CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 140, 13 June 1919, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. GROUCH —You do not enclose your name and address. NEW LYNN TRAIN SERVICE.

(To the Editor.) 1 Sir,—l was very pleased to observe a local in your paper of last evening, calling attention to the fact that the time occupied in train running between New Lynn and town can be very considerably cut down, and that without any apparent effort on the part of the Railway Department. This morning the performance was repeated. The question naturally arises*, if this saving of time can be made on occasion, why is the time table not permanently altered? By the way. what has become of our -Railway League'—l am, etc.. " ° TRAVELLER.

REPATRIATION PATRIOTS. x i (To the Editor.) Sir,—A month ago the "farming and commercial interests of' Northern Wairoa were declaring that their affairs were going to rack and ruin for want ot the very labour that was being absorbed in public works. To restrain untimely tears of sympathy, you permitted_ mc to invite the Kaipara Telephone ( lub—mouthpiece of such clamant woeto state, in the interests of unemployed soldiers, the kind and quaniitv of labour required. This they have failed to do, and the suspicion thus incurred is not allayed by the following advertisement from the Dargaville '•Times": "Advertiser seeks work of any description; can handle a pen, shovel or horses; energetic and reliable; not afraid of work." One swallow does not, of course, make a spring, but one straw is as good as a stack for showing which way the winci blows, and if the demand for workers was so keen, a man of that kind would not require to advertise at all, let alone in several issues. Since he can handle a pen it would be both of value and interest if he would send you a short account 01 his experience /in seeking work.—l am., etc., BLACK WATCH.

THE G.OYERNMEXT OF SAMOA. ' (To the Editor.) Sir,—During the whole period of the military administration of Samoa the taxpayers have had no representation whatsoever. During the 14 years of German rule there was a Governor's Council in existence, in which the taxpayers had a certain amount of representation, and there were never less than ( two British residents elected members of ' the Governor's Council. When Samoa « was occupied by the New Zealand forces, > August 29. 1914, not a shot was fired! ' everything being surrendered irnmedi- J ately. without opposition, and all of the ' residents. British. German, and neutral, ' were of the opinion that the place was : occupied according to the rules laid down ' by the Hague Convention, and no ' changes would be made in the laws and ' civil government of the country (see ( Proclamation Xo. 1) till after the war ! providing the country did not go back ' to Germany. What happened? After ' the last war of 1899-1000, the natives, i who had any amount of firearms, were ' persuaded to give up their arms, which were paid for by the three Powers who 1 controlled Samoa up to the time of the : German annexation, since which it has 1 been a punishable offence to supply them l with any, the Germans only allowing i them a few old muzzle-loaders (about ] one to each village) for the purpose of ! pigeon shooting. We would like to know , how many hundred breech-loaders have been supplied, to them since, and how much ammunition has been sold to them, both shot find cartridges. Before the war the natives were quite -satisfied to sell pigeons at 3 for 2/; they now want 1/6 to 2/ apiece. After war was declared, the Germans called out their reserves to police the town, and guard the wireless station. They could barely muster 100 guns and about 50 revolvers, some of them being very ancient, andno ammunition to fit. The possession of guns by Samoans is certainly not wise, and if any trouble had occurred the garrison here would certainly not have been able to cope with it, especially if the natives took to the bush. Since the occupation, some black boys, labourers on one of the German plantations, had a row with some Samoans, near the same village pf Malic. The result was that the Samoans fired on them with shot-guns. One of the black boys was taken to the hospital rather dangerously wounded. It is little incidents of this kind-that might lead to serious trouble, and possibly a disaster. The reason these lines are penned is to show that it is most necessary to have a Governor's Council, or some other kind of ■representation, in which those who by" long residence and dealings with the Samoan natives, and other matters concerning the government of these islands, should have more freedom of speech. The Customs tariff in Samoa under German rule, which, of course, is in vogue to-day, is 12* per cent ad valorem. Now that prices have in some instances Increased from 300 to 500 per cent, we are paying on the ad valorem system, on an article say that formerly cost 20/, with 2/6 duty, and has increased in value, say 400 per cent, together with the increase of freight, and other charges, £5. duty 12/6. Former cost 20/, duty 2/6. Although the import of goods is not more than half, or even less, than formerly, the revenue is far greater, in proportion than before the war. This comes very hard on the working class. In addition to this burden, we have had other taxes imposed by the administrator, such as 40/ per ton export duty on cocoa, rubber Hd per lb, and 10/ per ton on copra, and in addition to this a stamp duty. I certainly think it most cruel to impose the export duty on the planters when things were at their lowest ebb. Cocoa and rubber had dropped in price. The repatriation fee was then ranging from £14 instead of the former rate of 45/ per head. The last lot that were repatriated cost their employers £24, with the result that many of the plantations are in ruin, most of them in bankruptcy, the result of many years of industry and toil destroyed. If the Germans had won the war, this would have been put in as an indemnity against the British. Now that we have won the war, why should the Islands of Samoa not be handed to New Zealand in the be*t condition possible? "We residents of Samoa have been under a censorship which would not permit any criticism of the Administration, ! the Administrator having full control lof all correspondence and telegraph news, besides being able to give his own version, without any contradiction as to what was going on. —We are, etc., GILBERT AND SULLIVAN. Apia, Samoa, May 20, 1919.

