THE SUEZ CANAL DUES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 135, 8 June 1911, Page 4

THE SUEZ CANAL DUES.

Sir Joseph Ward has once more performed a distinct service to the whole Empire by drawing attention to "the extortionate charges imposed on vessels passing through the Suez Canal. The grievances of which our Premier complains have demanded redress for many years in vain; and in England it is difficult even to get a 'hearing for them. Two years ago the "Daily Telegraph", declared that Sir Joseph Ward was the only public man in the Empire Who had persistently protested against these excessive charges. "British opinion is apathetic, and the shipowners seem now to have thrown up the sponge, finding the British Governsnent determined to get all the revenue possible out of the irrvestinent made by Lord Beaconsfield." Certainly, England has done remarkably well out of her investment. The original cost of our 176,000 shares was a trifle over £4,000,000, apd to-day they, are valued at considerably over £31,000,000, and are' paying a 6 per cent, dividend. But while it is natural that England, as the largest shareholder,. should be inclined to keep up the charges, it must not be forgotten that most of the shipping that passes through the canal flies the British flag, and that it is not to England's interest to cripple her own oversea trade. It is true that large sums have been spent in widening the Canal; with the result that, whereas a vessel took about 48 hours to get through, she can now clear the canal in 17 hours. ' Since 1575, when England practically gained control of the canal, the charges on cargo boats have been cut down 25 per cent., but the dues paid by passenger Steamers remain unchanged ; and it is contended that the enormous profits made and-the immense increase of traffic would "ustify a liberal reduction on the charges. The stockholders apparently rely on the fact that the canal is absolutely indispensable; but it certainly seems bad policy to tax traffic at inordinate rates with the result of crippling maritime enterprise, and improving the prospects of such a rival as the Panama Canal.

The Auckland Racing Club's Winter Meeting was. concluded at __er__e yesterday, when there was -another large attendance. The principal event of the day was won by the Hawera-owned horse Snu__, while the Winter Steeplechase fell to the local horae Antarctic During the day there wa3 a couple of accidents, but for■t_——_y neither was of a serious nature; in the Steeplechase Sol fell, his rider, J. Brady, receiving a nasty cut over the eye, but was able to ride later. In the Fitzroy Welter, B. Deeley, who had the mount on the favourite, was struck in the face with part of a shoe thrown by a horse in the race, receiving q badly contused eye, which prevented him riding in the last event of the day.

The trouble that occurred in Wellington with regard to the payment of grocers' assistants for the Wednesday afternoon before the King's Birthday (3rd June' lis to he tested iv the Magistrate's Court. The -birthday occurred on the Saturday, on which day the grocers Shut, but they kept their premises open on the preceding Wednesday afternoon. T_ey were informed by the .Labour Department that they would have to pay assistants overtime rates lor the Wednesday afternoon, and on Monday the Advisory Board of the Employers' Federation discussed the matter with the Minister of Labour (Hon. J. A. Millar). The Minister pointed out that the award overrode the Shops and Offices Act, which, in effect, provides that when a public holiday occurs in any week it shall take the place of tbe weekly halfholiday, and that rulings of the Arbitration Court were that, if the premises were opened on the Wednesday, overtime rates must be paid.' The Minister has since instructed the Labour Department to bring a test case against any employer who refused to pay overtime I rates on the Wednesday-preceding the Pritrpe of Wales' Birthday, so as to discover the legal position.

Too willing helpers are stated to have been the cause of the recent fire in Grey Lynn not being confined to the dwelling in which it originated. According to what Superintendent Kenton reported to the Council, so many people .seized tha hose to assist, that they smashed tne hydrant in the ball cock. This rendered it necessary to carry a hose to another valve some distance away, with the result that valuable time was lost. At the same time it is quite evident that the motion to form a Fire District has not been started any too soon. Superintendent Fenton has repeatedly asked to be provided -with horse or some other power to convey the men.and tie. reel to a fire, but so far nothing definite has been decided. The Mayor (Mr. W. Murray), at his installation, spoke regarding the need for better fire prevention methods, and Mr. G. J. Garland having, brought forward a motion which was referred to the Committee, it is expected the o-teome will be to form a Fire District for Grey Lynn and perhaps some adjoining districts.

