LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 295, 7 September 1908, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

TECHNICAL SCHOOL ABUSES. Sir, —I think the attention of the public ought to bo drawn to some details of tho management of our technical school. Somo years ago, when I first attended tho school, the teaching of technical subjects seemed to bo conducted in a very haphazard manner. At the time I thought that this ouo class was probably an exception, but now I have had even a more unfavourable experience with another department of the school. I began taking lessons in chemistry last February. We liave at. present covered about one-sixth of tho ground which. wo ought to have covered. Uur 'teacher first mot with an accident, and then caught- scarlet fever. A substitute ivas appointed, who gave one lecture, and no more. He has since disappeared lrom our ken. For two months we had no lectures, and for a month before tho ond of last term we had no assistance from anyone in our experiments. Then came the holidays, after which our teacher was laid up with an attack of rheumatism, tho latest of a chapter of accidents for which he •jvas 'not responsible. Still no substitute was appointed.

I desire to say here that our first teacher Was a thoroughly capable man, and as long as ho was able to attelid tho class ho was thoroughly satisfactory; but I do blamo the management of the technical school for letting tho class slide in this manner. For your information, sir, I may stato that, towards tho end of last term—over two months ago—the students filed down in a body to the director's room and pointed out _ how unsatisfactory was tho state of affairs which I have above related, emphasising tho fact that for two months wo had but ono lecture, and that for one month wo had no assistance at all. He promised to see to the matter. Then, as tho playbills say, "three weeks elapsed"—in holidays. .The new term commenced, and the same loss of time occurred for three or four oveniugs—just as in the greater part of the previous term. Some of tho pupils had, come from distant places, such as Coromandcl Street, Miramar, etc., and it was decided by tho wholo of those present, eight in number, to write and sign a memorial to tho director confirming in writing what had on the previous, occasion been statocl verbally. Tho director promised the fresh deputation to try and got a teacher by the following Tuesday, or to let us know if lie was unable to do so, in ordor to save us tho troublo of coming into town. Ho did not let us know, and lie did not find a teacher. ..."

That was two months ago, so that for four months altogether our .time has been practically wasted. On- these facts comIn . Gri t _is heedless._ Tho worst, of a state of things like this is that. it.-.may go on indefinitely unless someone takes the matter up. The average student is hardly likely to do so, as it entails a certain amount of bother, and thus for lack of criticism abuses m our technical school are likely to be perpetuated.—l am, etc., ANTI-HUMBUG. DR ". TU ?. OR JON ES AND HIS CRiTICS. Sir,—Kindly allow one who, is prepared to call himself an " Anythingarian" in religion, to ask your correspondent "Inquirer where or when Dr. Jones claimed or suggested that Dr. Rashdall, Canon Chcync, or, Dr. Drircr were Unitarians? Tho question at issue (so far as Dr. Jones and Mr. Jolly are concerned) is as;to the attitude of philosophical and theological scholars towards tho traditional view of the so-called Atonement'." Why, .then, • introduce a Unitarian versus Trinitarian "aside" into tlio matter at issue? ■ ' ''

Any one, who has even a slight acquaintance with tho writings of Dr. Rnshdall; Canon Cheyno, and Dr. Driver] must allow that they cannot accept tho traditional "doctrino of tho Atonement "—and this is true, too, of most of tho so-called " eminent scholars enumerated in Mr. Jolly's list. Any ono who knows anything worth recording about historical theology ,'mnst admit that any theologian-who rejects the story of tho so-called, "fall of .man" must also reject tho doctrino of tho Atonement, o'r explain it in such a way as to explain it away. Personally, I entertain no vestigo of doubt that though Dr. R-ashdall, Canon Cheyne, and Dr. Driver do not call themselves Unitarians, thoy aro very much more advanced and more heretical in. their attitude to popular or traditional theology than tho.rank and filo of Unitarian theologians. ' One thing seeihs to mo beyond dispute, that not one of tho scholars mentioned by Mr. Jolly can be re: garded as accepting the expidatory, or even tho Gibson Smith propitiatory view of the Atonement."

