LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 264, 31 July 1908, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

WADESTOWN'S NEEDS. Sir, —It is to J)o hoped that when tho City Council have been iiblo to dispose of the momentous question of the "Leader" picture, that they may iiud timo to'deal with some important affairs of State. Wadostown, which is destined to become 0110 of tho best suburbs of Wellington on account of its proximity to tho centre of the toivn, lias two urgent needs. It requires a 'good main road and a tramway. Tho advantages of Wadostown need hnrdly bo pointed out, 0110 has already been referred in this letter, and its healthy situation is apparent. Wadostown and Karori may bo said to bo the only inland, suburbs of Wellington, _ and there aro many families not necessarily consumptive, but still delicate, who aro tied to this town, nnd -to whom residence in a suburb liko Wadostown would be a great boon. Tho keen sea air of Island Bay does not suit everyone.' Tho question of tho Leader picture moans simply, "Who is to pay tho fifty pounds?" Tho question of Wadostown is vastly more important, and, with its satisfactory settlement, many comfortablo homes will spring up in its midst. A ratepayers' association has wisely been formed to foster its interests, and may it not rest until tho objects of its existence have been realised. —I am, etc., July 21. CIVES. UNITARIANISM AND DOGMA. Sir, —Dr. Tudor Jones, according to tho published report, of his recent lecture on "How to improve the.British race," approved Dr.. Gulton's idea that dogma- is . beyond measure injurious, that it has a deadening effect upon tho mind and fetters tho into!-, lectual faculties to such an extent that tho raco has utterly lost its- natural aims and aspirations. Just as Prohibitionist's nostrum is "Away with tho drink," tho Anarchist's "Away with authority," tho Socialist's "Away with capital,", so tho Unitarian's is "Away with dogma." We arc invited to think nothing, to liavo 110 belief, and upon repudiation of definite) statements of wnat is bolievwl or thought to build up knowledge. Destructive agitators aro over fond of prophesying on most unsubstantial grounds tho great tilings that will comc if only men will do their bidding. They aro wild prophets with Jack-o'-lant-orns.

Dr. Liddon admirably treats of "dogma" in _ his sermon on "The Freedom of the Spirit," and.poH 4 s out that a 'dexterous' and aetivo rheto».c has associated this honoured word with tho idea of necessary assumption, and falsehood. It has contrived to invest a simplp namo with tho power of- a hostile and popular argument." This rhetorical investment is utilised by Dr. Tudor Jones and men are prepared, their minds having been duly garnished and swept, to lot in anti-religious -and philosophical speculations as a substitute for. the lovo of God and man based on Christian dogmas. But do, Unitarians themselves refuse to entertain dogmas .of their own? Certainly they do not. Their very name, ns they interpret it, is their great dogma and creed, without which 110 olio can belong to their school. It asserts positively a certain position. Wo arc all "unitarians" if tho word .means that wo accept the doctrine of tho unity of tho Godhead. But Unitarians go much further, and tako their title to assert anthroponiorphically that God is liko ourselves—a mere single personality. They, for greater definiteness should adopt tho namo of "unipersonalists." But if they concentrate their creed in their namo, and.invito men to utter their dogma whenever _reforonco_ is mado to thorn, why do they forbid Christians, to havo dogmas and assert, in a less prominent manner, their beliofs? —I.am, etc., July 23. THEOPHILUS. AMERICAN INDIANS V. MAORI. Sir,—-American / law forbids tho entry of any whites to Indian reservations. AVhy not apply tho Vagrant Act to Maori settlements to exclude'tho class of whites who deprave tho rising. Maori race? Tho Maori is-too good natural, and tho Government should protect th'om.—l am, etc., 'MY 20. ' PAKEHA. ' THE UNEMPLOYED. Sir,—Permit m'o through your columns to suggest that if. tho City. Council would push on that very desirablo work, .tho Oriental' Bay improvement, i.e., tho concreto wall and embankment, and tho: widening of.the roadway, so that the citizens may enjoy it next summer, there would be employment' thereon immediately for a considerable number ■of moil. —I am, etc., RESIDENT. July 2E). i CAPTAIN COOK'S MONUMENT AT SHIP GOVE. - Sir,—'Whilst' thoro is yet time, I should bo glad to seo tho proposal of placing a monument to Captain Cook in Ship Covo thoroughly reconsidered. All must agreo in tho erection of a suitable memorial to tho distinguished .navigator, and the only wonder is that-stens to carry this into effect' woro not, undertaken long ago by our No\y Zealand colonists. Tho first requisite: in mattors of.this sort is certainly that a monument should . adequately • represent its object. -The second is that it should bo erected on tho most availablo and suitable site, where it call bo constantly..viewed by the largest number of people, and awaken in them thoso sentiments and reflections' which should be a chief aim.

