LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

,: ; .:ii-:.,■:■;-.-:.v-:..;,:. ■'■•■:— — r— « ■—):.:.■■ •...-,-,•;■'• ; -;:.v';:^ ; -:vW."^-.:v-^ : 'VAn-i.-'\ v>.^: V v 1:; 3 A BACK-COUNTRY'SCANDAL, v;^, ; ;^?':-' SETTLERS,:; .;">')•'■ .;• .Sir,—-As an Ohura reader I; have been 'ii : ' : ; : : - v'Bomewhat ; C interested v": in > your :•' reference -.-.'.'i 5 ■ '.vr'through , jyour,'leading; column to,- tho boycott ':':-,' -;in the. ,: matter : of OTthholdingiGovernment r;l ! :::,^:^advertisements ! :from;your;paper."':To "anynot in. touch with Government'methods ;-,'■,■-this might, occasion surprise, but to ono who V^-i : ; '' has, watehed .the;, "rigging ;of the ,thimblo". f-r-n: :vnothing"can^ f S' . :•:" instances.: of .how payable, it ,: is, financially, >;P ;;■-to.be of the ''-right colour.": : ;.,.' '' .-■ <Mh last election tho booth,;.at .Matierp. & i' I■'. polled>o 'majority, for. tho jOpposition-cahdi-'■'v.V.'.: date;, :that.at,;Mangaroa'. a majority, for, tho > ■;'''. ; . ; . ; .'..,.G6vefnment J niember.' ; .' To' make tho matter ■■^•-^'-0--f'cl^HoV.'yiur^ i^ , : : ; ~.,i3.a 'town'ship-.eightcen' miles from the-rail-. s: " •■■:: ■'.-'■■■ ■' M nn garoa, is :twerity'-nine, ■or ■ eleven ; : miles'■• further/inland.' : Now, sir, woiild you :;'■'■'■• J'vl>elieifeV:that:'fa::,sum of I'.thjnk, £2400, .was W , .!:. ;; v voted■;for.-iinpi;oving. the main";road,; passing through-^ early last spring, ■:.--..-:'■•:■'and that 'tho'major'part ofthie monoy, was : v v-', :Vspent-inimetalling :and ; improving tho near ::.'/ .:: vicinity vp'f. v thp .township of: Mangaroa,: while ;V:V '■ ':.' the road from tho railway ;,was, barely.passs" • ' - ! able till'dry : Tveathor.camp:.:..To .the credit :/>;?:': ; o f theiHon. Mr. ; :Hogg be .it : said,/that when ■":■:■.'.-the North -phura Settlers , .: Association put ' ; : : -'. 'tho m'atter.;befofo:him 'he' immediafely wired " : :p -'--i authority"vto i£looo/ and; subsequently .::.'-.:: gave tither; grant's , , as long as; if was possible, ■:',-/':..' t-oimprbvp'''the rpad.whilp. ( ...finq. weather- :';'::'"'. lasteQ,i' ; J'.may|.Eiay'that : nb fower'thaiithree , , 7? "' •"• Toad'.qffibii|s die.in'-tho district,' and-all;are •V ■■> : '■. clustered'..at -Mangaroa;: ;Why .this is., so.I- ---::~-'"-.• '■• ;, '■-.- ! do riot knbWy'.'.hut I shoiild Mike ,-to protest. ■i ■;:".V.- , ''■:-7emphatically;'against' tho 'growing eyil. of;al-. i-' , . , -'.' : :V:'''-.idwing':Gov<^jiimottt..Mr.vants;tQ.'foH ; -lan'(l..^i' , ' ;S:'.- "v : their■;:."'road.'l;tlistrictsr; b> /to. ;tinoturo : local ■!/ ; ; : :>i. '-politics : ;by,:tfaieir:interferen'ed.;' I dpjnbt.say. :/ ■■■K'::'. that ajl, do. would "bo lessfriul ; V- ; .;-r^ithan,the:majority.iif:ho 'did: not ,:t'ry :-,:-v>' l '-vii..yance.-:anT ; pirt;,:in 'which; he '.was 'pecuniarily, :;;:■: ■.:, interositou.:'.Now, ; whilo. some miles of metal-. ■ • '■''■ ■■-.-.'