LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1953, 9 January 1914, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

MISLEADING FICURES.

*&:Sir,—By experience 1. have found it ?i-!safo*riiic : -iicvcj,-to accent the uncor;.roboratedvy;'statement. of any ..liquor ;chainpio'n;'*"'Applyii]g" this wholesome "rule to. tho article by your contributor -.'.'Moderate-' in last Dominion, l.find it to be a tissue of blunders ■and'"'" misrepresentation. The writer sWanders all over the oarthj dropping en route any number of misleading statements, filially coming back to .New Zealand, with tho dishonest statement that Mr. "Massey's suggested Bill would be more favourable to tho Prohibition cause on tho majority question than is the Scottish Act recently signed by King George, As my timo and your space is necessarily limited, I will on this occasion only-deal with "Moderate's" last paragraph, which covers his greatest trouble. In it "Moderate" says: ' ■ '' "No-License may bo carried hi Scotland 'if at least 55 persons in tho 100 vote, and if at least 35 of those persons are in favour of No-License.' " . Will your readers bo surprised to learn that this statement is absolutely untrue. Th© actual text of the Actreads quite differently, and lias, of course, an altogether-different meaning, thus:—■ "If fifty-five per cent, at least of the votes recorded are in favour of a NoLicense resolution, and not less than thirty-five per cent.-of, the electors for such area on the register'have voted in favour thereof, such- resolution shall be deemed to bo carried." In tho light of this, what becomes of "Moderate's" table of figures? Ho sets it out thus: —.. . ■'. ' ~: : ':'-: - -,- : ''.-''. '''■ .O , ■'■' O ■' o|' i g "S* .-gfc'gj ■'■■■,'."■-•■■■ ■■.=/■ %.■> tc,a 3,jj.g' isj EkiJ -tlj ggj Scottish Act' 5500 3501 1999 1502 Present N.Z. Act ....... 5500 3301'. 2199 1102 Proposed N.Z. Act 5500 3026 2474 652 Tho correct table is as follows:— ' Scottish Act 5500 3025 2475 550 Present N.Z. Act ,5500 3300 2199 1100 Proposed N.Z! Act ; 5500 3025: 2475 550 In every instance-to carry No-License "Moderate" adds one more vote than is really required: Of course, this is immaterial unless .the votes were .very closo, but it forcibly shows, "Moderate's" aptitude for blundering (?) Tho colossal misrepresentation in the.' table is "Moderate's" statement of the majority required under the Scottish Act, Both the Scottish Act and Mr. Massey's proposal require exactly the same majority, but tho vote undor the Scottish Act cannot take effect- unless at least 35 per cent, of the voters on tho roll vote No-Liccmse. This 'is to prevent the possibility of No-License being carried on a. small vote. In Now Zealand such a- safeguard is not necessary, because our vote—unlike the taken on election day, when a full vote is always assured. Whether or not, Mr. Editor, your office is paid for the tmblication of such effusions. I do not know. Probably it is, but I strongly contend under no circumstances whatever should a writer be allowed the run of your .columns to scatter broadcast flagrant misrepresentation on miblic questions, after the manner of "Moderate's" latest effort.—l am. etc., ONE VOTE ONE VALUE. January 6, 1914. [We cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of all statements contained in signed contributions to the paper, although we, of course, endeavour fa prevent any wilful misrepresentations of fact appearing in our columns. "Modorate," no doubt, will have some explanation to offer concerning, his working out of tho figures now disputed by our present contributor.] BIBLE'IN-SCHOOLS. Sir,—The much-mod question of Bible-in-Schools has again come into prominence, and I would ask vour permission to thrown some light upon the subject from a teacher's point of viow. _ It seems that the main prim ciple involved ha 3 been almost entirely neglected. No one will dispute, tho duty of the school to provide- moral training for its scholars. "To deny childhood moral training js a crime against tho child, and against tho community." The whole question, then, is one- of- the basis of that training. - . •

Lot me quote from one of the. best authorities of tho day on school morals. Professor AVelton, the eminent logician and educationist, iii his splendid book. "Principles' and Methods of Moral Training,",writes as follows. • The passage may not be - originally-bis own (the book is by joint autliqrs), hut inasmuch, as it'is mofli'Dorated in the book as tho authors' belief, it expressly receives his sanction:—

"Thq ultimate question,"'he .writes, "still remains as ts what inducement can bo set hcforo the children tn lead them to 'seek good, and not evil.' . ... The relation (to tho moral law) must be personal. Transgression must bo felt as an offence against on? who loves, or the warmth of feeling which'marks tile really virtuous life is absent.' In short, the moral law must he shown to tho child as tho will of a'loving Father, who Himself gives the power to fulfil it. As. Canon Wilson says: 'Religious education supplies the only motive "test* ed by experience which • assists human nature to live the !ifo of lovo and brotherly service, which is the essence of pod citizenship.' History shows no instance of any general adherenceto a high moral code divorced from religion. And," ho "adds (in reference to" the Homeland), "there is certainly nothing in the signs of our times to warrant the anticipation that the elimination of religion from education wpiild have no deleterious effect on tho. general morality'of the community. It would assuredly be an irreparable loss to chilliood" (pp. 8?, 88). These weighty "words need no «spanRion,>>nd having thus quoted atlengtn, I shall add no more. Trusting that this may add zest to tho discussion of tins vitally-important question, and eagerly anticipating some' common-sense criticism,—l am, cte.,. , JAMBS. S. MACKENZIE. Kelburno, January 6, 1914.