Surely tho site chosen of Motuar.i Tslnml in Ship' Cove does not fulfil those conditions. Only those would sco the • proposed monument who, from tho deck of" a passing steamer descry it at somo distance without any opportunity of examining its dotails. A similar, but worse, blunder was made with regard to the-monument of tho Rev. Samuel Marsden recently erected in a littlo nook at tho Bay of Islands, bu± here tho generous donor bore nearly tho .Miole expense, and so might chopsc. I , would suggest that Captain Cook's monument be erected in one of the largo spaces or .public gardens of one of our .four chief towns, .Wollinfjton or Auckland preferably. 1 In any ease, tho subject is worthy of fuller consideration than it has received before a final „ conclusion.—l am, etc., ' ' T. M. HOCKEN. Dunedin, July 26, 1908. A CLERK'S UNION. I Sir, —In reply to the letter which appeared in vour Monday's edition, signed "Petty Cash," I-would liko to mako one suggestion to tho writer, viz., to secure the services of a popular city clork (who will bo able to maintain his position throughout) to canvass tho various offlccs in Wellington for members'. This done, a meeting could be called to. decido what steps couM bo_ tntfen in the. way of forming the much-desired union.—l am, etc., . July 28. UNDERPAID! ■ Sirt —Your correspondent " Potty Cash " has, I think, madp a slight mistako by stating that tho Government aro granting ''assisted passages " to clerks from tho Old Country. As far as the Government aro directly concerned, there is no encouragement whatovor given to them. • . "Petty Cash," liko many others I liavo met, seems very much against tho invasion of the Englishmen; wliero tho trouble lies is that tho country is " boomed " too much. In a recent spcccli, tho Prime Minister refers to the country as at present being in a prosperous condition, and, therefore, no ouo need bo out .of employment. Now. the intended immigrant ha 3 only to read this unci out ho comes. I maintain that it is statements of this naturo that havo more " influence " than any assisted passages. You cannot blame a man who tries to improve his future prospects, and this is how the matter is taken at Home. I thoroughly ngrco that a Union should bo started on their behalf, and if 1 am fortunate enough to settlo here, I shall bo pleased to communicate with your correspondent.—l am, etc., July 27. EDWARD W. JACOBS. THE MAIN TRUNK STOPPING-PLACES. Sir,—lll your issuo of to-day, I was in-terested-to see an articlo giving an outlino of the probable stopping-places of tho soon-to-be-Auckland-Wellington mail train, but on reading, my interest changed to astonishment that such a list of stations could be seriously 'suggested. Everyone with any fcnowledgo of

railway matters knows that Packakariki must bo a stop in order to change engines. The locomotives hauling in and out 'of Wellington over the 1 in 35 grades arc cight-whcel-coupled consolidation type, specially 'designed for hill work and not for speed. In your article you admit the necessity for this chango at Packakariki on the southward run, but stato that it would bo unnecessary .when running north. From I'aekakariki to Palmcrston North the mail engino at present employed is a six-wheel-coupled Baldwin with big wheels, designed for speed. Tho two types are altogether different, and neither would & successful work except in her special sphero. Quite apart from this difference, however, it would be quito impossible to run a locomotive, of any typo at present in tho Dominion, from Wellington to l'almertson, about 80 miles, without a stop, simply bcr cause.sho could not carry sufficient water to make: steam. So that tho Packakariki stop will be absolutely necessary, and , possibily another wait for water will require to bo mado at Otaki or Manakau, for it is all uphill running from thcro to Pnlmerston. Tho question of stopping at Feilding is, 1 think, .decidedly a moot one, and as tho centre of a wiilo district that town should becomo a stopping-place. The mux, of Huntervillo., Beyond Taihape, Waiouru is mentioned. Why ? It is only a littlo over 30 miles from Tnihapo. On tlio plea of watering tho engines, I consider Waiouru should bo a stop, but your informant appears to have disregarded this necessity. At the samo time I quito agree that in'tho back country the train should stop more frequently than in the settled districts, which'aro served by slow trains.

From Taumarunui to Frankton and Frankton to Auckland aro very long sections. To Kuiti and To Awamutu surely deserve a moment's wait, in fact I am certain that it will be necessary for locomotive purposes, for it is steady pulling from Taumarunui to To lCuiti, and water will be required to be replenished there. Then from Frankton to Auckland, 80 miles or more without a stop, is a tall proposition, particularly on the south' run, when tho running is up-hill. Under most favourable circumstances, with provision for carrying extra' water, it.might bo done —under unfavourable conditions, certainly not.

