LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2186, 26 June 1914, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

MR. ROBERTSON AND THE FARMERS' PRODUCE. Sir,—ln your issuo of Tuesday, Juno 23, you refer in ;a sub-leader,to a statement I made at my meeting at Otaki which was to the cifect that the member for Grey and myself conveyed an offer from-the- striko conimitteo to load the- l'armors' dairy produco during tho striko. \ our comment is intended for sarcasm, and is to the effect that 1 must havo a peculiar idea of tho intelligence of the electors of Otaki. Well, wo shall see. In point of fact wo niado that offer to tho Prime Minister and Mr. Sykes, M.P., and in tho presence of Mr. Russell, the member for Avon. Mi\ Sykes had told mo earlier in the day that tho farmers were not going to stand by and see their produco spoil in the trucks, and that they would como down from tho Wairarapa and put it into cool store themselves to prevent it spoiling. 1 know that tho strikers had no quarrel with.tho farmers,'and through Mr. Webb had the, position represented to tho striko committee, with the'result*that wo were able to make tho offer aforesaid. . As regards my idea of the intelligence of my constituents, if you will turn to page 871, volume 166 of Hansard, you will find where Imade'in effect the samo statement ; n Parliament as I made at Otaki. The intelligence of my hearers in Parliament, including the Prime Minister, was such as to allow them to accept the statement without demur. Hoping that in fairness you will find space for this,—l am, etc., ' ■ 'J. ROBERTSON. ; ' [We are very pleased to publish Mr. Robertson's explanation of what ho meant by his statement at Otaki. Further reference is niado to tho matter in our editorial columns.]

A PROHIBITIONIST'S SPEECH.

Sir, —I listened to tho speeches of the Prohibition leaders, and I havo read your admirable report of those utterances, and 1 am amazed at the consummate ignorance and assurance of these people. ' Tako Mr. H. D. Bedford's speech. Ho said t-he liquor trado was tho greatest monopoly in tho Dominion. .If that is so, tho Prohibition movement by reduction and tho limiting of licenses is responsible for tho monopoly. Yet, Mr. Bedford blames the trade for its being a monopoly, whereas he should rail at tho Prohibitionists. To break down a monopoly artificially created' is to remove tho artificial restrictions. As a student of political economy,.Mr.'Bedford ought to bo familiar with economic law.

Mr. Bedford said: "The trade paid tho least amount of wages in proportion to its takings." This is not' correcti Tho wages paid to those in the hotel and brewing industry and tho retail and wholesale trade is nearly twice per person engaged than in the industry out of which Mr. Bedford first received his sustenance. •■■>.'•

Mr. Bedford said, paraphrasing Mr. Fisher, incdrreotly, "the total capital invested in the liquor trado was £477,000." Thore are ten hotels in Wellington alone', the total capital valuo of which far exceeds that amount. The total capital invested in tho licensed trade, wholesale and retail, and brewing industry approximates 20 millions sterling in this Dominion and tho profits approximated one-third of. tho total drink bill, or about five per cen,t. on the total capital invested. But Mr.' Bedford says 'tho profits are -£250,000. per annum) and ..that these profits amount to 50 per cent, of capital invested! Mr. Bedford of his subject. ■ "" "

Lastly, Mr. Bedfqrd attempts to in-, timidate members of.-Parliament, and a few Prohibition members may well, tremble, "If.Parliament does not do itsduty .(■?).many' a member,will meet hisWaterloo at the. end of this year."' Apart frpni its assurance, this is a threat that every member of Parliament will have.the full force'of the Prohibition vote against him in his electorate if he does not jive.'tho Prohibitionists the power to destroy twenty millions . of. their neighbours' property. Well, if 'tin's'threat is carried out tho members of Parliament.-'who, determine to leave the Licensing Act as it is have nothing to fear, for when Mr. Bedford had the full' strength of tho Prohibition vote supporting.him helmet 'his Waterloo, and politically that -was the end of Mr. Bedford.—l am, etc., LEX- TALIONIS.