Mention was made in the last annual report of the Post and Telegraph Department —lat it was hoped a snpplv o£ hoses to enable rural deliveries to be established would soon be available. The Department is now in possession of a number of these boxes, and proposes to carry out the intention expressed in the report. The idea is to gradually-provide every hack-blocks settler with a posY office at his own gate, the mail-earner as he goes by placing the inward.letters in .the-.box,am", taking' with him the outward correspondence .to the nearest, centre. Provision is made for the locking of the boxes;- In Canada, where this system of mail deliv—des has worked very satisfactorily in the interior, the post boxes are seldom locked, robberies of letters being of rare occurrence. The replace—lent of the old candle box that has done useful duty in the past, and is still doing so, at settlers' gates j by a convenient, _todr em contrivance for mail storage, purposes will be welcomed by those for whom this improvement is being • introduced

Experiments are at present being conducted by the Post and Telegraph De. port—tent, Wellington, with an electric, ally driven apparatus to facilitate the facing up of letters and their carriage to the automatic stamp-vending machine. By this means the work of the- etaff is accelerated by at least SO per cent. The experiments so far have proved very .successful. When some minor improvements have been effected it is proposed to place the machine in the post offices in the four centres. The inventor is Mr. J. H. Burn, of Petone, who has ateo der signed a machine for the combined purpose of " facing up" letters and postmarking them at the earne-time. Trials with this invention have given satisfac? Tory results. Another patent that is undergoing a trial is a telogram folding machine, the invention of Mr. James, of Messrs. Niven and Co., Napier. It has been tested, and automatically folded 900 telegrams in an ihou-r, going at a rate one-third faster than a boy -could put in the sheets of paper. Ordinarily only about 200 telegrams can bo folded by hand in a similar time. The telegram is placed in the machine at one end and comes out neatly folded at the other. The tests wit_ this patent by the officers of the Post and Telegraph Department are not yet quite complete, but good results are expected from it.

The steamer Milleric, -which recently visited Auckland, was the scene of a melee among a number of Chinese at Sydney on Thursday night" last. Knives were freely used, and one Chinese, named Fou_ low, was so. badly injured as to —is removal by the Civil Ambulance to Balmain Hospital, where he was treated for several wounds. The crew is composed almost entirely of Chinese. The Easterners had 'been enjoying a feast among themselves. Some of them -were aroused over something that -was done by Fouehow, and one or two of them drew knives. Others took the part of the offender, and presently the whole crowd were plunged into a wild encounter. The Chinese yelled and fought among themselves. It was after some difficulty that the disturbance was quelled, when it was found that quite a number of them were more or less injured. Some had gashes in their arms, and others on the shoulders and sides. Fouchow had received the worst handling, and it was deemed wise by his mates to have him removed to the hospital for treatment. This was accordingly done.

Applications for discharge in bankruptcy were made at the Auckland Supreme Court this morning by Isaac Harrison, bottle merchant, of Auckland, represented by Mr. J. A. Quin, and George Yukich, storekeeper, of Awanui, represented by Mr. Blomfield. In neither case was thpre any opposition, and the applications Were granted. . Mr. H. G. Dutton's fourth organ recital at St. Sepulchre's Church is announced to take pUice this evening at 8. Miss Ina Bosworth is contributing two violin solos. The programme includes Holiin'.s "Concert Overture in C Minor," Bach's "Prelude and Fugue in D Major," "Siegfried Idyll" (Wagner), and "Mar—ie Beroique" (Saint-gaens). .

While at the races at EUerslie yesterday, his Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington) expressed a "wish to meet the farmers present, and, although the notice given was very short, about 40 of them assembled in the members' room, and were enteT' tamed by his Excellency, who in a "brief speech expressed his pleasure at the friendly relations existing between the farmers and the members of the Racing Club,'which: he thought, was a very good thing as long as racing was not given too much prominence. Mr." Isaac Gray, in responding for the farmers, thanked his Excellency for his hospitality and expressions of goodwill, and called for cheers for Lord and Lady Islington, which were heartily given, and, acknowledged by Lord Is-, lington. . The application of_ Walter Francis Darby for a discharge in bankruptcy was again before the Supreme Court at a bankruptcy- sitting held by Mr. Justice Edwaxds this morning. Mr. F. Earl appeared in support of the motion, and Mr. Mays appeared for the Official Assignee to .object, te the discharge* ."I suppose the application is opposed " remarked his Honor, when the case was .mentioned; and, receiving a reply in the affirmative, added: " It 'will stand over till next sitting." Mr. Karl asked his H<mor : if he ha.d. seen the Assignee's report. "I don't want to see the Teport," observed his Honor, " I happen to know all about Mr. Darby's bankruptcy." Counsel pointed out that a committee appointed by the creditors had carefully" investigated the- matter, while not defini itely opposing, th? discharge, recommended that the whole of the facts together with the bankrupt's interests imI deT. his father's .will should be placed be- ' fore the Court. "Will your Honor nos deal with the matter?" asked Mr. Eari.