TROUBLE AT THE WATERFRONT,

Sir,—On reading the letters in your widely-circulated paper ro "Trouble-at the Waterfront," I would like to state that from observations extending over a period of eight years, there is a marked improvement to-day, as compared with things at the wharves in the past. To my mind it is a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. . I have watched these new men nt their work; and it reminds me of what men did twenty years asmNo two moil to a truck—-one in the shafts and tho other trailing behind to seo tho goods did not fall off. Tins in it-self must be a great saving to the Harbour Board and shipping companies Now for a remedy to tho present trouble-. I honestly believe that tho Employers' Association, Farmers' Union,' Harbour Board, and shipping companies who have pledged themselves to do so, will support the men who stood by them in the hour of need and maintained law and order. But wo must not loso sight of the statement rondo by Mr. ft. Fletcher, chairman of tho Harbour Board, that as soon- as the trouble- was settled the old hands i\i-nld get the old jobs again; and I doubt,if it will be otherwise than turmoil as long as the head is there. I w.mld suggest- to the powers that be to have a medal struck, such as was !,ivon t-o the men of E.M..S, Neff Zealand, or.a

piece of parchment, similar to a seaman discharge,, and given to each and ovc-iyone applying lor sems —who came forward-'to assist in - maintaining - law and order and keeping our: ports open up to and including December 1, 1913. The men presenting medals or parchment to Itnvo prior claim to any work offering at the. - wharves, and ft referencein after years for employment elsewhere. "Remember those vho tho situation."—l am, etc., ; a.t. ; -.-■ Fifty-fivo years in tho cr.lony. , ' TAXI-CAB STAND NUISANCE. , ' Sir,— Passing by tho Featherston . Street taxi-cab stand ' this evening I ; heard language and behaviour 1 think : most disgusting. For a quarter of an iiour to twenty minutes this continued, 1 could not see a policeman, so I. came up to your office to ask you to direct the attention of' the proper authorities to tho niattor,—l am, etc., "' . CRITIC. '- January 8, 1014. THE TALUY GtEHKS' UNION. Sir,—l wish to utter a protest against tho methods that are being taken to prevent tho formation of tho above union. Tho petition against its formation must, havo'been engineered by tho employers, and a few of their henchmen who would not try themselves, nor let any one o?se try to improvo their conditions.. If the employers form unions at their sweet will,' it is only reasonable that the 'employees should form one. The chief; reason of the qb- : jeetors is to make tallying on the : wharf ail occupation for a particular , set of men to the exclusion of _ others, ■ and they know, that if a union'is form- . ed they will have to take their chances, . and not enjoy 'a : monopoly as they, are ( now doing. This is the real cause of tho petition against the uiaion. .It's all very .well to talk of good feeling with '■■ the employer. Let me tell tho objec- : tors that tho'employer does : not eare : twopence for their good feeling; he i wants his work done, that's all. The , majority of Wellington employers are ; men who have ' 'been through' hard schools and when they make a competency, very little consideration is given the employees. I' hope, for one, !tliat this union will bo formed, and legitimately carried on, for I ant sure it will , benefit all tho tally clerks and goodwill ] towards the employers will, I am sure, . not suffer. That is on tho men'B part. : —-I am, etc., ''.''"

" TALLY CLERK. Wellington, January 7, 1914. RATE OF INTEREST IN NEW ZEALAND. Sir,—Through .tho medium of • your columns I would Irko to ask how it is that we'aro ckargod such high rates of interest for money in .Now Zealand. Tho banks at present are charging 6 per cent, on overdrafts, and it is hard to pet money below 5J to G per cent on freehold security. I ctteloso you a.n advertisement from the "Sydney Morning Herald" of December 13, offering £20,000 at 4} per .•cent., and £25,000 at 4J .per cant on station freehold. If these ■ are. tho rates current in Now. South Wales. I think it i.6 time the banks and other institutions should fall into lino and loirer their present exorbitant rates. Why does not Mr. Hasse.y, as head of tiro Government, in* sist upon tho hank,-, over which ho has a certain amount of. .control, lowering the rato so as to give us cheaper money for developing tho country? The other banks would th«n follow' suit. Cheap money was tho cry during thd election, bvit it has been dear money for us ever since.—l ana, etc., A FARMER. ~..■, 1.,.!!!,,^.