MR. YOUNC AND MR. BELCHER,

Sir—My attention is directed to ' an -article'in. your. issue of, the 20th instant, incorporating ,au article of tho "Otago Witness" of tho loth, pertaining to tho Federated Seamen's Union, and Messrs. Belchor, Richards, and Young, and making assertions that aro not substantiated by 'fact. Referring, to tho recent strike, it is'stated that Messrs. Belcher, Clark, and Smith (Duucdiri delegates attending a conference;in Wellington) were subjected to tho indignity of being shadowed while in' this city by members.of the union. Now, this .is the first intimation I have had of such, and if it were done (and I very much doubt the authenticness of the statement), . ifc was certainly dono without tho knowledge or authority of the officials, or union. ' On the occasion in question, I personally met the delegates on several occasions, and ■ they certainly did not mention any such complaint to me, or my co-dele-gates. Similarly, I know nothing of the rough handling of Mr. Belcher at Lytteltori, except that he did receive such, and, in'my judgment, ho richly deserved it.,, In this connection it might bo asked why a confidential telegram was sent to Mr. Wm. Watts (Seamen's Union delegates, s.s. Maori), to L.yttolton, asking him to meet Messrs. Belcher, Clark, a,nd Smith at Christchurch, and'to say nothing. That communication was signed by 'the office boy at Dunedin (Hilton), aud is now in my possession.'

Hcference is: also wade to the declaratory, judgment obtained front the Supreme..Court respecting the election of officers of tho branches, and Mr. Young is hold up as being the person responsible, for this action. Ifc' may bo explained, that ever sinco the .Seamen's Union was established in New Zealand, in 1833, it has been tho rulo and practice for all" iinaucial members of all branches to record a voto in the election of any officer or officers of any branch, and the action of Dunedin .iu declaring for and holding a local election is the first occasion iu the union's history that such course has been adopted, and it clearly deprived tho members of the rights conferred upon them by tho rules of Dunedin and other branches. As for tho declaratory jmlgrnent, the question aroso after February 28, and the judgment obtained prior to April 30; between those datc3, Mr. Young v/as located, with the aid of Tim Dominion and other newspapers, in the Terrace Prison, and facilities in that institution for attending to declaratory judgments aro exceptionally meagre. As a matter of fact, 1 knew nothing of this till somo time after proceedings had boon instituted, and knowing that Dunedin was an unregistered body, at once suggested that proceedings be dropped. Respecting tho reference to Mr. Belcher ushering Messrs. Richards and Young over the doorstep in front on an ebony ruler ono can easily give the. statement a flat contradiction. If it were true, the act would hardly become one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, such as Mr. Belcher, whose function it is to maintain tho peace. We. wore certainly told"to go-out • told that we would be thrown out, ana that we would be kicked out, but Mr. Bel-

clier was politely,.but very firmly, informed that liis bounce and.bluff would not bo tolerated, and that wo would not leavo tho office till it was convenient for ys to do so When we quitted the, oliiCD we did so at our convenience, mid not at the dictate of Mr. Belcher, who was not in the office when we took our departure. This is not a matter of public importance, but as you may havo innocently published the other, I trust you will publish this as a matter of fairness.—l am, etc.,

W. T. YOUNG, Sec. Federated Seamen's Union. '' Juno 23, 1914.

THE NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA.

Sir, —In a Wellington paper of June 18, appears an article based upon information supplied by Mr. J. Edmund, editor of the Sydney "Bulletin," setting out that this territory is a "white man's country," and that any opinion to tha contrary is altogether a mistaken impression. Tho Territory, Mr. Edmond sets out, is about tho grandest part of Australia, and that most of it is a high, cool, well-watered tableland, and ho refers to this tablo land as stretching for about 1200 miles north from the jJlacDonnell Ranges. The place, it is stated, is admirably suited for British immigrants, provided settlement starts from the south, where tho Bishop of Carpentaria "spent four bitterly cold, nights." "Tbo place is tho grandest asset any Government ever possessed, and like many such assets will be no good until it is opened up by railways." Then tho article goes on to show that jealousy between tho Eastern colonies respecting a railway has impeded Ihe progress of opening up the country. This correspondent—who entirely differs from Mr. Edmond—would like to ask that gentleman whether ho is aware that in about 1839 tbo English Government had to remove a detachment of troops from Port Essington, a high table situation, on account of tho malarial fover attacking tho men y although they wero quartered in well-built and . ventilated stone houses, and had the-best, of provisions and medical attendance. Is Mr. Edmond aware that in 1869 the fover attacked tho surveyors who wero sent to Escape Cliffs from the "south"-to lay-out and allocate certain lands, and that in consequence of the fever a new partv had to be sent up from Adelaide to complete the work, and this was not done without tho usual ailment and loss of life. Is Mr.Edmund aware that when gold was discovered there in the early 'seven' ties, many who went from tho' southern colonies and New Zealand r,e\er returned, but left their remains at Pino Creek, Yam Creek, and the Howley, and other places between Port Darwin and the Katherino and Roper Rivers' Deaths along the road were so common that the bodies were irreverently termed "colonial milestones." The Government Department at Port Darwin and the police were at their wit's end to preserve tho Hying and dispose of the dead in the most humane manner possible. Medical men -were,sent inland, and, a hospital orected at Port Darwin. The. men, or the majority of them, left the. Territory again as fast as they came to it. If tho Territory is such a glorious asset as Mr. Edmond wishes us to believe, will he explain why it is that the thousands of acres of the best lands on the main road, surveyed and sold in the early 'seventies of last century, havo not been cultivated or occupied ? Yet these lands are near the seaboard.. .

