then, and not till then, let ithem assume the position as moral Wellington, July 1, 1918. rOur correspondent's reference to his elders fully justifies th- nom.de plume he has chosen for himself.! ' ■ '■

MH. SEMPLE'S HUMOUR

Sir-It is to be regretted that in giving Mr. Semple's remarks, re Ministers of the Crown, publicity, that you should have failed to administer .the castigation ho deserved, for so wantonly insulting the whole of the people of New Zealand. Sir, there are* other articles besides stam-iw which badly stand in need of '''licking and it is a real pity 'Robert Semple has escaped his real dues for his dirty vituperation.-lam, E ete., zEALANDER>

THE N.Z. CADETSHIP SYSTEM

Sir,—As for tolerably obvious, reasons some misapprehension may prevail in New Zealand 'amongst people whose acquaintance with me is little if any more than of a nominal nature (although I have spent 35 years at tho Antipodes), apropos of my bearing towards your Government a successful universal compulsory military training scheme; may I declare that not only has this new measure my entire approval in principle and m its details, as far as my cognisance of them goes, but on various grounds _ beyond the iraportant ono connected with defence from invasion, it would be J lar( l to conceive a law more admirably calculated to benefit the rising generation of colonists m nearly every point of view (thus incidentally benefiting everybody and each sex), than this bodv of New Zealand cadets. X am, etc., C. STEICKTjAND MACKIE, The Croft, Rye, Sussex, England.

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND

AN OPEN LETTER TO PARLIAMENT. Sir,-I havo read with interest the battle between Messrs. Beauchamp and Kennedy, and it appears to me the former gentleman has tho right upon his side. But in this matter I venture to strike a blow for the peoplo of New Zealand. Kind Fate has so decreed, that my task has been, during my fifty years residence as a colonist, like some knight of old, to often couch a lance for those in distress. I do so now, and ask the Hon. Mr. Massoy's Government and Farlianient not to consent to any amendment of the Bank of New Zealand Act until the exchange upon cheques and tho five shilling half-yearly charge for keeping accounts bo abolished. The bank if making .£315,000 a year profit, and paying 15 per cent dividend. Surely the annoying sixpenny exchanges and half-yearly account chargcs can now be taken off? I remomber well (about 1897) when those annoying charges were first imposed by the bank; tho other banks immediately following suit. I do not blame the other banks, but tho time lifts now come for the whole matter to be reviewed and abol- ! ished, as no greater impost was ever i placed upon the free trade of h struggling ! people. The bank must now make <£20,000 | a year out of its 40,000 customers in tho : 59.' half-yearly charge; and JfUO.OOO a j voir out of its exchanges. (T leave Mr. I ISeauchamp to correct me if I am wrong.) j Surely the bank can concede this JEGO.OOO ' f. year to its struggling customers out of its enormous annual profit. At any rato I ask Parliament not to abandon its hold upon tho bank until these charges are removed. Indeed, in tho interests of tho people. T aslc Parliament always to keep «ome hold upon the Bank of New Zealnnd. —I am, etc.. COLEMAN PHILLIPS. Wellington Club, July 1, 1913. P.S.-I congratulate the bank stall upon its conduct of the bank's business. I lwve always found the officers most courteous mid oMiiinfr. But seeing how

