PETONE CAS WORKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 280, 19 August 1908, Page 9

PETONE CAS WORKS.

. Sir,——l see in your last issue that "Verax" is . trying to provo that black is 1 white, in ■ other words, lie tries to prove that tho Petono Gasworks is showing -a profit, while tho last published balance-sheet (1907) shows tliß following result:—Government audited' valuations of works, ground, .buildings, and. £17,778 7s. 6d.; cost of. works, as per- . balance-sheet, £26,500; less sold to Hutt, .. including Parliamentary rights, £4801- 25.; leaving £21,699 18s.; deduct Government audited valuation £17,778 7s. 6d.; showing a loss in value of- £3020 10s. 6d., -with not a penny of' depreciation fund to meet it. Now, "Verax" show up whero tho profits come in. Its -no us showing material bought or sold, show where I can find a profit to cover a loss of nearly £4000, and. then I will bo a believer in a "Hutt Gasworks."—l am, JUSTITIA. . August 15. IMMIGRATION. ~ Sir,—-Is it not time that the working men of New Zealand' woke up to tho fact that their country is being overcrowded by immigrant labour. It is -all very well-for em- - ployers to givo out that'there.is. plenty of work in the Dominion. It. is 'well known among the working men that such is not the case. Of course, it- suits the capitalist to •liavo a big surplus of labour in the country. He can then pick out only the best of the men; those wlio are not' top notchers are called incompetent men by the employers. Everyone must understand that New Zealand can only give employment to a limited number of workers, and it seems that limit has been overreached, now. Tho working man must make a mo.vo for himself in this matter as tho employbfs' certainly will not. —I am, etc., . . WORKING MAN. . August 15. " KEEP THE CRADLES FULL." Sir,—Your correspondent "Citizen," in your issue of the 14th instant, under the heading " The Birth-Rate," strikes a note that will find a responsive echo in many a brc-ast. The first hackneyed phrase lias become almost threadbare. , Its repetition and indelicate allusions by many who ought to know better; but don't, have by this'time created a feeling of utter disgust. It is neither my intention'iior"purpose to offend/ in this respect, but to show that while great numbers have discharged their moral duties and obligations td the State, tho State has fallen short of its obligations to the individuals. lam quite aware of tho fact that certain institutions—Maternity Homeshave been established, and doubtless render good service to the limited number who can avail themselves of their advantages. There are, however, hundreds, nay, thousands, who cannot, and do not, in any way.benefit by them. It is for their interest I venture to mako the present appeal. But first allow mo to, state, my. case. J It, is yre.ll known that there is a vast number of families, with a numerous and healthy offspring, who appear to bo quite outsiders, not only in tho matter of being distant from centres of 'population, but outsiders also because their interests receive littlo or. no consideration from the State or any department of it. It is equally w?ll known that many .fathers pursue their daily toil not infrequently, attended by a certain amount of real danger, 6uch as mining, building, sawmilling, busn clearing, etc., while tho mothers are "attending to their domestic duties, and in the latter occupation taking also an active part, - such as' clearing ground for a garden, digging it, and growing vegetables. I have often been an eye-witness of such. With a family, say, of three or four already, to tender such advice, savours morp of tho in-, stincts of the bruto than the wisdom of' the! ' "statesman or the suggestions of a true'friend. ' Now, while maternity homes- may render services calculated to add to tho population : by; reason of. the fact that many lives may be saved that otherwise would bo lost,'is it not probable also that weak ones are saved that nature would unscrupulously allow to succumb? . If that be so, then it means that' the number of weaklings is increased;-rather poor material for. the making and building up 'of a strong nation.' In tho country and back-block districts such institutions render no service whatever, nor does the State. • Yet hero will be found tho most healthy families,- often also the most numerous; but no help.* To tender such advice as before-mentioned is'simply brutal. My contention is', that the State, by reason* of its population being largely increased by healthy, stalwart''subjects, is under deep obligation to tho-parents, and how do they , treat-'-thorn ? Little better than tho beasts of the ! field." How, in my opinion, it should treat' them, I will endeavour to explain. ' / Assume, for the sake of argument, that 'three or four children be the limit of each family, : and that the parents "un;dor - 'normal circumstances • are l capable of - providing • . for all their Wants. 'Assume also that, say, £3. per week would : bp sufficient' to' enable them to satisfactorily' discharge ■ their parental duties, livery additional child must seriously increase their ■ anxieties and responsibilities;' if the number , should be doubled; then tho care, attention, aiid comforts must become quite a burden on tlio parents, while the advantages to each , 'child is reduced'by one half. My contention js that the State should at once'take an intorcst in this niannc'r: that while the parents ' clothoand feed their families—no light undertaking—tho State should provide every necessary -school book, and in cases of superior ■ intelligence and promise afford every ' facility for • procuring the higher education free-of cost. Not only so, but the lives of tho parents > should •be insured, especially that of 'tho bread-winner, such insurance should automatically increase with tho increase of the family and be maintained uu- , til they severally attained their fifteenth year, when it might be fairly assumed they would bccomo self-supporting, when the insurance might bo-allowcd to lapse. Tho object will clearly bo seen, that tho poor , iinother; 'upon whom falls tho chief burden, will liavo-some real support at the vory timo she might noed it in case of accident or .death of her husband.

| Such interest; however, should not terminate oven at tliis'period; on her attaining ' the ago of fifty-five or, at the outside, sixty, she should rccoivo, if she really required such assistance; the pension, but in increased ■amount—so also should the father.' My ■reason -for. this, suggestion I must make clear..; To'do'this most effectually is by a fair comparison. Assume that three .applicants for the pension at the age limit of sixty-five blio.ll consist of fathor and mother of a large family, the third of a bachelor. The former .have spent their lives and their strength in contributing to the real advantage of the State. 'If they havo reared sis to twelve stalwart sons and daughters to perpetuate their race, to pay their country's taxes, to discharge its civic duties, and it may be to fight its battles, surely they are entitled to much moro consideration individually than the third . party, who' has lived for himself . alone. It uiay be that, lie has spent his all in the consumption of dutiable articles, aiid is simply receiving his own aga.in. I have often heard tho argument—but- the 1 question arises, was it done for tho sake of his country's good, or merely for his own personal gratification?. At tho end of his life, ho sinks into his grave leaving only a memory behind, probably a short one, soon •to bo forgotten. In such cases, and I fancy they <vo fairly numerous, which individual has, rendered the State the greatest service'( At the present time, by a very senseless law, tho most unworthy is placcd on the same level with such as I havo described. Where, I ask, is the equity, or justice of such decision!' Lock of space precludes further argument. However. I submit my suggestions aro worthy of serious consideration, and possibly improvement; at any,rate they, aro worth ten thousand times tho cry, "Keep tho cradles full I" —I am,, etc., ' , AGRICOLA. August 17.