It seems that the list of stations offered is compiled a good deal from guess work, and I venture to offer my. guess which, if you will pardon my saying it, will be as,near tho mark as yours:—Paejcakariki, Otaki (or Manakau), Pannorston. Feilding, Marton, Huntervillo, Taih'ape, Waiouru, Ohakune, Raurimu, Tau-' marunui, Te'Kuitr,. To Awamutu, Frankton, Mercer.—l am, etc., .July 22. . ; .CONDENSER. SOCIALISM AND THE LIBERAL PARTY. Sir, —Tho declaration of tho Liberal party through their amateur Minister for Education that tlioy aro not socialistic right up to the handle, is amusing. Under certain conditions no doubt it is diplomatic to say so. It is an interesting sight to-tho public also to hear Mr. Miller appealing to tho workers to help him to frame a now Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, considering ho has done all ho could to wreck the prosont. Act by his policy of linos and compromiso. Why i 5 Of course to square" the workers at tho polls. But are tho workers blind? Tho frontier .usually speaking, of course, to the ■ " gallery," diplomatically says: "Look what wo havo done. Our party. Look at'tho other side of the question." You would imagine ho was behind Naturo directing .tho rain to fall' and the sun to shino. As if I would go down if tho Liberals were away. Thoro arp more. practical level headed men: in the ranks of tho Opposition-p.take. them on tho whole, than the :,whole ,of "the Liberal party, although numoriCallwiargo'r. Messrs. Massoy, Hcrries, Alleii,:.and Alison can easily run' thia Dominion on' v its".merits .'without the aid of politicalbluffers." ThoVpcoplo' are gottiiig about sick of tho roads and bridges and boer and bunkum" policy. What -is wanted is a Government ,with somo political •vcrtibrao stronger than a jelly fish, and financial propositions stronger than tho Nai Nai land purchase and other similar: trans-, actions. Naturo will do the rest for New Zealaiicl'.—l-airi, = • Lower Hutt, . July 24. ■' 1 JUNIUS. MAIN TRUNK TIME-TABLE.; ■ Sir,—l was'a.good deal surprised to learn from your issue of Tuesday, that an authority, "whoso knowledge of tho lino and,'its exigen-: cies for rapid travelling- is indisputable"-had said, that you would not bo far out in stating that there would bo only 1 ten stopping places for tho through v express >on the '. Main Trunk Railway .between ' -Wellington and Auckland. Having lived for. tho 'last twelvo .'years ,in the. Upper Rangitikei district, which is traversed by the railway, I may fairly claim to know something about tho "exigencies" of the case, as well as natural and industrial conditions. I do not take a narrow or parochial view in remarking that tho Main. Trunk was undertaken to dovelop tho resources of the interior of this island and to servo tho interests of peoplo along the routo. They, wero not numerous when tho first sod was turned over twenty years ago, but they aro numerous today and are increasing rapidly. In The Dominion's Parliamentary report thia morning, : I see that Mr. Remington stated that .the railway revonuo at Mangawoka, Utiku, and Taihape last year amounted, .t0.£50,000. That-embraces thirteen miles of line. If the member for Rangitikei had included tho stations south of Mangaweka, as. far as. Huntervillo the income would havo been swelled to £75,000, which is nearly equal to tho interest on the capital cost of the Main Trunk: This custom has boon obtained on a length of 29 miles. If, a proportionate income wero derived from the railways of: the Dominion generally tile earning power would bo over sovon million sterling; Perhaps it is not generally known that tho population of tho country districts to bo sorved by tho Main Trunk and connecting lines is larger than \that of Wellington and Auckland combined, including tho suburbs of both cities, and considerably greater than, that of Christchurch and Dunedin.(urban and suburban), with Invercitrgill thrown . ill. These country folk aro like Hamlet in tho play. Tlioy cannot,!'and should not, bo left out, evon for tho sake .of the stray man from Invercargill who .wants to got to.„ Auckland in a hurry. However, the traveller from tho far south, can bo well served in his . journey to tho far north without railway arrangements which would bo'an injury and a slight to.tho people for whom the railway was built, and who aro materially contributing to make up tho deficioncy in railway financo caused by non-pacing- linos in the 'South. Island. . Auckland and. Wellington are, of course, miich concerned in this railway'arrangement -quostion. . Rapid and frequent communication with suppliers, and customers in' tho country, districts is of ,far : more importance to 'either of them than tho saying of an hour or two in the through journey between Port Nicholson and the Waitomata. Railway travelling in these islands must bo slow" compared' to tho speed attained on tho Home lines. No rushing about the'country at tho rato of nearly sixty miles;an'hour,-' which is tiio speed of tho "Plying Scotchman" between London and Edinburgh. The "Maori Scorcher" must bo content with a modest twegty-fivo. That will, not impress,the tourist with smartness in railway travelling in this part of tliA globe. Just a ridiculous attempt to appear big for a ver,\; small object. I gather from the ; railway time-table that . there aro fourteen stopping places for tho express trains between Christchurch and Dunedin—a distance of 230 miles. Tiiero aro two expresses both Ways every day on that section. Yet it is stated on " indisputable# authority" that tlicro will only bo ten stop-ping-places for the. express between Wellington and Auckland—a distance-of 427 miles. According to your informant, travellers aro to bo wheeled past such places as Levin, Podding, Huntcrville, and Mangaweka, towns which, in passengers, goods, and produco, contribute largely to railway revenue. At the north,ond there is to be no lifting or lotting down of passengers in the eighty-five milo strotcli between Auckland and Frankton' junction. . Surely, it is important that Wellington and .'Auckland should bo in tho closost touch possible with the country behind thorn. Tho Chambers of Commerce of'bothpities should voice'their opinion on tho subject. The North Island Main Trunk will establish unbroken rail communication between half the'population of the Dominion. First and foremost the interests and wishes of tho peoplo directly afffected should bo considered.—l,am, etc., HUGH CHAS. THOMSON. Wellington, July 23.