LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2542, 17 August 1915, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE PRICE OF BUTTER. 'Sir, —Kindly allow me a little spaco in your valuable paper. I wish to say a few words, and to thank those who havo caused the prico of butter to come down twopcnce per pound. In this particular item of food it will mean that 1, as well as many more, will relish a little more of this oiu> and all-important food than what has been in the past. Butter, above all, other dietries, should bo low in price. Our grocers say that they cannot help the prices at times being so high; can they stop buying from the merchants. So, like myself, tho general public must thank tho merchants, who have reduced tho price. Wo all do hope and 'trust that the merchants, ivho derive all their supplies from the butter factories, will look to the peoplo of this land for the outlet of tho supplies at their command, and by so doing our working classes will all benefit. It is not big profits, to be made all at once, but the smaller profits and the very quick returns that toll. Butter is down to one shilling and sevenpence now. Why should it not be 1 one shilling per lb. ? We are told that the export of butter has set in, or out again. - I wonder, with many others, if that statement is true. Let our merchants show the whole world that they are not giving money to the poor and needy, but feeding them in a better way—by accepting smaller profits at a quicker rate.—l am, etc., BUTTER AND BREAD FOR ALL. SOUTHERN ALPINE NOMENCLATURE.. Sir, —There are no doubt many German and Austrian names in our Southern Alps, which could be changed with advantage, and without injustice to any foreigner who has done pioneer work here, especially in those cases where a foreign name has really superseded the original English. For instance," tho "Franz Josef" glacier was originally called the "Albert," sifter our Prince Consort, and there are other instances. There.are, however, many names apparently German, which are really Swiss. _Mannering and I, and possibly ether New Zealand pioneers, used' to narno points of interest to commemorate the great Swiss guides of a generation ago. To these names there can be no objection, and the name of any Gorman or Austrian who personally did early pioneer work, here would have better claim for retention, than names of their Royalties of which we see so many examples especially in the Mount Cook district. The matter 1 has been already discussed by some members of the New Zealand Alpine Club, and I have no doubt that the committee of that club will be glad to assist the Government Departments in coming to a proper decision.—l am, etc., ARTHUR P. HARPER, President N.Z. Alpine Club. • Wellington, August 16, 1915. AMERICAN TIRES. Sir, —While whispers _ are in tho air as to a probable alteration in tho tariff next Tuesday, and it is vaguely, hinted that tires, cinema films, and other pleasurable commodities will be taxed, it would be as well if tho "powers that be" weighed matters carefully as regards the future in relation to motor tires. The position at presont is as follows: All the high-grade makes of British tires are being requisitioned by the War Office, and the demand is so great that tho makers, in almost every instance have doubled their plants to enable them to supply tho demands of our armies abroad, this has had the result of a shortage of good English tires in this market, the cute Yank: has quickly realised, this, with the result, that. tho country is now flooded with American tires, which are landed quickly from America.

Now consider what will happen when the war is' over, and tlio British manufacturers are relieved from supplying tho armies, and look to this market again. They will find themselves supplanted by tho Yankee manufacturer, and possibly numbers of English workmen will be thrown out of work unless markets can be kept to absorb the output of the largely increased works. It is surely our duty to help the Mother Country in cases like this. A preferential duty of 15 per cent, on American and other foreign tires besides bringing in a large, revenue, would leave this market open for British tires wheal tho makers wore able to supply.—l am, etc., OBSERVER. August 14. ALIEN ENEMIES. Sir—Speaking in the New South Wales Legislative Council, Mr. Oarruthers is alleged to have said that ho thought that the Government should consider whether the time had not oomo to treat all Germans or naturalised Germans as enemies. There were a number of leading citizens of German nationality supplying liquors and other commodities, and in view of the horrible methods employed by tho Germans in the war one had ■ the right to ask whether it was safe to. allow the Germans in' our midst to supply food and drink to our people. . Now, Mr. Editor, I think we may well put this same question to ourselves in this Dominion. Are we right or wise to allow our soldiers whilst in camp to be catered for by Germans of any kind? And is it not approaching the verge of imbecility to allow our yoiuig people to be tutored by men of a nationality which glories in poisoning wells, and in slaughtering helpless and aged people, and in drowning innocent babes? Judging from Mr. Carruthers's remarks, it is evident that public opinion in Australia is rapidly advancing, and I venture to hope that before long public opinion will force our Government to do sc-mething more than merely issue proclamations in Gazettes extraordinary, and afterwards practically ignoring them, and oblige it to tako some effective steps to minimise any risk through individuals of German nationality residing in our midst.—l am, 'ANTI-GERMAN. Masterfon, August 12, 1915. . BIRTH AND NATIONALITY. Sir,—lt is quite evident that neither you'nor tho Defence' Minister (if be tried) are able to answer "Inquirer" or "Britisher," and I think the Irishman's elucidation is the best in liis argument with the Frenchman on the subject. Pat held that a man born in Franco by Irish parents is an Irishman; tho Frenchman hold-that a, man bora in Ireland by French parents is' an Irishman. "No," said Pat, "if the cat has kitten's in the oven, you can't call them biscuits." I believe Pat is right, not you.—l am, etc., J.F. THE LIBRARIES AND THE TROOPS. Sir,—Our boys in hospital in Egypt, Malta, and also those in the firing-lmo are greatly in need of New Zealand illustrated papers. May I suggest that the public libraries throughout New Zealand might assist them, as the Railway Department is now carrying bundles of literature for wounded soldiers in Egypt and elsewhere free of charge. What becomes of tho library weeklies at prosent I would like to know. Do persons well able to-pay for them get them?—l am, etc., PATRIOT. THE VON ZEDLITZ CASE. Sir,—l noticed an article in your, much-read paper of August 10 about, tlio von Zcdlitz case. It is indeed very gratifying to see a paper bring such a subject as this before the people. Now -Wlanrl. /torn one end to tha other,, is

concerned about this case, and when' - we see that tho Aliens Board have decided not to have the Professor interned we feel, as loyal British subjects, that something ought to bo done in this matter. What I want to know is why the Aliens Board should have the power to sa.v whether an unnaturalised German should hold such a prominent position or not. I understood, if not mis» taken, that all unuaturalised Germans should be interned _ during the war. Now. is it fair or just that labouring Germans and those of humbler stations in life should be interned and those liko the Professor allowed to remain in good positions ? Ts it right to make fish of one and flesh of another? Money of uosition should not make any difference/ I am quite suro it would not bo difficult to fill the Professor's place, if that is the reason. There are surely other English professors who could take his place, unless more than likely they (i£ there is a scarcity) are nobly fighting at the front for libery. Better to .have no professors at tho college at all, than enemy subjeots filling our own loyal ones' positions. I, for one, refuse to send my children to the college during tho war as long as Professor yon Zedhtz is in that position, I think if other mothers would look at it in this light that would be one way of gaining our ends. I think that Parliament ought to ba petitioned about it. While perhaps we have nothing personally aaginst ths Professor, the fact remains he is an unnaturalised German, and therefore W not one of us. Thanking you for bring- • intr this matter, before the public.—l am, etc., LOYALTY. ■ TTho Government has never announw ed an intention to intern all unnatural* ised Germans during the war, but the policy adopted has Deen to deal with each case on its merits, so far as in' ternment is concerned. . .