ONLY MR FISHER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 76, 31 March 1913, Page 8

ONLY MR FISHER.

(To Hie Editor.) oir, —The above remark has been m-ade Xviiii reference to the Hon. Minister for Tustoms and Marino, no doubt with the intention of lowering that gontlpnvan's political ()iialitios *in the estimation of unthinking people. But those who arc students of Hansard —and everybody should read' and digest the matter contaim-d in that publication—can only conclude that the Hon. Mr Fisher is a. man who has the courage to express his convictions on any subject, and that ho is a keen and fearless critic of polii'w:\] abuses, and should, therefore, bo out: of our most valued public men. As reported in the ""btar."' the address delivered by Mr Fisher at the Reform i lub in Auckland- recently eon-tains some statements well worthy of the consideration of those who are unseliisiily inwrtsted in the. progress of this Dominion. Mr Fisher said thai "The State must, realise that t'ne casual labour problem «m.- one to be met, and the salvation of the. Keform Party would lw found in the attempt to solve it." and sihso that "The party* present success depended on the division in the Labour I'nrty. ami to maintain its position it must destroy f'io foundation of the i.alnuir I'-.u-iy. On.- means to that end was the adoption of its foremost plaok —a living wage for all." Any unprejudiei'd person who understa.nds the signiiicaiice <i[ Universal .SuiTrage must ngrpc that statements display c gonuiae Statesmanlike prescience, and th-at Mr Fislier's colleagues wLU be wise if they co-operate with him and put, these desirable reforms on the Statutes. OflierwiEe, ttieir party will |fc be in serious jeopardy next election.— K| I am, etc. ■ Hcrokino W ' R " KF/AY -

•THOSE TRAMWAY POLES. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Let mc protest emphatically against the proposal to shift the tramway poles from the middle to tie' side of the streets. Such a change would be a distinct advantage to "hogs" of the motor and other orders; but the present position of the poles makes the streets infinitely safer for the pedestrian. ■At present the polos ensure that the I traffic lie strictly divided into two streams: while the neutral ground be- . tween the double set of rails in Queen Street affords an "island of refuge" upon j which timid peo.estriu.ns can pause ;awhile, and thus continue their passage 1 with judgment and safety. Take away the. poles, and the swift motor and horse traffic will twist aird dodge from one side of the street to the other, and no police supervision will keep it in check. jNo body of police could check it so efifectively as the polee now do. Do you not know. Sir, that the municipal authorities in many parts of the Old World have realised that they have made a serious mistake in removing the mddstreet poles, and in rounding-off the corners of the streets? The removal of the poles lias allowed the traffic to rush down the streets; the roundingoff of the corners has enabled it to sweep round the corners with uninterrupted speed. I trust. Sir, the tSty Council will be extremely cautious before acceding- to such a request. It seems such a reasonable request: but let the Council beware lest any incautious action on ;heir part cause the community to rise up and curse fcherr folly.—l am. etc., "3BWARE.