"No, I can't," replied bi3 Honor, and: added: "I don't want to interrupt-the. libel case now before the Court. It won't j hurt bankrupt to have the application adjourned." The twelve jurymen empannelled in! connection with the libel action, in which a country school teacher and tbe chairman of the School Committee are the l'tigants, now engaging the attention or the Auckland Supreme Court, have been.j subjected to considerable inconvenience by reason of the action being interrupted by the criminal sessions, and several "false alarms " in intimations made as to when the hearing of the case would be, resumed. The foreman voiced a complaint on behalf of tbe. jury yesterday, and stated that as some of them were in business, and had to incur considerable expense to have their work done, some additional allowance should be made in the matter of payment. Mr. Justice Edwards admitted that the proceedings had been inconveniently interrupted, but intimated that he had no power to order a -higher rate of payment. He stated, also that litigation in Auckland was growing at an amazing pace, and that fact was realised by the justice Department. "It is impossible for mc to get through all the work in Auckland," continued his Honor, " and I am supposed to have the assistance of a brother judge. At these sessions the assistance I received was only one week from Mr. Justice Chapman. He had then to go to Wellington." His Honor added that he was in no way responsible for the interruptions that had occurred, and the inconvenience occasioned -to the jurymen and tho parties interrupted.

At the meeting of the Trades and Eabotir Council'" Employees' Federation, held last evening, it was decided-to request "the Minister "for Internal- -Affairs not t*> grant permission to hold races on Labour Day, and to ask tho ActingMinis'tpr for Defpnce not to permit-mili-tary tournaments or encampments on Labour Day. It was decided that the Auckland branch forward congratula* tions to Mr." R. Whiting, president of the Trades and Labour Council, on' his being chosen as a Labour candidate to contest a South Canterbury seat.

Mr. Justice Edwards has granted, probate of tbe wills in the estates of John Hooper (Mr. Halliwell), James Orr (Mr. Nolan), Jane Street (Mr. Quuliam), May Heaiher (Mr. Russell), Wiilliam Walker (Mr. Walker), Albert Curtis Diilcken (Mr. Brewer>, Mary Byan (Mr. Thome), and approved letters of administration in the estates of Maria Wharfs- .(Mr. Thorne), and Elizabeth Ann Pike (Mr. Jackson).

The Methodist Church, which Js being built at Epsom is nearing completion, .and is to be opened early next month. The building, which is assuming, a most attractive appearance, promises to beone of the finest suburban churches in Auckland. An unusual feature about <fche structure is that it has five foundation stones. Already over 600 season tickets, have been disposed of in Wellington for Dr. Tlarriss' Sheffield Choir concerts. Dr. Harriss arrived at Ereemantle yesterday. He met Sir Joseph and Lady Ward.in the King's Tearoom, Crystal Balaee, before leaving England. Up till itiie time ofgoing to press close on 1400 tickets had been sold for the concerts in Auckland, i Pending further improvements of 'the Gisborne harbour, the Union S.S. Go. and the Huddart, Parker Co. have decided to charjre the same rate for cargo carried by the vessels which lie off in the roadstead as is charged by vessels berthing.' at the -\vharf. The general rate is 12/6 a ton, and it applies also to outward shipments." Wellington shares the same freight with Auckland. The obsolete 9-inch cannon obtained by the Newmarket Borough Council from- the Defence Department is being placed, on Town Hall reserve at the fork of the Khyber Pass and the Manukauroads. The gun is to Test on concrete foundations. ' . The s.s. Victoria sailed from Sydney at 3 p.m. yesterday, having on boajtt for Auckland 90 passengers and 1050 tons cargo. She is due here on Sunday. Mr. Clement L. Wfagge will describe a "Voyage Through the Universe," and 3lustrate dt with lantern slides a.t King's Theatre next Sunday evening. The members of the South African continsents residing in Auckland intend holding a meeting this week for 13ie purpose of arranging w-hat steps they will take to be represented in the Coronation celebrations in this city.