CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2315, 7 October 1908, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

fCorrespondence on public in-iitcsrs is welcomed at all times, but it must bo distinctly understood that journal is in no. way assoc a cd with the opinions of its correspondents..]

THE PRIZE EIGHT. [To TUF, Editor.] Sir,—Wo livo in a marvellous age of discoveries in tlio arts and sciences, many of which conduce to the relief of the sufferings of mankind, and as such are ‘.o bo highly valued. But, Sir, many of thoir products are highly injurious in inspect to their effects on the nior.il awl mental faculties. Wo lately have had. through the cnblogram agency published in our papors throughout the Dominion full details of tlio horribly demoralising prize light-. Now, Sir, ns though that draught of hideousness was not sufficient our local papers inform us that a public exhibition is to bo mndo for tliroo nights of tlio pictures of tlio two combatants trying to maim and half kill each other. This is stated with .a grandiloquent flourish of trumpets to attract our easily excitable and .impressionable young people, especially. Sir, I know of one case where the peace of a family was broken up by the mischievous effects oil the mind of a youth by witnessing theso lifelike exhibitions of a murderous tendency. Many people think we live in an ago whoro oxcitement is far too much sought after by great numbers of people. I would desire to urge on all guardians of our young people that they strain every effort by pel-suasion or authority to keep their youth away from such contaminating influences. We condemn the Spaniards for tlioir bull fights, and allow and encourage witnessing two of our fellow creatures with eternal destinies boforo them to exorcise the strength tlioir Creator has given them to endeavor to disfigure and possibly kill each other under the profession of pugilism. Away with such heathenism in this twentieth century of A.D. —I am, etc., J. PECKOVER.

“ALL IS NOT GOLD.”

[To tub Editor.] Sir, —What an array of •authorities you quote this morning from the “Wellington Post” as to the why and wherefor of money stringency ! And such a jumble of reasons they give! •Even you yourself. Sir, with the omniscienco of an editor, do not clear up matters. But the" facts . are not doubtful, and before drawing conclusions -it is necessary to get at the facts. The patent facts are : (1.) That money is “tight” all round. (2.) That products generally, and wool in particular, have all of a sudden, and without apparent adequate reason, fallen 50 per cent, in price. (3.) That nevertheless we all need the sanio quantity of food and other products, and are anxious both to produce and to consume thorn. Now, what has money to do with the supplying of tlio wants of human beings: 1 If we had our desks full of sovereigns, and thore were no bread, clothing and other necessaries, tlio money would not be of any use to us. Wo should die. How has money managed to got between us and tlio supplying of our needs? For tko solo object of money is to onablo us to deal with each other in exchanging those necessaries; it is the means or machinery established by law for that purpose. The only feasible explanation one can give is that we do not reflect sufficiently—we are apt to havo a confused way of looking at things. It is a common fallacy to take possession of our minds that money is wealth, which most certainly it is not: it is only the measurer of wealth. Products alone are real wealth. And so we follow strango courses, under bad guidance. We permit private persons to control and regulate the supply of money for measuring wealth according as they ca'n make profit by doing so, and not according as it may serve the needs arid interest of the public, lieuco we have existing among us the system of private banking for profit. And wo are at the mercy of such bankers. And so, just at the moment, when our producers specially .require money for exchange purposes,—in a crisis, that is—the private banker draws his purse strings tight,, and not only says “no more,” but calls up what is owing. I admit, of course, his difficulties, but be is permitted to trade with the money of depositors, and when depositors call for their money the banker must find it, no matter how much the farmer or trader requires accommodation. And so he circularises his customers and requires them to pay up. And then come wreck and ruin. Bankers at times, as well as customers, go down. Max Nordau says quite truly : “Financial crises are the piston strokes by which the capitalistic classes transfer the earnings of the people into their own reservoirs.” The Big Fish do not mind small fry bankers going down at times along with the producer if necessary for their purpose. I do not believe that any thinking person can honestly come to any other conclusion than that the present crisis—for I supposo it may be called a crisis—is a manufactured crisis, the result of money being under private, instead of under .public control. And, periodically disastrous results must follow from the - simple fact of the measure of wealth—money—being allowed to be supplied to the public forprofit to private persons. Private interest iis pitted against the public weal, and the law sanctions that.— I am, etc., W. SIEVWRIGHT. Gisborne, October 6. THE LANDING OF CAPTAIN COOK AND THE DAY ON WHICH HE TOOK POSSESSION OF NEW ZEALAND.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —It will be remembered that at the opening of the so-called Cook monument in 1906 the Hon. C. H. Mills said that, as a representative of Marlborough, ho took a great interest in Captain Cook, as it was in Queen Charlotte Sound where the British flag was first unfurled. To this statement I took exception at tho time, but he insisted that liis statement was correct, audit was there that- the Hag that has braved for a thousand years the battle and the breeze was first hoisted. However, after looking up history again, lio admitted that it had been hoisted at Mercury Bay on November lot'll, 1769, .and that I was right to a certain extent: As tho 169th anniyeisary of Cook’s landing is again closo at hand, I would like to draw the attention of all those interested and who adore the name of the great- navigator to tho fact that it was here, close to the mouth of. the Turanganui river, that the British flag was first flown and possession taken ot