As to what Mr. Edmond says about the railway starting from Port Augusta, | i,s it not a fact that tho line was formed and railed many years ago from that town to Oodnadatta, a .distance of some, 'nine to eleven-hundred miles north-' ward, and there allowed to remain unfinished, and to rot?—the white ants had oaten ,the.-,\s;oodoh.'sloepcrs;i.ajid;fcluv iron rails decayed. ■-■ Thcre'wonld' have-' difficulty—but want-of funds— in. joining the eastern cities of Sydney •and- Brisbane 'with' that'- line, as • suggested •' by Mr. Edmond. Plowevei', those points do not come within tho object of this communication—which is to endeavour to show that tho Territory is not a white man's country, and that its develonment will depend on coolie and Asiatic labour—certainly notj on English labour—and that it is both unwis; and cruel to throw out the idea of bringing British immigrants to such a'climate to do,such work, no matter whether they start from the north or from the south, as Mr. Edmond proposes.—l am, etc.; .''.'. AUSTRALIAN. .Tune 22. 1914. " •■ , P.S.—Since the above was penned, it may be seen by the cables that the Commonwealth Government propose to exnend ton millions in railways and oti-.er works in the Territory.

CENTRAL PARK AND THE TOWN BELT. .

: Sir,—l',write this in no captious spirit, and trust that what I say will not be road in that light, but with regard to tho abovo I think that our beautiful New Zealand flora is being neglected. In order to support my contentions I will quoto a few figures dealing with this year and last year. ' I note our city forester states that 24,534 trees arc now planted in Central Park, but of this number the greater proportion are English and other trees not indigenous to Now Zealand, only nn insignificant number coming under the latter category. Yet on tho plan prepared at the time showing the pro posed laying out of this park it was to bo largely a reservo of native bush. On the plan enclosed you' will notice that the steep slopes' fronting Ohiro Road and the tramline on the south side were, to be planted with nalivojbush. The course of the creek is also marked ''tree ferns and native bush." In all sincerity I would ask, then, where are tho tree ferns and where is the native bush? The steep slopes fronting Oh'irc- Road are certainly not planted with bush, but with a pine somewhat resembling pinus insignis. In tho list published in your morning contemporary on Saturday, the following trocs arp given, as well as a few others: GOSO eucalyptus, 5250 pinus, 2000 alix, 1000 larch, 100 Spenish chestnut, 25 arlintus uneda, 1000 elm, 100 sycamore, 2000 Norway; maple, 707 golden wattle, 500 escalonia, 50 laurestina, 100 gazenia, 100 periwinkle, 1500 willow, 100 poplar, 40 viburnum, 50 cotneaster, 50 carnus; total, 23,717 trees. These do not f.ive much promise/of New Zealand foliago. Again, in the tree-planting of tho Town Bolt last year the following wore tho proportions:—Trees planted. 31,000; native trees, 50, viz., 20 kowhai and 30 pohutukawa. It is true that 500 taupata were also planted, but tho taupata is only a hedgo plant. These last figures .ire quoted from memory, but arc, I believe, correct. As I mentioned above, I write this in no captious spirit, as I am fully aware of the good work the city forester (Mr. M'Pherson) is doing, but I have tried to show above that perhaps unconsciously ho is not doiug justice to New Zealand plants. In conclusion, I would ask how are town folk, and especially town children, to becomo acquainted with tho flora of their native land if they have no opportunity.for making,its acquaintance? The native bush, as' we call it, is getting further and further from the towns now. Soon it will he confined to n' ■few inaccessible gullies, until it is finally bfuiishcd to Kew'Gardens and Gormanv, when we shall no doubt then make pilgrimages to inspect it at our leisure.— 1 am. etc., •' . SIMPLE SIMON. June 22, 1914.

