The Daily News WEDNESDAY, MAY 9. MISDIRECTED HUMANISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8105, 9 May 1906, Page 2

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, MAY 9. MISDIRECTED HUMANISM.

We are reminded, by the recent passing of the thirteenth year of Mr Seddon's premiership, that the chief reason of his success has been his remarkahle promptness. Should anything occur in this country worth telling the Old Country, the Premier is the first to tell it. Visionary legislators with ideas have) suggested many reforms, but have passed away without effecting them. With Mr Seddon, the act follows the thought, and immediately. He is up-to-date and business-like, and he allows no opportunity to pass of showing to the world the thoroughness of New Zealand. To use a common sporting expression, Mr Seddon is "always there when the bell rings." Sometimes he is on time, and at other times he beats the clock.

In our humble opinio", in one of his latest acts of " humanism " he decidedly beat the clock. He was the first person to get to the wire when the San Francisco horror was made public news, and his first instinct was to offer to wire away £SOOO to the sufferers. The fact that the citizens were in a country which is positively reeking with money did not matter. They must have New Zealand money. New Zealand Was not asked whether it would permit the money to go. The Premier's humanism brooked no delay, and required no permission from the owners of the money. The small, unimportant fact that America has some shipping laws that harass New Zealand considerably, and prevent this country from sending ships on American coasting trips, is one reason why New Zealand might show sympathy, but give no cash. The fact that America gaoled Harper, a New Zealand bank clerk, who had the temerity to take a job in the States, is also a reason why we should refuse to go into hysterics and give cash to a country whose " ten thousand " are particularly neb, and whose particularly rich people are at this moment trying to obtain a "cinch" on New Zealand industries. The San Francisco disaster killed over a thousand people, and destroyed many millions of dollars' worth of property. The millionaire owners of the property are able to re-erect 'Frisco merely because it would not pay them to leave it in ruins. And from Monday's cables it would seem that they are losing no time in the rebuilding operations.

While Mr Seddon rushes to the telegraph office with offers of money, may we ask why he does not rush to the telegraph office with offers of large sums when our black fellowsubjects in India die in myriads of starvation every two or three years ? Our allies in Japan at, this moment are starving in thousands. What about £SOOO for them? Fifteen thousand for a statue of the late Queen Victoria for England may be " humanism," but we call it waste, and the 'Frisco £SOOO is on a par. Every session, small, imploring bodies of men go to Wellington and interview Ministers. They want a few chains or a few miles of roads to make it possible to get out of their holdings and take their produce to the market or the creamery or the town. Hundreds of these deputations, many of which only want, a hundred or two pounds, are sent empty away. Why? Because we must have money for hysterical subjects, and must be " humanists." Every year is spent au enormous sum of money on the upkeep of the Tourists and Health Resorts Department. | The tourist, who as a payable asset is not to be compared for a moment vith the farmer, must have routes and places to stay, and a huge, highly gilt staff of officials to see to his coinoort, while John Cocksfoot, farmer, and his team get bogged day in day out, year after year.

There are settlers in remote districts in New Zealand who have prayed without ceasing for help to carry a telephone along the fences, so that their wives and families may not die for lack of medical help, quickly summoned. It may be " humanism "to refuse them, but it looks a good deal like barbarism. The eyes of the world may bo on New Zealand, but the eyes of the world don't see beneath the surface of the cable. The eyes do not see tho hopeless, helpless farmer and his family cut off from everything that makes life worth living, and the world does not hear his cries. They are heard in Wellington, and no heed is given to them. The powers that be proceed on the as sumption that it is best to "oat, di-iiak, and be merry, for to-morrow we die." And if the back-bloeker dies before to-morrow, what matter? A telephone or a decent road might have saved him ? Well, didn't we show our " humanism " by buying a block of marble for London and giving largely to heavily gilded America ? Instead ot the " scatter-cash " policy being pursued in New Zealand at the present time, we should bo going extremely slow, for it is going to be hard in the future to make a living unless the powers that be "take a pull." There is a limit to the endurance of Uncle Cohen Bull, and if that estimable money-lender happened t,o want cash from us to-mor-row it could not be done. It is to be hoped that the gentleman with the Union Jack waistcoat will have enough " humanism " to forget to foreclose before our enterprising Premier has a chance of wiring away some more thousands to poople who don't need them.

At Eitliam on Tuesday, Harry j Worsley was arrested by Constable Eedican on a charge of alleged criminal assault upon a girl about 14 years of age. He is a married man, and was employed in Ellliam as a cart driver.

l'ho Foxton correspondent of the Palmcrston "Evening Standard" hears that a couple of sports; men had rather an unpleasant experience while canoeing on one of the lakes watching for ducks. While in the middle of the lake the canoe suddenly sank, and the occupants found themselves struggling in the water. By desperate efforts they managed to reach a small island, and there they remained for nine hours, until they were eventually rescued by a Maori, who brought them ashore in a boat.

The Secretary of the Post Office advises that the San Francisco mail service has been temporarily abandoned. There will be no despatch by that route on the 25th inst., nor on June 16th. The service will be resumed by the steamer leaving San Francisco for New Zealand on th l 31st inst. In the meantime, the Sui'Z, A r ancouver, or direct serviee will be utilised, as may be most advantageous.

Last night the New Plymouth Literary Society debated the question, " Should the Chinese be admitted into New Zealand." Mr Dawson led in the affirmative, and was supported by Miss Lewis, Messrs Cocker, Long, and Ambury. The negative view was taken by Mr Staples, supported by Messrs White and Gaukrodger. The meeting affirmed the present immigration arrangements, The Society decided to continue its meetings in tho Baptist Church. Mr W. H. Skinnor, the President was in the chair, and there was an excellent attandance.

Exports of dairy produce are steadily decreasing. The quantity shipped by the Corinna this week from New Plymouth was 3541 boxes of butter, and 545 cases of cheese, as against the corresponding shipment in 1905 of 667 boxes of butter. A fortnight ago 6607 boxes of butter were shipped from the New Plymouth Grading Works. Tho corresponding shipment in 1905 was only 1359 boscs. Every box graded is now being exported, none being stored at these works. It is worthy of note that those dairy factories, which have recently been exporting fresh butter, have now commenced the manufacture of saltod butter.

A Canadian reporter of a Southern paper remarks-Owing to the political system under which, our magistrates are appointed, we do not always hare the law administered by m»n of technical qualification. Up in tho Abittibi country, through which the new trans-continental railway will pass, the representative of a Montreal fur house was found with 775 beaver skins in his possession, contrary to the game laws of tlie province. Tho offender was taken before a magistrate, who reasoned that the possession of each skin was a separate offence. Therefore, on tho basis of £4 per skin, he impressed a £3IOO fine. This the culprit refused to pay. The alternative fixed by law being three months' imprisonment for each offence, this marvellous magistrate then solemnly sentenced the guilty party to 185 years in gaol! When tho facts were known in Montreal, an appeal to the Supreme Court was heard, and the sentence wits reduced to a fine of £4.