CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 168, 15 July 1908, Page 8

CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE.

Liqun write?: "The thanks of the residents of Auckland's marine suburbs are duo to Mr Napier for his efforts on their behalf in opposing the Dcvonport Ferry Co.'s application to cancel their time-table during fteet week, and I trust the Harbour Board will consider the matter carefully before granting their request. Sir Leonard W. Blake, Box 363 P. 0., Christ-church, writes stating that having read in the Press that George Thomas Cald-eck. the composer of the Queen's favourite tune, "Peace, perfect peace," was in a state of destitution in London, he has resolved to collect subscriptions on his behalf and forward them to a London Church Institute which knows all about the case. "Observer," writing on Socialism, says the. condition of sweated labour in London, as described by the Press, makes one ask whether we are not all children of ono Heavenly Father, and entitled to have a fair share of the good things of this life. He thinks that efforts are needed to make things much better than they are.

"C.E." writes on the subjwjT of the charges pawnbrokers make, and the opposition offered to the bill now before Parliament. He considers that the interest they can charge is excessive, and comes especially hard upon men who, through sickness and want of employment, have to pawn tools or sewing machines. He says: "State pawnshops, as they have in France, would be the thing, where the interest does not exceed four or five per cent." "Brasso" writes: "In Auckland city we have six brass bands affiliated with the X.1.8.8. Association. As such they have played in our various parks; on July 19th, or near, they again propose to play together. If on such occasions as these they can unite for their own good, or the benefit, financially, of others, may I ask why two or three of the bands are securing, or have secured, a 'corner' of engagements for fleet week? Surely it is most unfair that two brass bands get six engagements each at about £10 per night—or ■ total of about £ 60—for such services. What about the other bands that are affiliated? The weaker bands have a just claim to be given, if not six, surely one or more engagements in the course of fleet week festivities." Mr R. Wray, replying to the statement that the German Socialists lost 36 sea.ts at the last election, says they gained 250,000 votes. He thinks that "a sufficient answer to what happened at Brest is given by the successful municipal ownership by city corporations in Britain of trams, gas, electricity, telephones, baths, and many other undertakings, part of the profits being allocated to the relief of rates. Bolton, in Lancashire, last year allocated out of municipal profits the sui of £37,000 to the relief of rates, equal to a shilling rate." "Semper Fidelis" writes: "Re what 1 may term 'fleet Sunday, , might I suggest that arrangements be -made whereby a detachment of officers and men could attend divine service at each of the various churches and missions in our city on Sunday, August 9?" " Unemployed " writes, contrasting Mr. Millar's statement that the birth-rate i 3 falling off to such an alarming extent, that there is cause to fear that in the near future there will not be sufficient white population to carry on the industries of the Dominion, with the statement of a young Irishman (with a trade), who has not been able to get employment since his landing at Wellington, and the meeting of unemployed convene! by the Socialists in Auckland. He says: "Boys seem to be wanted for all sorts of work, but vrhei once or twice a month a man is advertised for, the crowd of unemployed who meet outside the place where the job is to be got is heartbreaking." "Agricultural and Pastoral" considers that 245. per week, with bedding and board, awarded by the Arbitration Court in Chrietchurch for station hands, is. a very fair wage, and more than equivalent to wages paid to dairy employees, who work much harder. He says that Hawke's Bay runholders have paid 255. to 30s. per week without unions or Arbitration Courts. '"Perth" complains of the conduct of certain well-dressed men in following and speaking to ladies who have occasion to be out alone at, night. He thinks that some of the offenders should be brought to book. ' "A Disappointed Student" adds his protest to those which have already appeared against the action of the Board of Education in refusing to grant school holidays in Fleet Week. He says that Grammar School pupils only have Monday and other half day, and these limited privileges are curtailed in the case of the cadets by being called out for duty on Monday. "A Journeyman Tailor" sends a strong appeal to his fellow-workers against adopting any Course that will lead to the repeal of the Arbitration Act, which he declares, from his own experience and observation, has been of immense benefit to the workers. To go back to the old condition of industrial warfare would, he says, be most suicidal. Regarding dissatisfaction with Court awards, he remarks that unions cannot expect to get all they ask. Their conditions of work aro being steadily improved, and it is to their- interest to observe the awards and steadily strive in a legitimate way for what they consider their iust rights. He believes that there would be much less dissatisfaction if unions got rid of professional secretaries, who stir Up strife. The Rev. J. J. North, Wellington, objects to the holding of a race meeting during Fleet Week. He says that horseracing is prohibited in the States of Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas, and its prohibition in Louisiana and • Kentucky is pending. New York has prohibited betting at race meetings, and bur correspondent is of opinion that if this rule were enforced in connection with the fleet race meeting there would be little objection to it. Mr. J. Dempsey, Remuera, protests against the Drainage Bill on the ground that it embodies the principle of taxation without representation, and is, in his opinion, intended to compel the suburban districts to merge their identity in a Greater Auckland. He specially objects to clause 5. He concludes: "In regard to the scheme itself, I think all are agreed that it is a good one—the best that engineering skill can devise within the limits of our financial resources. One that will tend largely to make Auckland City and suburbs the healthiest and most desirable place of residence in the Dominion Drainage is wanted, and wanted qnickly. Why then endanger the progress of the scheme by thrusting down the throats of the suburban districts such a one-sided measure?—(with Greater Auckland written large all over it). As far as Remuera is concerned no opposition is offered to the scheme, although we take great risk, in having the wholesewage of a large city dumped on our foreshore; but we take decided exception to the bill as now drafted. We ask no favour from any district: we are prepared to pay for all benefits received. All we request is fair representation and just and equitable taxation."