THE ELLERSLIE RACECOURSE. (To the Editor/) Sir, —Nothing gave mc greater pleasure than reading your remarlls in the sub-leader on Friday night headed "The Publjc Pays." My only objection is that it is not nearly sufficiently trenchant. The accommodation for" the outside public is sadly lacking. If the club provide better accommodation for the general public, the sooner their permit is cancelled the better. To blame the war for this inaction is mere piffle, as the public pays for the extension of property, elaborate stone fences and flower gardens, while stand acconimodation i s entirely neglected. Instead of providing a large gate for those who wish to cross the course (at a cost of under £10), the public have to climb under the fences. I hope before the next meeting is held at Ellerslie that the Government will take a hand in seeing that all the public are better catered for. —I am, etc., WILLIAM WILSON. Green Lane, June 9. 1919. TAKAPUNA TRAMWAYS. (To the Editor.)

Sir,—l have read Mr. R. S. H. Biss' letter in yesterday's " Star,"' complaining of my motion, and remarks thereon, at the public meeting at Takapuna last Thursday, when I ventured to assert the uhdesirability of the Mayor being a director of and a substantial shareholder in the Takapuna Tramway Company, and as to the undesirability of the councillors on the Tramways Committee of the Council having a direct or indirect interest in that Company. I am not at all perturbed by Mr. Bias' criticism of what I then said, simply because, as your excellent report of the meeting disclosed. Mr. Biss then and there defended himself, and his defence was virtually ignored, inasmuch as my motion was subsequently passed unanimously. And I feel quite sure your readers will be of opinion that the large number of residents there assembled were, under the circumstances, the best judges of the correctness and fairness of my remarks. For that reason 1 do not propose to reply here to the points raised by Mr. Biss in his letter, as there is to be another public meeting at Takapuna next week, and I extend a hearty invitation to Mr. Biss to be present. I also notice a letter by Mr. H. H. Adams in the same issue: and I should like to extend also to Mr. Adams an invitation to be present.—l am, etc., C. C. CHALMERS.

THE PUKEMIRO MINES DISPUTE. (To the Editor.) Sir.—After reading the statement of the Pukemiro miners and the company's reply published side by side in the "Star of June 9th, it appears to mc that the coal company's defence for their, action in refusing the miners' inspectors facilities for inspection of the closed workings is extremely weak. To deny the miners' inspectors access to any locked up (not sealed) portion of the mine only tends to intensify any suspicion, and is directly opposite to the intention of the. Act, which permits them to appoint their own inspectors. From the mine owners' point of view CO2 is not dangerous, inasmuch that it is not explosive, and will not support combustion —in fact it is one 'of the best known substances for extinguishing fires. But carbon dioxide is harmful to animal life even when largely diluted. This gas is often emitted from "the earth and in coal mines in large quantities, and is constantly generated where organic matter is in process of decomposition. But if CO2 is not present in quantities large enough to be harmful, I fail to see why the company should object to the miners' inspectors satisfying themselves about the matter. If it be admitted that the company are within their rights, as one of the public who is to suffer at the present time through the shortage of coal, I want to know if the company expect the public to be satisfied by their statement of the reasons which have led to the closing of the mine,, I for one am not, and consider it about time that the people of New Zealand insist that the Government take over all coal mines in the country, and jso end once for all the hardship impo-ed lon the people by the continuous war between the coal owners and the coal 'miners.—l am, etc., " F. de MARRIS.

