LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 313, 28 September 1908, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

DAIRY REGULATIONS. Sir, —Passing over tho questionable importance of a nulla more or less in the figures, tho imposition of a Uistanco regulation in tho cooling of milk is an outrage not only on "Backblocks," but on any dairyman. When I had a herd tho coolcr occupied tho centro bail, and if I went back to it I should do the same again. If tho farmers are not mico they will demand emancipation from the ignorance of those who are now seeking to set themselves up as the gals of the daily industry without its responsibilities and hardships. With tho cooler in the middle of the shed milk can be produced that will keep 24 hours in a 70 degrees F. atmosphere. How it works on a distance regulation can bo understood by tho fallowing illustration. _ I was visiting a shed that had the reputation of boing tho best in its district. Thirty gallons was tho product of the two hours' milking, being accumulated all the time in cans which were lidded up as filled. After milking, tho six cans were carried to tho cooler and put over at tho rate of ono a minute, forming an. enchanting representation of a cascade. Tho temperatures were— 100 at milking, 90 when leaving tho shed, 75 after cooling; water GO. Qui bono. The act of milking pumps air into tho milk all tho time. The act of cooling expels gases all tho time; therefore, if an atmosphero is not fit to cool in, it is not lit to milk in. If it is fit to milk in, it is fit t-o cool in. To get tho best results from cooling, tho act must bo in actual continuity with the milking, and that will never be the outcome of a distanco limit. Thero is nothing on earth moro inconceivably astounding than the effrontory of thoso who think that any power on earth has tho right to give them authority to interfero with tho producer by imposing ignorant restrictions on his legitimate operations.—l am, etc., HENRY BODLEY. September 22, 1908.

THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE,

Sir, —Under tho above heading appears a lengthy leader in your issue of to-day, quoting extracts from an article by a special correspondent of tho "London Times," intermingled with some comments of your own and an extract from a speech made by a Tory politician 50 years ago. It is somewhat difficult in places to distinguish your own remarks from those of tho "Times" correspondent, but it is quite clear that the object aimed at is to show that in England and America laws aro framed on a scientific basis, whereas in Australasia they are merely temporary expedients, generally introduced to overcome some transit-ory industrial difficulty that does not .require any special legislation. You would also have us believo that politicians in this part of the world are totally ignorant of the science of political economy, and generally advocato State socialism because it saves them tho trouble of thinking • out a moro scientific solution to the problems of the hour. Yet conditions aro not altogother satisfactory even in countries which, according to your theory, are governed moro wisely than ours.In Great Britain there are thousands of acres of land owned by ? men whoso forefathers helped same Continental brigand to capture tho throne of England centuries ago, and those who aro fortunate egough to bo allowed to cultivate any of theso lands havo to pay a heavy toll in tho shape of rent to tho lordly owners, who promptly evict them if they ask for their dwellings to be kept in a decent stato of repair, or refuso to pay an increase of rent for improvements they havo made with their own hands. In tho manufacturing centres there aro slums of the most horrible description, all created by private enterprise through the enhancecl valuo of land in tho districts where tho working peoplo have to- live. This is the happy hunting ground of Mr. Massey's friends—tho freeholders—but they take good caro not to live anywhere near their own estates. The railway companies, which further illustrate the blessings of "sturdy individualism," chargo such exorbitant rates that it is cheaper to send farm produce from tho south of Germany over tho German State-owned railways and across the North Sea to Billingsgate market than it is to send it from Ashford (Kent) to tho same destination.

Olio could go on quoting similar instances of tho offccts of private ownership of land and railways, an integral part of the policv of "sturdy individualism" you advocate', but suflico it to say that private enterprise is doomed, not because of its scientific basis, but bccauso of its lack of one. A system which makes peopta starve because by means of up-to-date machinery the world produces more food than it can cat, a system that sots man against man and nation against nation, in tho inseusat.o struggle for dominion and power, is not only irrational but anti-christi.in, it is as offensive to Heaven as it is to thinking men on earth.—l am, etc., September 19. NIM

STILL TAKING COVER.

Sir,—The reply of the Hutt Licensed Victuallers to the challenge which I issued 011 bolialf of tho No-License Lsague is exactly what I predicted. They declinc to fudit. bilt tlioy have courage enough for a little futile sniping from under cover. Either some member of the league was guilty of tho offence of roll-stuffing or of somo dishonourab'o or illegal _ practice subsidiary thereto, or the resolution of the Ilutt Licensed Victuallers' Association was a cruel libel upon an honourable body of men and women," who are prevented by its vagueness from seeking a legal remedy. The association declines tho responsibility of affirming tho former alternative, and in so doing pleads guilty to tho latter. It is in these circumstances quite unnecessary, for ir.e to deal with the various, inaccuracies, half-statements and innuendoes, in which the letter published by you yesterday from tho secretary of the "association abounds. I must content nij self with dealing with two points. In the first place 1 made on such ludicrucus misstatement in the Court as that "The defendant had been told on two occasions that slio would bo quite right in signing an enrolment form, as she would be of before tho date of the .elections. ' What I said was that she had been 'canvassed on two occasions, and that from what had been correctly told her Oil the first occasion sho had wrongly drawn tho inference that SII9 was entitled to bo enrolled: hcnco the mistaken answer or. the second occasion to the question on tho claim for enrolment which has caused all the toruble. As to tho written statement of Miss Carter 011 which . Mr. Fitzgerald relics, fin wouM probably not bo so proud of it if he knew as much as I do of .tho circumstances in which it was signed. Having, however, had the privilego of cross-examining Miss Carter 011 tho point—a privilego which will be gladlv oxtended to the ablest counsel the licensed victuallers can produce, if they will put the mattor to the only conclusive test —] am in a position to say that her statement with regard to Mr. Townsend's responsibilitv' is perfectly compatible with my previous summary of tho case. As soon as it is realised that the alleged "inducement" was held out by Mr. Townsend in April, and that without any further comnumic.'.tion from him it operated in July through another canvasser acting independently of him, it must be obvious to anybody that the enrolment was really tho result of a perfectly honourablo misunderstanding. Of course I do not expect to convince Mr. Fitzgerald. Ho is not paid to be convinced. Cut I should be _ thankful to be fjiven the chalice of convincing a Wellington jury. As Mr. Fitzgerald's employers rofuso to give us this opportunity, I can only ask tho electors of the Hutt to accept my assurance, not as a lawyer, but as a man who values the honour of tho No-License party above tho interests of any client, that having probed (lie matter' to the bottom, I am perfectly satisfied that not a shadow of reasonable suspicion rests upon the league or* its executive, and that any definite imputation of mala fides or sharp practice upon any of its members . could be triumphantly refuted.— I I am, etc., A. R. ATKINSON. September 22, 1908.

In Franco there is a higher average in art, both of production and of taste, and intolli(jenoo, fa England ib iu coattorod individuals who .oouut.—' lT Saturday Koviow." J.