As one who listened to (without entirely agreeing with) Dr. Jones's address to the Socialists, let mo say that Dr. Jones simply stated that it was time that they (ministers) spoke not the truth but the "whole" truth. In this ho wai, I feel, perfectly right. I havo been for over thirty years,in closest touch with clergymen of all Protestant denominations, and I. believe that I am stating nothing but tho truth when I say that ninety-nine per cent, of them admitted to, mo that they dared not ; speak the whole truth (as it presented itself to-them) in pubJ carc Hot.what a man calls himself in' religion, tho question for me as an honest seeker after truth is: Is he free to speak tho whole, truth as it presents itself to him? If Unitarianism concedes such freedom, it is* good ouough for me; if it. does not, then I consign it to tho limbo of the. other stereotyped creeds and " isms," .and call myself with Dean Swift, your humble servant, ANYTHINGARIAN. September 3, 1908. WELLINGTON EAST. Sir, —So far as the candidature of Mr. G. 'Winder is concernedi the position of myself and some thousands of other unfortunate electors is not improved in tho slightest degree. But the' chances of a really strong Opposition, or Independent Anti-Go vera" • merit Liberal, who would hold the best iii-" terests of the country as a whole as above party, and fads, and 1 isms, are very distinctly improved, and we still hope we shall not bo disfranchised at the coming important elections. In reply to. Mr. M'Lean's remarks at his recent meeting,, permit me to say it is quite immaterial to me whether that gentleman takes any notice or not ■ of my lotters, which aro anonymous simply because their contents are an expression of individual opinion impersonal in its character. —I am, .etc., ■■

ELECTOR. September 3, 1908. CLASSIFICATION OF THE INSANE. Sir,—Will you'permit me to say a few words in your valued journal about the recent debate in Parliament on the classification of tho insane? Possibly tho 3240 patients in our .mental hospitals. have at least 20,000 relatives and friends who are more or less concerned about them, and many of the former become grieved and depressed 'when meagro reports and debates raise, doubts about the manner in which patients, are treated. It is near tho end of my twenty-first year since I was appointed official visitor of the Auckland Asylum. I advisedly use the word "asylum," because it is an asylum indeed— a placo of refuge and protection for old and young who could not protect themselves. I prize my opportunity for this, social service to persons so much afflicted. It is a blessed work for all concerned. Members of Parliament who concern themselves about the insane thereby try to help and befriend tho class most helpless and hopeless of their fellow-creatures, and they should never relax their .vigilance. Hut I can personally testify to what the Hon. Hall-Jones said in tho debate that "efficient progress had been mado in connection with tho adniinistration of tho Department," so far as Auckland is concerned. Dr. Beattie has wrought great changes for tho better, arid, considering tho necessarily limited resources at his disposal, his improvements have done much good. For a young Dominion I believe that our asylums are a credit to the Government and to the whole people. I have never once mado an appeal to any New Zealand Government in tho interests of the insane that has not been granted. Both the Hon. W. Hall-Jones and tho Hon. Georgo Fowlds havo acted instantly and efficiently on my own and my coadjutor's reports when omorgencies required it, and I am convinced that, within reason-

able and: justifiable financial bounds, \ tha Government would at once 'do all that ia proved to be necessary.'" ; That should comfort relatives of the insane. ' The latter aro well cared for. • But wo have not yet got proper classification of the insane, and we cannot possibly have _it for some time to come' ; although I believe that our classification will compare favourably with many asylums in the Motherland, Europe, and America. To do what tho medical superintendents want, and what humane feelings dictate as desirable and even necessary, tho expense would be enormous and unjustifiable at present. .As the Dominion becomes richer, tho requisite expense can ho borne, and in tho meanwhilo the patients are infinitely better cared for than they would be in their private homes by their affectionate relatives. Of course we crave for better classification. In our asylum here in Auckland we liavo a dear little child about two years old and a boy and a girl about eleven years old. They are with aged and other insane women, and aro well cared for, but little children aro too great a tax upon the staff, and tho •asylum is not suited for them. There aro also a great number of old men and women who simply want taking care of, and except for their care tho medical • superintendents could find more time and strength for scientific study and practice in insanity., This adequate classification is what we must all aim at as an ideal and a possiblo achievement, but meanwhile -we' must be patient and may rest satisfied that the patients are well cared for—as well as is possible under existing conditions. Thanking you in anticipation for so much space,—l am, etc., • F. G. EWINGTON. Auckland, August 31,' 1908. ■ HUTT AND PETONE CAS QUESTION. Sir,—Re engineer's report of the projected gasworks, Lower Hutt. It is said that an ■'ounce of practical knowledge is worth a ton of theory." Tile report is all right in theory, but useless in practice. Now, if we look over the balance-sheets of two boroughs almost similar'in size to .Lower Hutt, what do we find? Take Feilding, for instance. For lighting they charge 9s. 4d. por 1000, and no dividend and shares below par. There aro no gasworks in New Zealand with a twelve million cubic feet output and charging 6s. Bd. por 1000 paying any dividend at all. Again, take Lyttelton, a model gasworks, with coal landed at its mouth. ! Well, what are the results? They sell gas at Bs. 4d. per 1000, and, providing no depreciation, they show only a'profit of £300 -for tlie year 1907. Were they to ■sell gas ; at 6s. Bd. per 1000 there would be a decrease or deficit of £295, and no allowance towards depreciation fundi Of course, selling gas at Bs. 4d., they, may weather the-storm.

