LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 135, 2 March 1908, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

CHEAP FRUfT.j Sir, —Some'short tim'efvago the fruit hawkers sold their fruit lessor,ice., .than, cither tins white or Chinese, fruiterers. Since; the granUing.by the Cou'iitil"tif'licenses"to' 'them 'to occupy certai7V' l 'staiids 'fchevpricothey now sell at is tho same, as that'.of tlie fruiterers, who have,,Ao,-,pay.,reiit.'-,/.for, their shops. This! is not f;\u\ to_ tho snopkccpers, as tho object of allowing tho hawkers was to enable the/poorer classes to obtain cheap fruit, and,r as itlie'ha\vkers!only< pay a small fee, tliey havo;.a decided advantage over tlie .shopkcepitfSV. Of course, .there is'no law to. compel 'thMAiwfcewfc to-<!/sell-clioapcr, but, in ordinary fairness, the publicshould deal with the shopkeepers, and particularly as they .soil'quite-as,good,•fiju.it.—7 Feb. 27. ' ' ./iMOiTSRM :

lis mew'z ealand"'bp.-joptiAVl'? Sir)— Hoading 'your corresp l oh3ent3 ( .lottpf i'o the above,.- remind" nib or "Mm'ex-, perience I had last December in Feildiiig Post Office. I took into-tho-office a telegram which I wanted to send-off.;-., -Tho cost amounted to something,: over' a shilling. , I liad not enough loose c!ifili'"to pay for it, so 1 handed in a £1 note.-.' '-Judge myrfjirrprisa wlieii both note and telegram were pushfii". back to mo with the refusal to change.tho note. I asked'the reason,, and. was told " they had no change." What- shall I do?" was my - next question., ~r,Get change—which) I did at tho. bank near handy r, . an .d jetjirned to . find the clerk, lookijrg-.Tpry dmusodv-';' I. liavo often 'wondered' ■since' ; -why ;< fth'e'-3?ost : Oflicfc, of nil business e&reblishmants, should; bo,so independents 'I. may say 1 had .jioyer.seon tho clerk before, and also that I was sober.—l am, etc., • ■ ' . . . . .. WOIIKIXG M AN. I