THE DESTRUCTION OF ST- JOHN'S. ■To the Editor.) Sir, —We New Zealanders sometimes affirm that we have conquered the Hun. It is one of the many delusions from which we suffer. The Hun is with us still in spirit, if not in fact. The lust of world dominion was but the logical outcome of the Germanic idea that only the material counts in the life of a people, and this delusion, we, as Aucklanders, are hugging to our hearts. The principle that only utility matters is with us in all our civic life. Xo voice is raised against it. Its most recent manifestation is the threatened demolition of the old stone building at St. John's College; the other is the ruthless destruction of the splendid oak at the top of Anzac Avenue, which, if report is to be believed, was planted by Anthony Trollope on his visit to New Zealand. In St. John's College. Auckland possesses a building of great historical value, and entrancing artistic beauty. Auckland possesses no other building of equal charm, for Auckland is sadly lacking in the beautiful architecture possessed by other cities. Christchurch has the Provincial Buildings, with its hand-painted groined roof in scarlet and gold, perfectly reproduced from the purest Gothic, and without peer this side of lV h«* Line. It also possesses the stained glass"" windows (most windows are painted glass), which constitutes a difference that can only be learnt by observation. And Christchurch guards it with its life. Dunedin owns First Church, a thing of fine proportion and rare beauty to be found in a land as young as this, with its delicate spire raising the soul to God. It is a prayer turned into stone. Auckland possesses St. John's College, quaint and olden, enwrapped with the greatest of our memories—and values it so much that there are not four men in, the city capable of giving £250 each to stop its destruction, yet Auckland can easily raise £25,000 for a collection of paintings Of very doubtful value. What is the matter with Auckland? Even Auckland must possess a few people who have souls not entirely lost in the market place, and who are educated artistically to love beauty and to preserve it. If there are not enough cultured people in Auckland city to forbid this desecration, surely the Anglican churches could make a special appeal on some Sunday to their membeTs for the money to buy back this fine old relic out of the hands of the despoilers.—l am, etc, SOUTHERNER.

THE CALL OF THE LAND. (To the Editor.) Sir, —In Saturday's issue is a letter on employment for women that merits public attention. It is well written, and is quite to the point, being evidently penned by a real "'business woman." Having knowledge, as a practical farmer, of hundreds, of thousands of acres of unimproved and partially improved land in the Auckland district, all calling for the energy, skill, and manual labour of large "numbers of young, vigorous men, it is saddening to see so many of them knocking about the streets of Auckland and standing behind shop counters, handling draperies and other light goods; in fact, doing work that might well be done by women and giris.

What are the ypung men thinking about that they can waste their time in this manner, for there is little or no future before them as town workers and shop assistants, and all the time the land, with its open-air life, its health, and certain independence, is calling them. It is not that these young men could not make good farmers; on the contrary, experience has shown that the majority of healthy young fellows from the town—if given the chancewould make first-class settlers, and will tackle even rough country in the most cheerful spirit.

An illustration of this was given, years ago, in the settlement of Waingaro. a mountainous district, lying between Ngaruawahia and the West Coast. Most of tho early settlers were young men from Remuera, and other Auckland suburbs, and I well remember seeing a party of them starting out on the bush track of 16 miles, carrying their stores with them. One big fellow was noticeable by having a bag of flour on his back, with, a camp-oven strapped on top, the whole thing showing that, though they came from the town, and were unused" to rough country life, they had the right stuff in them, and after-years proved it.

The same thing applies to our present young men, and particularly so to the returned soldiers, who, if fit and well, should be given the opportunity to settle upon land under the most favourable conditions. But it is unreasonable to expect that they can—after their strange and terrible experiences—settle down at once into staid and home-loving farmers. It will take time to do this, and perhaps the best thing would be to place them out with practical tfarmen-. where, if "new chums." they would gradually become conversant with farming and dairying work, and be better able to judge for themselves what land and localities will suit them "best. - It is not fair to expect more than this from returned 6oldicrs, or inexperienced city men, but certainly they should be got away from the totvnSf with their too constant attractions and opportunities for spending and dissipation.

There is, however, another nnd more serious reason why we should use every effort to get our young men out on to the land. Since the close of the war. though it resulted in all that we could hope for, public events have not been so satisfactory as we could wish. What is termed "industrial unrest" is visible on nil sides, and in all parts of the Empire, much of it, unquestionably, due to causes that should never have been allowed to operatp. but. apart from any discussion upon those questions, it is becoming more and more evident that extremists arc at work, and that social and industrial upheavals, with much suffering to many innocent persons, are almost certain to take pla"o.

In a country like New Zealand there can be no element so conducive to public stability and to steady progress of all branches of industrial and agricultural life as that of- a large and well-Histri-butcd class of yeomen farmers, nil tilling their own freeholds, and all equally interested in having the business of th" country carried on without hitch or delay. This is. from a public point of view, the strongest argument for getting our returned soldiers and other young men out on the Innd. To put the matter bluntly, in the towns they arc a danger; in the country-, working their own landu, they are the greatest safeguard that we can possibly have.

