OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2870, 4 December 1890, Page 4

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

(rno.M on: owx comiLspoxiuiN'T.)

Svdskv, November I - .'. Now that the strike is over, and society ia no longer in danger of an attempted "re-construction" at the hands of the labour agitator, the ordinary interests of life begin to claim attention. I can't honestly say that they have to any great extent been neglected by the rank and (ile of our busy population. The theatres, the racecourses, anil the thousand and one resorts of the pleasure-seekers have been as well attended as if there had never been any doubt whether the country was going to be governed from Macqnarie-strcec or t he Maritime Hall in Sussex-street. However, when one comes to think of it, it is the inertia of the grain?: of sand on the beach which keeps the ocean from passing its bonnds. Individually tiiey are tossed and whirled about by the snrf They exert no power except that of settling down wherever they may be as soon as they are allowed. But this collective inertia is sufficient to interpose an effectual barrier against the turbulence of the mo3t violent storm. Human inertia, indifference, apathy, call it what you will, is denounced not only by the would-be innovator, but by the moralist and the prcacher. There can be no doubt, however, that, like its humble type and image, it plays an important part iu social economy.

The " Lonir Strike ' was the title of one play produced by a Sydney manager, but it didn't "catch on" worth a cent. The writer was ovidenLly of opinion that under certain circumstances a strike might be a very ruinous and destructive piece of business, and he entirely failed to glorify his subject, as the Labour Defence Committee would have desired. Consequently the word was passed along from Sussex-street that the "Long Strike " was unworthy the support of Lhe "working man,'" aud he stayed away accordingly, Employers, on the other hand, were Loo much harassed by the realities of the strike to care about having another one dished up as a counterfeit presentment. Our brightest dramatic stars al present are Airs I'otter and Mr Bollew, who shine in the modern drama. ■Mr Rignold, at the Criterion, is angling for the public willi " Called Back, - ' but has in contemplation a production of '• The Merry Wives of Windsor." Very soon pantomime will begin to engage attention.

Polities are beginning to take a more defined shape. The Premier presumably feels that he can rely on tho support nf the section of the Opposition which is opposed to a crisis, lie has introduced a new Electoral Bill which proposes some sweeping changes. It it is carried no electorate will return more than one member ami uo elector will have more than one vote. Changes in this direction have long been demanded by the democratic section and the Bill, therefore, so far as these points are concerned should receive a great deal of support from both sides of the House. More questionable is the fate of tho proposal to confer the suffrage on females, which, though it has the support of many advanced thiukcra has scarcely as yet entered into the realm of practied polities. The Council is busy with n moasuro of medical reform which aspires at conferring amonoplyof medical practico upon persons whose qualifications have been approved by the medical Board. Undoubtedly great abuses are perpetrated by advertising quacks. But still the fact remains that with practical Free-trade in such matters tho death-rate in New South Wales is much lower than that of Victoria, where professional trades-unionism has long since been triumphant. There is one good feature, however, in tho bill, aud it to be found iu the feature which makes it penal to pretend to be the possessor of fictitious degress or diplomas. Let tho possession of a diploma go for all it is worth aud rigorously punish those who endeavour to practice under false protences. But when all this is done it must not be forgotten that no amount of college education or Hospital practice will mike anything but a grave-yard-filler out of a born fool and that many who have not had any special advantages in the way of scholastic training have yet an insight and tact". which I'liahles them to attain a s.:e ■*■»< in h"aling which many regular praetimieis covet in vain. Tile late Professor Kirk, for instance, cured patients by hundreds by commonplace apnlicalions of simple means after the orthodoi practionera of pill ami potion had given thcui up in dispair. Any legislating uiiioh confers exclusive privileges on the latter is strongly 10 be deprecated.

