CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 250, 19 October 1904, Page 10

CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr E. H. Potter sends another long' letter expounding his views with regard to the Sailors' Home, but as we iuri already published three letters from Mr Potter on this subject, and as heal-, vances nothing in ins latest communication that he has not already said before, we cannot, in the present crowded state of our columns, pjnce more space at "his disposal. Mr John Johnson, writing on the subject of teachers' salaries, considers t_at it is not desirable to draw our ablest men from other occupations by offering special inducements to. enter the teaeh-t ing profession. He says the mechanic and labourer work much longer hours, their pay is greatly affected by weather conditions, and the teacher receives an extra remuneration in social status and the honour paid him. Mr A. Sanford sends a further- letter in reply to "Barlow" and A. Merlon on the subject of .rent . and wages, but it adds nothing to tin arguments advanced in his previous communications. With regard to the action of the Government in arrajj ing with Lloyds for reinsurances fir the State Fire Department, hs says tt) Government, under the Advances to Settlers Act, is really only a collectn for English financiers. The mortgages paid off were mostly held in the colony. He adds: "Money rules the world, and we through this State agency are helping to concentrate all the power to non-residents, who do not even buy our products unless we can produce them cheaper and give better value that can be bought from other parts of-the world. There are two sides to; every question, and it may be that the money, represented by mortgages has been reinvested in the colony and helped to create industries, which in turn causes a demand for more money, and althougii interest was lowered for a short time; the extra stimulant to industry'gate us power to use more money, and in* terest has again gone up." Mr G. D. O'Keelly says Lord Hastings who died recently must not he confounded with the Marquis of Hastings 'wha lost a fortune in backing his mare, Lady Elizabeth. That noble sportsmn died in 1869, aged 26. Mr Thos. W. Smith, of Kaitaia-sends a letter commenting upon Dr. Bakewell's remarks on intolerance in Ireland, but this correspondence has ah 1 ready been closed. I Mis L. Smith, Mangere, inquires whether anyone can furnish her with the date when the ship Apollo sailed from Glasgow for New Zealand. "Anti-Slave" regrets that some employers refused their men a holiday l n » .Labour Day. He says: "Not only that, but I am told the representative of one firm used his influence to prevent-the ! employees of another firm in the city getting the whole day, though the latter firm has been most liberal in giving the privilege (?) in former years. Whence this 'mild coercion'? Is it being generally exercised? Is it Labour Day "' Capital v. Labour Day in Auckland, and thus the initial step in a state of things a la America?" •'Another Wood Turner" writes: "One ■ would hardly think that in a civilised country like New Zealand, with' itlabour" law-, etc., a workman would jbe remunerated at 20/ per wees for skilled work. Such has been the fact in this fair city of Auckland. Tn ß workman referred to, a wood-turner by trade, is physically afflicted, but he has received as much as £2 a week for his work since the low wages mentioned were paid to him. He now lies helpl-S* at the Auckland Hospital."' Sir, —I sometimes have a chat with boys on their way to school, and the other day 1 met one in Grafton road,'and asked if he was playing the wag? |he replied: I am at business. How old a* 3 you ? Fourteen. Can you do the multiplication table? Yes," and fractions to boof. Very good. Now, can you fe" mc if you get a herring and a half i° r three bawbees (half-pennies) how m- 111 ? do you get for elevenpence? That's very easy, he replied. But for all that he -I 1 ed most completely after some half-do**; 11 attempts, and then he bolted, but he « not the only one who has been puzzled Df that simple question, especially, ii ity a asked rather hurriedly.—l am, etc, -v