THE MOA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 319, 5 October 1908, Page 8

THE MOA.

Sir, —I see Mr. R. C. Bruce has again written a long letter to The Dominion; on the moa and when tho moa ceased to exist. Mr. Mair says ho wa's told of a moa chick being captured near Moawhango in 1865. What has bocomo of this chick? In referenco to the moa overlooking the sea on the East Coast towards the Pacific Ocean that is easily explained. Upon a lino sunny day when a north-easterly wind would bo blowing tho birds would naturally turn their heads to the refreshing breeze of tho sea. Almost all birds keep their head facing tho wind. Now, what would the moa on tho West Coast do? Would they look towards the mountain range looking to tho eastward, or would they look westward towards tho Tasmau Sea? On a fine sunny day they would turn and look towards tho Tasman Sea to enjoy tho cooling breeze. Mr. R. C. Bruce refers to tho deer in Scotland looking towards the sea and taking a swim. The deer and cattle on a lino sunny day will stand upon _ rising ground above tho sea or lake to enjoy the cooling breezo off the water, and if in tho mood will go into tho water a long way. Mr. H. C. Field gives a history of the moa given to him as he says by the Maori, and says they existed in 1820 or 1830. How is it that no whito man has seen the moa ? Mr. G. Reeso tells how in tho year 1830 a Maori chief Te lieu Heu gave a great feast at his pa Tokaanu and they had tho flesh of tho moa, and.the skin was as large as a bullock skin. Now, What has becomo of this skin? There is no doubt that Maoris would preservo this skin, and would use it as a mat. There is no record of the Maoris making mats of tho moa feathers as was done by them of other birds' foathcrs. On the first landing of tho whites they made no mention of the moa, but they found whales,'lizards, and-fisli. This gives a good idea how long a period had elapsed since the moa became extinct. Mr. Ikese says the Maoris used to make pots of die moa and tamo them. If such was tho case tho moa would probably still be alive. Tho Maoris would no doubt look upon tlioso magnificent birds asJ sacred as they do tho liuia. Mr. lleeso also says there is a skeleton in Wanganui Museum in which not only tho bones are perfect, but tho horny traclial rings of tho windpipe, still exist, and that could not belong to a bird that had long been dead. I myself found tho same amongst moa bones and gavo them to Mr. H. Hill. That did not say tho bird died recently. Bonos and egg-shells as well as sea-shells keep preserved in clay and sand for thousands of years. No human being has any record of the length of time nor ever will. Mr. Reese says in his lottor to Sir. Fiold that tho late Air. Aloxandor Murray at Day's Bay, Wei-

lington, and Major Lockett, near Collmgwood, heard tho roar of tho moa. N°\v, 1 ask tho reader hosv could they distinguish tho roar of tho moa having novel' soon nor heard tho moa roar boforo. Hero we have an example of the sea-serpent fable. I have heard soveral people say the moa becamo extinct through firo. Tho moa, liko tho mammoth animals, died in duo courso of nature, not by tho hand of mail or fire or water. —I am etc., DONALD MUNRO. Tinside, Weber, September 26.

THE PAYMENT OF LABOUR. Sir, —When wo hear the professional politician talking about giving workers a living wago or a living wago plus 25 per cent., it makes one feel sorry for both the workers and tho reasoning power of tho politician. It is impossible to define what a living wago is. The cost of living with the. family man is much greater than that of tho single man. The cost of living should not enter into tho question of wages; there is only one tiling, and that is tho valuo of service rendered. The product of labour is the only possible wages of labour. The wages of labour should be an equivalent ,to the whole product of tho workers —whether it is a living wage or not is a side issue. On tho whole, it must bo considerably more than a living, simply because about half the peoplo misdirect their efforts and labours, and this is equal to being idle, yet wo all get a living of some sort out of the product of labour. Although some contribute considerably more effort to production and distribution than others, it is hopeless to try and apportion the share to each individual by arbitration, because division of labour is minute and exchange of commodities complex. Indeed, it is also hopeless to try and do it from the base of cost of living: first, because tho cost of living is an unfixed cost; and, second, because it has nothing to do with the question of wages from a humano and just standpoint. A horso or a bullock gets a living wage for the service rendered —tho profit is taken by man. Tho workers _ aro treated much the same—the surplus is taken by schemers, and as long as the workers look' to the bogus Labour party for redress they are not only wasting time but advertising how ready they aro to be fooled. —I am, etc., E. STEVENSON. September 28.