- The labour wages in- connection with Patone gasworks (excluding engineer and clerk) amount to almost ,£ISOO per year, working on very economical lines. The engineer of tho Hutt has- put down same at £476 16s. Bd—a very great and mighty difference between theory "and practice. Why did nofe the ongineers tell us what the consumer will .have to pay, not at the manufacturing meter or holder, but at the consumer's meter,'_ including cost of distribution and .big interest- on thousands borrowed tagged on? "We are handed in gas bills now, at the beginning of the month, at the rate of 9s. 2d. per 1000; Petono's share ss. 3d.; accordingly our local tax on "loans" already borrowed means 3s. 9d. to the consumer. What if'we have to pay interest on thousands more to be tagged on to the consumers? /■; ■ Our engineers say, or report, they will furnish us with gasworks for £7000; LytteltonVloan was £20,000 for similar ' works. I wonder how our intelligent Mayor and Councillors swallowed tho whole thing down "cum grano salis," and prepared to' swear' by the same, except three wise men or Councillors.. 'The initial cost we have to fear. Petono ' has undergone this amount, and has offered us reasonable terms, on which, if our tCouncil will not accept, the ratepayers ought to insist, or call on them to resign. —I am, etc., ONE INTERESTED. Hutt, August 28.' NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. Sir,—ln your issue of this date you publish an interview with a local resident, just returned from Queensland, relative to the price of land and prospects rn-that State. Ho statos: "I went prepared to curso, and learned to bless." Why curse? Is not Queensland tho finest and richest State in the Commonwealth, and is it not 8J times the area of New, Zealand, possessing, moreover, practically no territory that is not useful for either agricultural purposes or pastoral purposes? This .attitude of.New Zealanders towards lauds they have never seen is extraordinary, and, to Australians, inexplicable. Could they but recognise that the Commonwealth is their older brother to grow and .improve even 'as thoy, and not a rival at whom to hurl invidious comparisons and detractions —I am, etc.,

QUEENSLANDER. September 3, 1908. TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND JAM-TIN . CULLY. ■ Sir.—Allow-me to protest as effectively aa possible against tho proposal to erect the ' new* technical school. in " Jam-Tin Gully." It is the most out-of-the-way spot tliat could possibly be thought of for that-or any other public purpose, nowith standing the two whole columns of .special pleading contained in your issue of to-day. Tho plan that you publish at tlio instance of Mr. La Trobo may bo correct in .showing where tho students; happen to live to-day, but. as a plan showing the centro of the city population from which tho students must come in the future it is altogether misleading and supremely ridiculous. The plan has been drawn up in the interest of Newtown and its near neighbours and entirely ignores the very existence of Kolburne, Wadestown, Kaiwarra, Crofton, Khandallah, Northland, and Karori, to say nothing of Potone and the Upper, and Lowor Hutt.—l am, etc., . CITY RATEPAYER. , September 1, 1908. INJURED IN THE ANTARCTIC. , A NIMROD OFFICER.. (by telegeaph—peess association.) Chrlstchurch, September 5. Mr. H. L. A. Mackintosh, second officor of the British Antarctic expedition ship Nimrod, has made a completo recovery from the effects of the distressing accident whereby ho lost an eyo when tho vessel was landing stores on tho ice in tho Far Soutlu Mr. Mackintosh lias been granted a commission in the Royal Naval Reserve, tho Admiralty authbrities evidently considering that the loss of his eyo will not debar him from performing any active service in his Majesty's navy: Shortly after tho return of tho Nimrod from the Far South, Mr. Mackintosh went to Sidney, to undergo special treatment for his injury, and be is still in that city, but it is understood that ho will return to Lyttelton, probably in November to rejoin the Nimrod for her second vovage to the Antarctic. \