Featherston,- February''22. - GERMANS W KIDSTON'S , DISCLAIWERi^ , : Sir,— Bearing in mind the' outcry ' against", German encroachment tlin'J-. .Samoa; sii JCe\vr> Guinon, dissatisfaction •' expressed'-_:wjfhv-'£hc''. jßritisli' .authorities- for not and tho alleged AttCTrhlian-'-ik-: terests, the utterance, SVibiitcd-..- to Sir. Kids'ton is not only insnft'ih'g'tfr'Hhc British naval officers and, EngliSfygpeoplo generally, but' singularly impolitic Anything in-, worse-; taste,-' ..or- j-.morp apropos, it is difficult; to"irtiqp;in"6. fcaso" of further so-called . German o enci'dachmeiits in i tho Pacific, ' it liiay' bo "proper.atocask',l' .what is to, bp tlid' attitudo. of Australia? If Germans are to -Uo-..as Englishmen,' tliero is nd x iVepd'to;;niirk'p^tttiV further protest's ' occupation , of • any moro islands; or waste laruloi—rj BJn,t ■; Fpbruai-y 2G, 1908. : 'v' ! 'A RAI/.V/AY ' Sir,—lwould like; tos biiilg'cMitder« jour notice .'h. grievance "which the-y.ougTSuffepng;. public' have .to put : up AvitlT'.qn." tho trains run by tho Public WorKlPepartmpnt from Mataroa to Ohakunp. .v'Orf' I ,'- tlie 19th inst,, f I' was 1 a;passenger 'oh the- train; running' between'the,;above places. .TJiere, was only one. first and line : "'sWpnd''''(:lass n ' riagd' (no'smokers)., There were'thrKoOxias;'.'. spngers in tho ; and ' theladies and -' little ' children wlip' were travelling, sc'cend-class . wdre>ip,scked.. likp ;,sa.r-. dines, •so '^he}'''grasped-the 'opp6rtuiiity.''--"arid. went into' the first-class... cmSpartment, see-' ,-ing that. it was pract^oaljj;--,empty. . However, 'that 'did;'-not? last, Veri'dbng", fas'the; guard, told .them to ,go? ! .(feclt ,t.p';itlip\ second-, class' ' travel' ii( a tho same'condjtidris:.*lt"-wa» sprnothinfe-aS-fifiy: tlio way wo' .were packcdr j 'ygrii;\ss, Was actiilg; under ;but? i kiftly I }ie' ought to: bo. granted a:;l«tle%titudo'ih/th'fep mattors (especially. ,i('licii c Khe . J ,firs&c'lasS^.fcSr^ riages. arc .'apoldgies 'sd'dil'^'Qf'l.pliiW-;'(h'6 ! Public Works •■peparl^aff l nidre carriages.—,l ani, ote-.y,' i " ; 'i«iiivsaj.s.^-.v} /■.■" February .2 : 1. ; '' 1 fiaev-d r i gab e 3 -4i aWers; 7 - f. 1 ii s •' ' y l ' '• • TJ'.Wtt'l'lFlft ilW'Or ' Sir,—Allow- me, ! : withiii,-illv djiP' tfti tako •'.'exception' to--the! whichj appeared l iiv-your'jtoiddyfeisKioiijvis.,; " ' If :iill -we-hear is correct): iMoirm;iy - shortly/havo-- ! to- appoint l ,'iiefr-ißu'p?,vlntdtiddJ\fe "ofv 1 tho Fire. Brigadesaidb t.jiK:Majpr;:iatv;th(S: | Council moptin'g last, nighti-^ni^i''/, ■ As ono of ;t-he' interested;>publidj-3irlia.vQ:Jnpfc 1 heard;'that "'tho new appointment, , to';bo:: • iriado by . the 1 Cabinet,: of Firo -Brigades 'in Now: ZealAnd'j'iiis? cutriUidr 1 |. dried ' foi' Jlr; Hugo, 1 flimllQcaLlS.upei'jtttw.ic 1 'dent-, -Hoi]' -Imvc; I hea'rdsth'atvhp-ss;rlib'ely".to,.; bo suspended -from' liis :preseutipoMitidiiHtOf' course,'''Mr:'-;Hislop . may ;ii)o;.--.rurihingiv'Miv Hugo forli'tlip'i-'now-oflico,' niiif 'is.;: Firo - Brigado' iiow---thafcstlioi: t ßcigade.r«ian:« Mayor, .'desiro!' to; ydl'irtho' agpmpnt - reverts back • tofthe, .' .way,'. Miv Hislop - sbdiil(l'i3)d'■;inoro; iMpl&ifi in his- statements' from .illo.;Miiydral chaiii' wi ;