STREET PAVINC.

Sir,—My attention lias -been called to come criticisms by tlic City 'Engineer on the subject-matter of my interview with -your 'representative which apyicarcd in your issue of 17th instant. I, too, have no desire to enter into si uewc-

paper controversy on the subject, yet there arc one or two items comirientcd"'oii by the City Engineer which call tor a icply. First, tno City Engineer savs my contention that £5U,000 might have been saved is "utterly absuru." Of course, 1 qualified tins statement by assuming tuat £11)0,000 had been spent m wood-paving. What might have been a better way of putting it, would havo been to say that fully oO per cent, could havo been saved. This, too, by the- City Engineer may bo considered absurd. I am prepared to be considered more absurd, ana assert that HQ per cent, could havo been saved bv the adoption of sheet asphalt bituminous soiling. In proof of this, X will quote another of tho many instances where this method is being applied. Before 1 left England, an engineer in Surrey, Air. Dryland, had brought down 'a scheme, to convert 26i miles of ■ road from a macadam to a bituminous pavement, a pavement designed to carry tho severest of traffic, as you will seo by-tho following extract:—■ "Mr. Dryland drew attention to tbo ever-increasing burdens -imposed upon roads by the heavier forms of self-pro-pelled traffic, such as motor-lorries and motor-omnibuses, which have in four years increased 132 per cent, (in London they have increased 201 per cent.). Iho roadways were not intended' for such traffic, and ho had como to tlio conclusion that- the most economical form of construction for tho future i would be a dense asphnltic composition of high-class bituminous material, of a finished thickness of 3} inches, which could bo laid down complete for 4s. (3d. per square yard. ■. . ." The report and recommendations wero adopted. Tho amount to be ■ spent upon Mr. Dryland's schemo is. £feS,OOO. This is shoot bitumen asphalt, equal, or, indeed, of much longer lifo than woodblocks under equal traffic conditions. Surely Mr. Dryland and many other eminent engineers would nover' launch out and spend such a largo sum on any form of construction inferior to woodblocking or other methods. Such facts, and facts they are, cannot bo ignored <<i treated as utterly absurd. Of courso our present engineer was not responsible for tho greater- part of our woodblocking. The ratepayers wero committed to tho expenditure before his advent. Nor probably was tho cheaper and apparently equally effective method of applying bitumen well to the front ten years ago, at least not in this hemisphere, though it was in America, whoro it has stood the test of time.

Tho City Engineer says: "Rock and bitumen is so far the only pavement which stands the test of time with hardwood blocks. This, I maintain, is incorrect. The sheet bitumen I referred to .in my interview with your representative is, according to best authorities, equal to rock asphalt. The pavement referred to in the Surrey instance is sheet bitumen.

Again tho City Engineer instances our blocks: as having ' been down toi' years, and no sign of wear. "WTiy I Simply becauso tho traffic conditions, in comparison with other largo cities, arc as a perambulator to a traction engine. This admitted fact alone goes to provo that tho traffic conditions never warranted such a costly pavement. The life of hardwood blocks under severe traffic is approximately 18 years, bitumen 25 to 30 years. The samo class of wood blocks as ours are, I believe, laid in George Street, Sydney, and have been down some 18 years, so lam informed, and are now in a deplorable condition. But in Sydney there is a little traffic. Even taking the City Engineer's admission that rock bitumen is the only pavement which will compare in length of lifo .with wood blocks, even this method should give a wonderful saving by its adoption. In London to-day it is being laid at 10s. 6d! per square yard, with a long guarantee, and hardwood blocks .in., tho samo city 20s..per square yard. Is may be argued that labour conditions aro different here. In a bituminous pavement labour is-not tho great item, but cost .of bitumen. Lhavo already made this article much longer than I intended. I once read of a philosopher who came out with the astonishing assertion that our world moved round tho sun, and was arraigned before a High Court. To save his head tho poor fellow was compelled to recant, hut as ho was. leaving tho tribunal ho was heard to say: "It moves round the sun nevertheless," and so with my assertions in my_ interview with . your representative, in spite of their apparent absurdity in the eyes of our City Engineer—th'ey aro facts, nevertheless. -I am, etc., ' -F. G. MACE. Nelson, June 22.