Finally, as a farmer T can snfely say. for my fellows on the land, that there is not one in a hundred of us I>ut will willingly give his best advice and practical assistance to enable these young mcn —particularly the returned soldion—to make a success of their farming operations. Farmers are thoughtful men, and know only too well what fhey owe to those gallant young men that have come back from the war; also to the poor lads that have been left behind. It is a debt that can never be repaid, and no one need fear for a moment as to their welcome into farming life.—l am, etc.. C. E. RHEPHARD.

THE STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS. ('IV the Editor.* Sir, —Very strong dissatisfaction exists throughout the Dominion at the tardy and inadequate steps taken by the powers that be to facilitate the return to this country of those unfortunate New 'Zealanders (and intending visitors) who for many weeks past have been held up in Sydney at much expense and incon veniencc. During the virulent and disastrous outbreak of influenza in New Zealand last November the health authorities did not consider it necessary to place restrictions on shipping between here and Australia. Yet the epidemic in the latter country spread over many months, has not with its larger population, proved either actually or relatively nearly so deadly in its effects. Win- then, in the face of this lighter visitation, are the present vexatious restrictions maintained a day longer than is necessary? There cannot be any valid reason or excuse why, weeks ago, every stranded New Zealander should not have been permitted to return to his country, as he was rightly entitled to do. Under proper supervision by the health authorities can it be admitted that their earlier return would have increased the risk of infection here, 6eeing that influenza is and has been prevalent in this country since the latter part of last year, and that further, during such period, many ships from overseas have arrived at oar ports landing many thousands of people direct from the centres of infection. It may be said that New Zealand, geographically speaking, is unfortunately placed by her isolation from other great countries of the world, but why the fact should be further accentuated by absurd shipping restrictions—which sever communication with her nearest and most important neighbour—it would take the wisdom of King Solomon to fathom. Such measures are proving a doubtful advertisement to the country, and what wonder if under the circumstances they are the means of making her the laughing stock of her own people and of those who travel in other countries. —I am, etc., DISGUSTED.

MOTOR ACCIDENTS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—On Saturday morning- T saw two persons picked up from iimier nßtori cars, both accidents happening within a few hours, and both at tram stopping places in the city. Many persons pre-' sent commented on the laxity of" our traffic regulations, and I ask *'hat you use your Press influence to imyiress on motorists to use more care when passing tram stopping places, and to give elderly people and children a chance, and not to expect them to fly when a horn is 'looted. After all, I suppose we poor pedestrians have some right to use the King's highway.—l am, etc., FREE ROADS.

LAND SALES AND TAXATION. <To the Editor.! Sir,—Your correspondent "Freedom's* " remedy is a beautiful theory, and seem*' infallible; but in practice, so far as the agricultural land of New Zealand is concerned, want of taxation is not the trouble, as these resold farms are taxed on every sale, privately through, mortgage and publicly through revaluation; and so far from reducing the sales, it seems to increase them, and induces the man alongside of them to look to a sale to recoup himself for the extra taxation caused by the rise in valuation through these sales. —I am, etc..

JOHN A. MUNRO. WHANGAREI HEADS SCHOOL. (To the Editor.) Sir,—ln your issue of 31st May, " Facts" takes exception to certain statements made by " Sympathetic BackBlocker" with regard to school matters in the Whangarei Heads district. Is " Facts" aware that about ten days after the' drought broke up four stalwart girls in the third to fifth standards set oil to the Whangarei Heads school from Reotahi along the two-mile cattle road (their parents considering this safer than the shorter route up the watercourses and through the bush)? Well, this is a fact, and the result was that the girls became " bogged." Three managed tn flounder through in a filthy condition, the fourth had to return home as she was not lit to proceed. Now, if those older girls encounter such difficulties after ten days' rain, what is to happen to the little* toddlers in the primers after three months of rain, if the Tieotahi school be closed? They will simply have to go untaught for five or six months in the year. In the light of the above incident* I maintain that the routes to the Whangarei Heads school from Reotahi are altogether unfit for children, oven after a few days' rain. (Again, ''Facts" says: "I'ntil we have a

much more adequate supply of competent teachers than wo now possess, we 'simply cannot erect a school at every mile post." Is he aware that a number if residents of Reotahi (mostly parents) erected the Public Hall by their own labour, one of the chief incentives being the wish to have their children educated in the settlement? Is he aware that the ventilation, lighting, sanitation, etc., of the hall was made to fulfil the requirements of the Education Department on the understanding that it would be used is a school. Is he aware that the building is given free of rent to the Department? Does he know that a petition H-as unanimously signed by the parents of Reotahi a month or two ago, asking the Department not tp close their school? In spite of all this, "Facts" would like to have the public infer that Reotahi residents do not mind whether their school is closed or not. —I am, etc., SETTLER.