->-Wling have;been, done:in end around.Mangaroa i.v--:' i r":>r- it is ~i a ;iflie't '■ that. Maticre has quagmire: ;'v;:v'- ; :through the township, not a ; gram of metal, : ;..'•:'!.':: ; ■'•!■•. and/tho V road v is; riot pvbir; upon:;the. proper. post "office'are v, ; V obliged r l to'take..to.a gangway ..of ..boards: laid. -:'': ; ::. : ::'./throughv:a^swamp,Vso bad;:is ; the\-so-called; ."I:: '-:V. road;;^ ; Tho'!local.; , Ecttlers , ..assocjatipn.'has'on o::.;.:' ) ,V -. eoyerarocoasioris '> asked that; 1 this .v.ery ;neces- ■;;•/•":, •:..:eary: work 'should be done, and an; estimate ;-':: .;.'''vfas made.by'ithe'district.surveyor-that-the V v ;;-'.-Nls-;^work''''of- , -pl»cm'g-.\toe;'road'.pii'';the\iiroperi , lin'o' ":'-.-." ; V.-would cost'£3oo, but" the' Department decided ;vi/'::'>v.'i'that ::Hhe i ;money :;could bo . ;spent. ..'With Qi: '.'•'. -rabre7adyantage■ on .the :worst: parts,of ■ the :^\'>,;v'j,mttM^^'d.;;:'^ ; ': : ,;"V.:;;v ; -were: spent ■'■'paJa by at'=Mangaroa;; : request v 6f a ■:v- : ;'i-V/^^;Npw , ;;i;s.ir/.;l ; ?defy;:th6. Hon.^Mh ; ; : Hpggf!W; '£■:■ .my;'statement:-V-.X-;;;' .him 'to publish, the',, full :_amount ivhioh. has '■-' ;-v'i:':. ! been';';granted-;:.in . : >the.- way !of ispobn-feeding - ! ::7.-':. ; ;;...MangaToa:aa/d .'reward ')■ ; ;v ; nient;rdherence,':and ; ;wh;ile,;he is.too riewito. ■;;>..;:';■ the office to bear.;the burden-of hia predeces"H. i;:.';; Bor's:;faults-:: l> sincerely hope his ! sense-'of.: - ; vv':-'..'/ i..-;;V'ie"etl<fe vwill lead .to'va; tnore,- fair-'- and;equit- ■>;: •"irv;.'^' :e^i!tts^^*'-pf;."n .S l ??Sßar3[v i ]r<)fcsi and that; Vj";'■■^/;V:: : end■ of.the.district); having:no.political pull,: 'vviivii-'VvvTvill.-nptiiweigh- with him.when -the, RV'i'. , :--;' :his-Departmojit-is jat'.stake. .'.Mr^-Hogg,bas •■■;. l'-;. '.vf;V';etobdr:aai-the' 'champion \ of.jlthb-, small ..man. ■V-'r'i l "' -' : * tn( l.'ilhe leasehb!der,;:.let him'/ameliofatetho' :of ; ; jnen^wlio;;'in;;addition ':■ to. ;thb first-named have: the 'extra cjaim on the ?;:;.::;: ;';^mp£ithy: of. ; being crippled by: bad; roads. * '■. rv;yr--vVi' r : : ;- ! iWhil^ , . , sir, I .could; give :bther : . of. :;::•■';>,.;■;& like:: nature", to:i.thpse/'meritipried,:-; , !. think' i;' ,:■■;:. -iv I haye'.:said', sufficient '•:„to .show .that-the'bbv-f: holding'opposite':vi^ws'::'to : Aoso', v : ?..:-;'', ; at present ctfmppsing.the\Gpyefnment;i3.ri6£ ; v f) ; -::'fconfined -to ■%'j./,?:'- r: .i ?''i ! '■v-'-r'Matiere/'May^M.-vVy: : ":■."' '•■ :^-::': v'' ; ; ,■■:.■'•■ Vv. 'v v . : ''. : ;:[TheJscaiidaious:;cbriditio;n' pf."the' rpads in' v-v '.'■ the;-jdistrictrreferred tp-.has,;be'en:-drawn' aK ■?-:' V'' -\tentiori^tb^bnij'many; occasionsr>-:lfcw'ould'.be :fxijZ 'rf.interesting; tp;npte .Hogg,.,witb. i'' 1, ;-' '.v'?.v.W* : -pw.fc'e^fd|siife:''Wvass'ts't ; "itheisimiU'-mati}' >■:':.;";. will dp any Wro 'iot. tte' urif prtuiiate'' settlers y,:':;:-f.thaii^hia%pT€decesspr/l ; -v : ':-.:y:, T '';'";/:.: .■'■■•.'■',■..