above charges were imposed, I should like, as a Wairarapa, mail, to see them removed. MR. CAUGHLEY AGAIN. Sir,—lll a footnote to my letter, which you kindly published on June 15. it is statod that I confuse facts with assertions of my own, and that I should not charge the Bible-in-Schools league with knowingly publishing untruth. May I point out one fact given by Canon Garland? To this I will add 210 assertion,'but will leave it to tho public ami to many honoured and respected friends in the Uibie-in-Sehools League to judge whether the league is guilty or not. In a letter to the "Lyttelton Times," May 7, Canon Garland says"Surely llr. Caughley can see that tho accident which put the words children instructed, instead of the words children enrolled was 'the cause of tho paragraph being written,' 'as if' thorc were 31,423 children instructed, I have already stated that we regret the error." (The inverted coinmas are mine —J.C.) Here Canon Garland explicitly admits three things: (1) That the paragraph was written "as if" 31,423 children were instructed. (2) That this was an "error." (8) That the accident of the altered headnig was I'the cause of the paragraph, being written" "as if" 31,423 children were instructed. Why then is that same paragraph of. the original leaflet being put word for word in the new and "corrected" edition' of the leaflet, though Canon Garland admits it was "an error" written on the basis of an incorrect heading "as if" what was not a fact were a fact? If wo admit the first edition of tho mistake to be an accident, how can wo excuse the second edition whioh contains the same paragraph word for word, a paragraph written "as if" a glaringly. untrue statement, then admitted to be an "error" w;ere true. Is this not a case of the league's publishing what it knows to be utterly misleading? • Canon Garland, with the casuistry of which he "is a pastmaster, has even at-' tempted since to justify the paragraph which ho formerly said was written "as if" it-were true, and for which error "he expressed regret! As a rejoinder to our charge, Canon Garland published throughout Now Zealand a counter-Charge against his opponents of wrongly quoting regulations ■regarding disabilities of New South Wales teachers. The Kev. T. Williams, now armed with official proofs, will shortly expose this attempt at bluff, which will furnish yet' another illustration of tho subtlety of the league's methods. It is no pleasure to us to have to makq these charges, but the league is seouring numbers of pledged members by means of most • glaring misstatements whioh are due to most culpable ignorance or to wilful suppression of truth. The league executive has publicly endorsed the methods used in connection with this leaflet.—l am, ttc., J. W. CAUGHLEY. . Christchurch; June 28.

"LABOUR'S LATEST CONVERT."

Sir,—Whilst glancing through the names of delegates attending the July Unity Congress; I was surprised to find the name of Sir. J. A. Hanaji, M.P., as tho select ed delegate for the Invercargill Bootmakers. Union. One is constrained, to wonder whether Mr. Hajian took the 4000 odd electors who voted for him at the last election into his confidence. Surely this is the'least a member could do, seeing that a change of political convictions is the most important departure a member of the'legislature could ,take. Truly the rout of- the Liberal party is complete. This is: the gentlemaii who; eighteen months ago, was fighting tho fight of his life against a Labour candidate. Why' this sudden change of front? Methinks that some politician;!, both inside the Houss aud out, have their ears to the ground listening for the heavy tread of another, army beside 1 the prohibition army.. I would ask the workers to peruse the personnel of the delegates to tho conference, and to note the large and growing number of political rejects and "converts" who are rallying.rouml the standard of Labour. At the present time I find in their number Messrs. Hanan, Hog&f-lTowlds, Bedford, ■ M'Combs,. and. long willv. it-be. Dcfote; Messrs.' Laurenson, Ell, Davey, and Witty are also included? This conglomeration of all sorts proposes to \unite. on .<1 basis of Socialism and I.W.W'.-ism. I ask the workers of this country how rnuoh longer! are they going to be fooled by professional politicians and salaried officials. That, astute gentleman from America, Mr. Mills, Btated in Wellington recently that the Liberal party.had.tried to use him,, but he wasn't for sale. Workers, remember there are other wys of killing a cat than drowning Mm. Socialists, you who are fond of dancing, .roll up to tho ball on July 4, and help to establish an, election fund for the political converts, who will 'seek', your suffrage at the next general eleotion. Come one, come all, and empty yoUr pockets to provide Mr. Mills the wherewithal to remain in your country and teach you to organise. I Would advise Mi. Hanan to lose 110 time,-and pur-" chase'a copy, music, and words of 'Ihe Bed Flag." He will be called 011 to sing it; bdfore ' this conference concludes.. I remember well on a certain occasion, the night of the first Unity Conference smoke "social," listening to Sir. Hanan blowing, the bellows with great ardour on _behalt of the Mackenzie ''Stop-gap." ' t Mr. Hanan at th&t time was a most excellent Minister for Justice and Eduoft.tion. What a contrast to his position, to-da.3;. _ Now, brother workers, X ask you to join with me in giving .three cheers for victory, for surely with all thess radiant stare in our ranks the millennium is on the hori-zon.-I am, etc., WORKER. Wellington, June 27, 1913.