Or. Koch'a announcement that he Inn discovered a cure for consumption lias nalnrally caused considerable sensatiou atnoir.; u;. One benevolent member of Parliament lias gone uo far as to rcquubt the Government to take steps to secure it. for New South Wales. And this, be it borne in inind, before auy one kuov..l what the cure is, or whether it possesses any remedial virtue or uot. Thousands of infallible "cures" have been proclaimed to the world before now, but not one el them has stood tho teat of experiment. Even vaccination, which has been more ;a:mlely and abjectly worshipped than auy other of the medical fetishes which preceded it. ; ; nir.e condemned by an authority like the /... ];>i- ! and a Royal Commission is once more ini|uirinx into the subject, to see if it is possible to :.'ive so lucrative a prac tico a Utile longer lease of life. The truth of the matter appears to me to be that the possible maximum of health, whether in the individual or the community, depends on tho measure of obedience to the laws of heath—sanitary, hygienic, physiological, and so ori. Medical science to be passim; through a stage similar to that which physical and chemical science experienced in the middle ages. No sane parson now spends his time in searching lor some cunning " doclrjc " whereby lie can obti'.in perpetual motion or transmute dross into gold. The reign of law ii acknowledged in these matters. But reputedly orthodox medical practitioners still cherish the hope that they can bring the rosy goddess of health out of a little diseased albumen on the point of a lancet ! Hope springs eternal in the human breast, and is the mainspring of all curative and remedial efforts. But hope that allies itself to stupid or inteMMted credulity is manifestly doomed Id bo disappointed. The danger that exi-tts in this direction is shown by the unwillingness t<> recognise truths that are obvious and .-elf-evident, and on tho other hand, by the avidity with which paradoxical absurdities are swallowed if they only pronii ;es the saving of trouble and pretend to dispense with the primal tiomwxity of patient application and selfdenial. {Joinuteu-ially, wo hope for a fpeedy revive! of bnijinu).-. now Hi it 'he strike is at in end. It has dealt 11. heavy blow ai '.lie in ri.il pro-1 ,ty of Australia, and hi"Oi i.iiiployersand employed ;i, lu':' wliu-ti prelj.ibly amount, to uul i ..., ;i. niiiii'iu ul money. t>ut thero 1 , every reason that the im.ii'e vigour of the will enable then to recuperate very quickly, and tle.it the lessons which have been loarnci hv ijoth sides will .-iand them in g .0.l ,-t.:.<l. In Sydney I''miu)'.r lets been ~m l 11 : mo 4 cautious He de jor a 1 tint •. -.m) pnivijod i iree.m .;.:inee:i are j-i-y.i.i.u.', a re. action may be locked tor. All ih" yi have been i.'.pi'etiiig it. But lirs;, e ,;ue a drought, then a prolonged season of excessive, rain, and lhen, jnsr, when hope wiim blossoming toward. Inulem, everything v.'as paralysio i,y iiie .'-tiikc. .Meanwhile, however, have be' -e. Istteniog, eroji.-i leue been ;.oi>\\ iiiiL', and nature ill short, has Ij"cii doing nil alio could lor us. It may yet happen, that the end of ISliO may be oe.ich more prosperous '.nan the beginning, if not hiiii- else intervenes to strangle the healthy demand for these kindly fruits of the earth. One source of activity, however, will i).. elosed to us. The London money jru' which •:ii].p!ic'i the -;iuoW3 vf

war for public works, is very stringent, aucl it would be impossible to contract auy fresh loans except on ruinous terms. Fortunately this colony has still a million or so to its credit, which ought to carry us along till well into the next year. Victoria is in much worsu plight, for she has been compelled to resort to the Associated BaDks to secure the retirement of £850,000 worth of debentures, which fall in at the end of the current year. The tightness in Loudon will also throw the Colonial banks upon Colonial depositors, for the money iu which they deal. At present they are offering higher rates to depositors in London than they are willing to give to those who have the commaud of money here. It is possible that we may see before long a change in this respect, and that it may be accompanied to some extent by a calling in or contraction of advances.