tho country. That an honor belongs to Poverty Ba'y seems to mo not very gonorally known, or if it is, it is thought of very littlo consequence. Yet wo see on Dominion Day flags all up on shipping' and buildings—for what? A fad of Sir Joseph Ward s, changing tho name from colony to Dominion. Tho thing is not worth talking about; but boro wo havo got tho making of a nation and tlio landing of tho first white man, that greatest of all navigators, Captain James Cook, the hoisting of tho British flag and tho taking formal possession oi tho country for thp King. Aro those ovonts not worth 'celebrating? Unhesitatingly I say no. A\ o have pu t up a sham monument to his memory with tlio names ofjsomo 100 mon on it, who havo no more right to have thoir names engraved alongside Captain Cook’s than, that .ot J o Kooti. I say it is a standing disgrace to tins district mid to those who took-part in it, and makes-us tho laughing stock of tho whole of tho Dominion. I took tho trouble to go’ round and drapo tho monument with tho British onsmn, and cover over those troopers names which disfigure the stone on last' anniversary day, and intend to do it again this time; but I hope lieforo long to sec them permanently removed and honor dono to tho man to whosomomory the stone was erected. To prove that lam right, I will mako a few quotations from Cook’s journal: . “In tho morning, October 9th, wo saw several of tho nntives where .hoy iiad been seen tho night before. As I was desirous to establish an intercourse with them, I ordered tliroo boats to ho manned with seamen and marines, and pro- * ceeded towards the shore. accompanied by Mr Banks, Dr Solander, the other gentlemen, and Tapia. On the marines being landed, they marched with a Jack carried beforo them to a little bank, about 50 yards from tho waterside. Here they were drawn up, and I again advanced with Mr Banks and Dr. Solander, Tupia, Mr Green, and Mr Monbliouse being with us.” Now, Dr Hawkesivorth, who edited Cook’s Journal, does not siy that possession was taken of the country, but Sydney Parkinson, the draughtsman, who also kept a journal, says that “after having falcon possession of the country in form for the King, our company embarked, and went round the bay in search of water. Now, I think most people will admit that this is where possession of (he country avas first taken, and not at Mercury Bay or Queen Charlotte s Sound. What were the marines landed for and marched to tho top of the little bank if it was not to fire a saluto when the flag was hoisted ? I would suggest that His Worship tho Mavor proclaim the half-holiday on Friday, the 9th of October, instead of the Thursday, and that a salute he fired on. tho occasion.—l am, etc.,_ G. J. BLACK.