,\.vFor tyour : inforraatioivs^aricl-r'for;^iio : 'iu('oi<V niaUou 'of 'tlio; public,i>JrihniiyHßsy; 'tliatf2 r J ; know of soveral. applicants rfiilv:' tlifa - ; 3)ew; billet whose .chances' I:, ,-f I rloiis stjiiJp' alioad •of our . localv. •vam-/! etc QtJIDNUi^ ' .February. 27. .r'i • VC'U.. " PALACE CARS. ' ( " Sir,—lnanswer-to"./^ramgoar^ iihat. tho Wellingto'nf'.Eress is.' quite'justified! iii "describing - the faultsTofi',tkQ.;Jjaiacq;iCaVi, : I; am: spending , nearly. £10 S per •?aimmaVgn-; tram fares, and when..Lcaii-manage to-wait; for. another car I.iiever" got'iiit'o the. Palace.:. If "Tramgoor" had had yliis;/ ; \vris^ v sprq ; and his thumbs nearly broken trying to.putbrio's weight; on them when .tlio.-cornors-.,tins; occupied,, he . would ch'ango",his ; inl^^^ajiojiki'.• their comfort. , Comfort.!^t,hc.ro..is; "iioti'any... The soa'ts ought .to . be;, roversiblei ' .and one would not have to wipo..t)ie boots of-- men, and oven girls, 4 with:theii- 1 clV«"ssV. as'it is'libw, when thoy' cross.' their JcgsJaad- put a foot under your nose. ■>1 boarded:a Palace: car coming out of Scatopn>it\Hwiel.*-in* Miramn'i/.. Tliero . the 1 road -is belo\v' ■'dioHli/i'ocii. 1 g[ood' bit, andit makes • the :foptbtard'«liigher. , ?iJ I' 1 did my ; bcst, but •could-viiot l getJon??!. tliinki that 'a ; capstan. wouldr lip«f'ibfl(i!nK.jusV/I'tJ»o- - to help anyone. •.• To. croiiii. it,:tho. •.conductor! 'kept on ' calling-,vJ'.CJuiekjrwa(''aro late,"'.'and' when I looked I .' fortfcseat' lower 1: down tho. carriage 'ho'- callbd going to'givo it another -'irmSSs! - Well/:!!-" . did, arid - nearly brokeo myS£wriist. , j'i'?.Tf thij.. , present footboard' was put . lowor*;»aiid^amt othor step ; below.the;car.riageluii'mi'it'ofi-tthe'-door, L and an'• extra' strap; l .- their.it- would bd: all' right; : v' I'-havo travaltddjnV:':earV.Mii-':a' .good many countries, ancktliH-.besfr of rdll are 7 tho Melbourne cable. cars-Mhevcarriagot'dnd tho"- dining. • 'They comforts' able,- and- suit everyone. .They ,acdomihddato about '50 peopled • :Tha' oondiictors-'feathcrothe'. •faros' from ..the 'mid(Uo :^HKof>;l^'e; and has,nothing to risk^l-vwh; . Feb, 27. CONSi^f&^ijiEß^'

THE ROV/ING^CHAMPION. 1 - : Sir, —A'- man's in; athletics : should • alwaysii-lw.Tlßsbimated.-iiaiftw taking intoconsideration !.CtJlßr;riißii'jnanc)iti; loss that • results: to. tho 1 roprbdijclibi«;pow«' of renewing.-vital forc&V?necessary* to.i withstand. the. 'abnormal -deiSaudEiTof strajmLiipoub strain;'' Personally 1 am:, WMigj o]Uiiion tlifife tho great •sculling race on'•'the' llhino'irof New 1 Zealand was. won abyi tha •'.cliSverbiVMhan;; but not by the one best.fittcdi to ifg'noEß itlie; strain with impunity,. ithcif self-presorvation into a .iwlrokistnßogild'.'iige-'.is.' brought into' view! Tima.-.is'..lnecossai'y' - j-io> prove""tho. validity, : or '•,btbOTw.isbjv';of-umy statement, but to tho champion' §citUei'iiaitd: all his 'many woll-meanhig"frieiid4y^T''should •"'•Bo'aisy,' or' be «.siaisy as*you- can," for. " athletes," as' well'te/'statesliion,'- 1 often' pass away-'before theirrlSmet; 'To New ; Zealand's aspirational yoirthwvhp: will arise in enthusiastic imitation, of Mr; V,'ebb's' great' prowess, I would say^.Jßofliombei' j that training tcp pften leads to straining," tho result being ;•* practical l colhrpso»-in'"«n*hat< £• Should" call tho " iiifanbyoofrolclwkgmWt! Wo • prove this,' - study . up ■tiw>i(fßVly':,drtWufaH -ini the midst of battlo of hundreds of athletes, ino'uding Haulan, Searlej Kicran, aud

Squires. It is; pleasant reading to find tho opinion expressed in the Press that the heiio of the present hour ib not one to bo spoiled by ; : success,, for my experience of most athletes is that-victory proves a quick cut to mental neglect and physical injury. In ithis instance there are intellectual .and moral pdwers.present of no mean order, and, taking advantage of his present brilliant .attainment,-1 trust to. see Sir. Webb stand '.forth, as,a sound'representative example for tho .youth . of, New Zealand to follow, in more ways' than one, o'en. though it be to show them how. to test the land and compel it; to produce its '.besfcV—l am, etc., •• •:•••-:- : r .: : . :c. de c. williams. February 27. ■: -

vHIGH RENTSANQOVERCROWDINC.