THE LEAGUE AND CITY RESERVES,

Sir, —I see in your columns that the officials of the Northern Union game are having a liard fight with the Wellington City Council to get the use of the. city reserves for their representative matches, the;use of which they promised' in the evly part of the season without any discrimination between the various athletic bodies using such reserves each Saturday. Tho' old bogy of professionalism is held lip as an excuse for not granting same. Fori the benefit of the council I will quote what has been published in the papers and stated by the organisers of the ' League game time out ot number: That the League game is played in. .New Zealand on an amateur basis and the plaiyer who comes over to make money out of it niakos the mistake of his life, and that', there is not one person. (player or otherwise) getting a living out.of the gaiiii in New Zealand, l'he difference between the League and Busby is this; The i New Zealand "All Blacks'; received 3s. a day and the League allows its players 10s. a' day loss of wages when representing the .Dominion on tour. Also-that Ins Majosty the King is patron of : the Northern Union in England, and Lord Derby, president. In Australia the GovernorGeneral and the most prominent men in New South Wales and Queensland are at the head of tho League game, while in Auckland members of Parliament, besides members of local councils and municipal bodies aro connected with the goveriihg of the game. Prom a business point of view, the granting of the use of reserves to the League would return a handsome profit to the council. The Auckland City Council received from the League game last season -C-SO, and judging by the attendance of .tho public at Newtown Park to witness the League game 3 each Saturday that the representative matches would draw large" attendances. The League la prepared to pay u fair rent for tho use of the city reserves, and want no remission of rates, no bonus on trilin faros or gate takings. 11l fact, all they ask for is a sf|iiaro deal and no ta-vour.-l am, etc., p p p I'arnoll, June 2Jrd, 1913.

THE NEW SESSION.

Sir,—Genuine criticism is -is a stimulating tonic. Therefore, may I he alldwed a few remarks concerning what undoubtedly constitutes a very serious waste of time in the manageinent'of this country's affairs? 1 allude to the ridiculous reintroduction of (ho same Bill over and over again in the same session, after havin? been previously rejected. I'ako as an example the Bill to legalise the marringe of uncle nnd niece (deceased wife's sister's daughter). Apart from the repulsiveness of this most decidedly unnecessary measure, the mere fact of introducing this Bill to the House of Representatives within a few days of its having beon rejected by the Legislative Council was a direct and gratuitous insult to that body, more especially when it is remembered th(it the Leader of the Council (th« Hon. H. D. HelD snok« «rv

strongly and feelingly against such a marriage, describing it as unnatural and abhorrent. Not content with its rejection by the Council, Mr. M'Callum thought fit to bring forward this measure before Parliament, and, after f. further waste of the country's time, it was hrou n out, after having received severe criticism. Mr. Fisher who also had this measure down to bring forward had the good sense to ask leave to withdraw it, thus causing a slight Waste of time only. Surely this would have plainly demonstrated to any sano man the utter futility of attempting to push this Bill through. But no! Mr. M'Calhim had the effrontery to again introduce it. This time in tho form of an amendment to another Bill. Needless to say, after a further waste of tho country's time, tihis amendment received the treatment it deserved and was also thrown out. Does Mr. M'Callum consider that members do not know their own minds when voting for or agdinst any particular measure, or did ha deliberately wish to embarrass the Government by uselessly. squandering the limited time at their disposal? I am quit© sure that Mr. Massey would gain an even larger share of the country s confidence than Tie already possesses should he take means to very firmly suppress any such foolish frittering away of valuable timo in the coming session, as actions of this description can only tend to render the. procedure of Parliament farcical and nugatory.—l am, etc., CRITIC.