CORRESPONDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 15, 18 January 1905, Page 2

CORRESPONDENT.

AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN V. AUCKLAND. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Aa a cricketer and a keen follower of the game, I sincerely hope that at least 18 players will represent Auckland against the Australians- Only those who have watched the Australians play in test or intercolonial matches know what they have in them, and I am positive that unless we field and bat the above number, the visitors will not require to extend themselves, and the match would create only the partial interest that, it otherwise would. By having the extra number in the field we shall see nice correct timing, excellent placing, and more boundary-bitting. The visitors are quite capable of beating our local 18, and considering they are going Home with the intention of recovering the ashes from Combined England, the little odds here will not hurt them and will help to swell the gate-money out for the three days. If only eleven men play, then the game could be finished off comfortably under two days. To field eleven and bat 18 would be practically useless, as it will be in the attack where all our strength will be required, as the visitors are an unusually strong batting team, and every member is a 'tradesman, so we must expect more than one century against us. In conclusion, I once heard McLaren say that they were not particularly fond of playing against odds, but by doing so they could see the country more, and not make the game so one-sided for the spectators. The eleven always play 18 at Ballarat, Bendigo, Broken Hill, and such towns where the cricket is equal to Auckland. —I am, etc, CRICKETER. THE LAND COMMISSION. c (To the Editor.) Sir, —Next to the personnel of the Land Commission nothing can be more important to the public than a knowledge of the exact issues upon which the Commission is to decide. It is well, therefore, that the case for the people as a whole should be presented in as clear a manner as possible. There is no danger of private interests being under-repre-sented; for the Crown tenant, who wants the freehold has a strong incentive to placing his case prominently before the Commission. The Crown lands of New Zealand are now all that remain to the people of their national estate. Again, if the tenant regards the freehold as valuable, why does he claim that the State should give it up for anything less than the full market value? It is not good business, and no private landowner would think of doing such thing. But the moral aspect of the case is still stronger. Land values are created by the community as a whole and, therefore, should belong to the community. And, as J. S. Mill remarks, when any individual takes up as his exclusive property that which is the property of all, he does, prima facie, an injustice to all. And as the State is supposed to deal out equal justice without fear or favour, it is morally bound to retain the public lands for the people. But the mere retention by the State of existing Crown lands will not finally solve the land problem. The question of taxation has also to be faced. Land values all over the colony have increased during the last ten years at the rate of over £2.000,000 per annum (vide Parliamentary return 820, of 1903, and other official "papers), yet the land tax has remained almost stationary during the same period. That a substantial portion of this increase should go to the Crown is, in view of the possibility of further tightness in the money market, not only just but in the highest degree expedient.—l am, etc., CITIZEN. A CARRIER'S GRIEVANCE. (To the Kditor.) Sir—The carriers here have a grievance re # shipping goods. The man hands in the 'consignment note, in most cases to be merely stamped, but is often kept waiting an incredible time. Now, sir, this is often a serious matter, as perhaps he is only receiving 1/0 or 2/ for a small job, and is anxious to get away, yet the clerks look at you all serenely, and move about in a most leisurely manner. I consider the companies are not free from blame, as in some instances the clerk seems to have rather much to do when there is a rush on, and shoxild have assistance nt such times and be instructed to let the carriers away as soon as possible, and give them 1 chance to make a day's pay-—I am. etc., CARRIER.

COWDESrSKI* COBRESPOHDENCS Mr. James de Berg forwards his views on the subject of harbour improvement. He considers that sewers should be carried out to the running stream, and so <\o away with the expansive septic tank system.' He recommends the reclamation of the forishorc, t'roui Pon-tonby to the Watchman, from thence in a northerly ' .'irection. to the south edge of the outer chnaneK tlier.ee in an eaifcviy direction, V:ej»i"ic the ciie;.; of tl:.- cliaf!ff» ! :\'\ irrc viy to chr- middle of Qur-e.i-trw wharf. In effect this reclamation h ■ propose' a railway siding al one of the volcme mountains for ths purpose of coiiveyii:«« scoria to the harbour. Mr. L. Waling, writing wlO) reference to the proposed harbour works, expresses the opinion that "T!ie new Railway wharf, when built, rro'withsftrtding that it will run between 500 and 000 feet further out in the harbour than the preset', structure, will still be only fit for ssantl and she;! boats, u.itil something between £50.000 and '£70.000 is spent in rutting out the rook. Until this is dene no C:c;.rdraught ship will be able to Ue a'oogside it. This rock should be taken away before the wharf is built. foT should i! b" done, after being built the outride pi!?s will be left suspended from the top. Auckland will never beat Wellington unless we make it a cheat) port, and S2>3-Ti-ing millions will not effect this. Mr Charles H. Thompson, writing from Mamaku. says: ''It is now fifteen rlaya since 1 left Auckland City for Wc'iiti-r----ton, and up to the present I have oniy accomplished one-third of the trip. As an Englishman only four and a half months in this colony, I must confess that I have been agreeably surprised with the great possibilities, agriculturally speaking, of what it has been my privilege to' view. As an amateur swagger, though there are here, ns anywhere else, a sprinkling of pessimists, still I do not hesitate to state that the majority of the people are out and out optimists, having a faith in the destiny of their country and adopted land. Apart from the fields of agriculture and the knowledge one Is capable of gaining by living in porsonal touch with the farmers and commercial element, I find also a wish that New Zealand, as a co'ony, should be represented in naval defence on a larger scale consonant with its ! popularity and dignity."

Mr. Lionel Terry writes: "In view of the approaching contest, freehold v. leasehold, it is essential that the people of the country should have the matter placed before them in a clear and truthful manner, and it is deplorable that unscrupulous or foolish persons should be allowed to. make use of the public, press, with the apparent object of misleading and mystifying the people in a matter which represents the very foundation of the prosperity of the colony. The attempt made by one correspondent to identify Government leasehold in this country with the disgraceful system of tenure which crushed the heart out of Ireland is, to say the least, despicable." Mr. Harker, Mount Albert, sends us a copy of a letter which he has addressed to a London newspaper, stating that there exists a good opening here for an export egg and produce merchant, as the prices current are below the cost of production. In the course of his letter Mr. Harker states: "This is the finest climate in the world. As an old poor law guardian for the City of London (St. Dunstan's, in the East), let mc tell you that here I have never seen a beggar in the streets, and that poverty such as is known to you is absolutly unknown here." W.E.W. writes expressing the opinion that it is a patriotic thing to support the Government Fire Insurance Department, in order to make that institution a success.