.Sir, — I am in ''sympathy with "A Victim's" letter,; appearing,in,.your.journal of tho -Oth iii'stV,' aiid oan quite understand' ', his" outbreak Of wrath/against tho-evils.; of; .'-landlordism-, .in'.: general,- and especially'' tiie . ...system' of squeezing that ,is driving hous&:,.- £ : holdijrs to.;distractibn heroi- Such a splendid- ,/.; ;'systtni ! of - ext-bftioii' would 'put a Kolly gang. . . :>ih . 'iiltogether. , It re'nu'ij'ds one .of ;. .i" the octopus,.'with. its,'deadly. feblers moving V in all ..directions,' carefully, getting a, grip .";v, hero and .tightening its. hold there, : 'and then, in a . leisurely" fashion, commencing, to suck.-''; : I the' b](wl/.of. its victims.; ■' With their foro.sights ii.tscc.uring -every" piece . of: available land rsuitoblo-iot. buikliog -on,'l.tliey manago- v' : tokeep 'jaud.-ati; a •.- ridiculously- high- figure, -. .; and '.reiit : !at-iu'.. : .heai+-breaking- prico, Tho J'.': tenant. of.-a'ny.- money-lender -iri" tlio • . ' world. ;Ifa: : "rponi. wants papering,and so many : ; ,:oi ;tlroiit'. ..do,', the tenant; is threatened that - ; ;, ; •iinprdveniehtf .oT;Any..k'iiid means~ari. expuse' ,;'i:' to raise thd'.reht.. . : Thiß;'jiovqls,-tliaii % so many ', pwplo aro compelled to livo in arc simply , appalling:. — floors that rotter, that if tho linohjum'- ivas- ronioved they would not; bo '.; ' safe..'tb '.walk-' oil.-chimneys that refuse 'to ~, .draw'tho shickis, and windows i-ha£.'refuso. to ..: 'go up or 'down.-'. is; utterly>W' ;k.nowu iu many homes. ~.1 say peoplo are com- ,y. .palled .under, suchj conditions,' afraid % ' td. jisk for-repairs :of .'any kind, because,a few, '.shillings spent,in l .the way of adding , a little >•; comfort means/a rise,,in' rent. i.-trThen, ,tho -saddest I :feature' 'of; the whole . business -is tho manner in Jwhich;> tho homo ■ i:. life pf'thp poor' workman is' being destroyed. -; .'- Dodgers havci : to be, taken in to help to'pay t-ho-i ; ' rent.-/It is-'always 'tho 'eternal-rent; The f. family-liavo to- jiimb - themselves ihto' a space , .j , tliatpis'jljbth' detrini'eiital. to,; health iahdi'-.v.', .'.morals^; \ Then; tlid 'sanctity,' tlio;priyacy, ithe; > "? o! ?f^'ti..'and..pleasure of home -life: bccomcs - ; f cs-'tranged. ,There;is not the same freedom • '■ . hor .tjio samio.attraction, and so,. by,.degrcie3, ; j ;they;,|st;clyi, tho outdoor life,, -,which -, mtaiis vi; tranipiiig r :al|qut the -ivand -ceoking s ■ che'aii ; whero 1 lioithor- the :: ; mofajs>iiQr. iliabits aro improved. l - This-place ; ■ has; the name of being a' city of badly-kept '•. boaidingrhpuses, Iwiiero.-- tho pleasures and - comforts ..of >liouf<6-'lifdT"aro bec<>imiig' l as; ex-tinct,-as' r tho.m6a.', No; such' thing, as .over- \ v' : crov.-diny should, bo tolerated,'and overy . 'v means'iii- th'e'.power of tho'Cit.v.'Coiincil.'and - -r,; tlio i Government'should ..bo; strenuously; em- i.'V 1 ■"projrecl..iii;'prcserving ,tbo morals and : homes 1 ' tof ourrpeopliii .'-: Tho;City Council:has land ' .terp«lying<"idld^andbarp,;;.whero' hundreds of v .- could bo drectW.- 'I am, sliiV ,thb city would .welcome < a scheme ' 1 that"woiild; ; relief.- to'; niany struggling v i, -. workers';' $nd" would • certainly, j ".raise;;. the - ; V . moral tone of home life,—l am, ctc.,. '■ - CITIZEN*. : • -February-26,i - ,-- ; ,

.; RR OTHGTIN C ( J OUR-: IN D JLJSTRIESiV' ' • t. h O'Regai/cHn-::'th'o Course' ••'pi of.;a.Viletter-V}ie.ided r !■'Mr ~v David 'SymeVahd'-'-!Tlio - ; : .Agd,? ; '/-4Yhich your valu- • v}- v I able says V' £ .'I/ ViU.' not- Aw 1' .attempt • to argue ■ with a - writer who calls ■■ c ■ ■ protection-'.'a 'science, l and'-irr the course ' ~o£ this -lettfr,' ; njfiri' 'others 1 from his jicni ; "v' ; '.from &£. ■ .jtijiip-'jto /tiinfr,^dogmatically,, assdines -.'that • ■ the;:aettl«a' policy, 0f,;.-'cwl'y-V';'. I ilftAjmfeSv TO<w v iradi4h9fojgPr.6tßiJion!' -/iv. \,9au! I P,^ueiiPaPe.dc;"a.;scienoe l V-ibut:a; i thoroush : ,'v}r> j science'* will jnako' it .clear a protective . policy .is..'absolutely ;--y •; for- . eV.ery;.. youngand . growing ; , .country.at-;a,.certain.'stage of its.existence, ( i ;if j'stltoYpeopje. thereof Vare i, desirous:.'• that-.iv •.V ' .ilicii'', country.- shall attain to its highest state ' * ,'ifi i^ypalthif.Vpppulatipiiy• ■ and - productiveness.' ' ; ".wealc. 'of; every '? - Emd':-; 1 r eqia ire 1 ~'prot ejet ion -;'agn |iist>* tUo" stro rig. j■ ; •so db'i .the-yq'uthfnl industries, of ,'ovcry new ; every,' cquntr.v.Vwhere, .wages - ■ -are- i high • (iu.'.'drderj to prevent; those wages.... j. - -Mling)' require, protection .against-, the; fi.erco,.' . j • - -.-.of/.-'thdir older j ■' ' ;3nd,' stronger ■ .arid:. low-wage competitors .in •; : qthpr lands, who,■•-.in.' order to gain, the-fiold,' ,? arei prepared* not only to 1 employ labour at' • ..a'';starvationxiwagei : 'but .even-then to; sell at ; ituloss if nded'be, so long'.'as. their; so doing ; : .rail drive : out' of''the', field arid into bankVthcir,. younger : ,'.,and 'J higher..: paid, .-Yi' : •';'LMr.''o'Regaii,'however, may .arguo, that it - ' c :would bo best, if NewjZealandLwero to con- . 1 ■tinuo'for all time merely, as a .community, v '.. i made Hp chiefly of and tiaae'.p.po'plo,' who should boI content- to purchase ■ ;for'all time from other lands their manufao--1 "tured requirements, and be content to pro- ' - duco arid export, 1 'iir cxrihango, tho raw pro- ; 'ducts of the', soil, -'.But it. is.self-evident that . . '-it:-is orilyVby ; manufacturing various products ■ into articles, of] commerce that- we-.- ■» .can support a targe - and the : ■ greatcrvthe ..population we.\kavd»the lighter ... will'.be. 'burden of .taxation per; 1 head, ! fiirid ! the. stronger- and- moro' independent wa ,i : will bo in tlie possible event; of-.war. .breaking Tout. Hentib; if ivo could .only find some way. ' *of encouraging ■a ,* desirablo •• population to 1 .: these, sh.ores at a greater rate than they aro - /■at present coming, it.Avould undoubtedly bo - •a'wise policy to foster , local, industries of ■ -all kinds' by .the'imposition of heavy protectii o duties against foreign-'competition, and . 1 ;tho' mass of. : tl.ip pppplp;\yould,;Jlv; ! : ~'opinibn tb';tlio contrary; notwithstanding, bo v ; decidedly better off .in , tho ; aggregat3j oven , ■: tliojigh they had-to,• pay. high prices for, com- . modit-ies, .for- high iwices. mean"high 'wages, ~ and lngh wages increased • purchasing power. —I am; etc., .. .; . • . .' . . . CT, W LONGDELL. _ . Taihapc; February 22.x; ; /*■