:; v v:'.:Sir;rrlri'; t&day'B'i-i&siie -of your .paper,.; I '■. ..notice; you 'publish a '-i'ress'.-Association i !: : ;.i;.count:; , 6f ! ,;.an;i:interyieff-. : .."bet>veeii-' , ttie'- Hoy. if 'Bnddjithe.worthy, secretary *>f ; tlie:,Wißonbrs'' ■;■; •Department.';rfthb:i.rey;'gentle'.*;;:f man' .ji-s 'Undoubtedly :_ the well-wisher, ofr tnoso : :';i"who:,are unfortunate Venouglii-to>>'.' fajli'':- aidi ;',':?;;;wifct;tnuph'.he. is ■/reported .'to ihave said'rl< ''■:■ '--»gieie;. ;.'±le-; says work, of, theJp'Bsbners , ;■' i-fe '. jnould; be. 'Mid. aad.vremuuera ,'. -;iany jotter:^i^iiV : iiiter^te l d\ffoM-' ;l 6p§nds/a' V'..{few^ydayßr'w'itliJJthejgangs : ;'on: .'■; , .'.ithe>Waiotapu :: Camp,-.-I■;think 'he. 'm :•;.they ■)•} v.wouldibe-, Batisfied : vasyto\.;Jt : ;.beiiig: '.' hard.";. remunerative'.'■•'■tft ; \f -the; ' v). .prisoner.', , .' at,.the; tree;planting- camps :is. ,:;i.'not .«(!s.cohtinnal v pionic/.>a3.y%oino' y^imagine;';-;and;- -the; 'prisoners':: -work ;is the'ayeragolls.'ad.to 128 ; .'pernian .vi/per.-'clajjyy.^;-'-. -\ y r ' : >....-'-' ■•;'■';.'--'..V. ■■:■'■:' vP; ; -Thb-.single :hut;-system-;will.;bb a.boonrto. ;v : :.the-..ca'mp3._yTheassociation .of Jfeuis'men; in t -:.V; each;-hut , is. an.: abomination, they ;. contain' ;;■;>;.480/ pubic feet: of : ; upacej '■■ less than taken up : ■> by I, ' f'-'tables," .stool3,.:stoye,:;eto.. .•;'j.vl believe thp.law/bpinpelß tho I'arm'er.tp;pro-■ ;i,; videj.mbrei air'space .for onb'cow-'in his slieda. .'.:•: •■than'is.'prbvided for four'men at-.'the-: camps.''• :;'; Re' Sunday, \there "is aUot in what , Mr. Budd : ■^■;;- ! kiys;i:^r v believe . it; is 18.: moiitlia \ since the '■jiy'Bomari : Catholics:(who;composo'at-the-leaat ; ;"!.i third o-f. themen : at..the'.cainp)ihad a;,ser;VV,;:'vifie,riand the- othor.deiioniinations- are .'catered ; ; ;;; : .:for;by.;o lay reader,-:;who. reads. Gomce..arid '^iw preaches a';terindn J.'oncb: '.a- month' in the; '..-Iblacksmith's shop.'.-The various^churches aro 'r:-:;io: blame.v; They.can}find, missibnariia■.to. : go ■:; iVto" phina aiid other/places,. where;thby-arb-: - : ;-,iiot'-wanted, ;but...thbir oiVn colour, whoha've^ ■ ;;;■ fallen,...can, go -to : tho ■,devil. ..." All ■ ■ except '!.' 'i; : Catholics .have;to; aitendi-ho^; Church' ,;,of: England service,,'.: and '..'it ivould'.uo 'quite for,;-;tho \Wesleyans, : :'Metbb^ists', ; -etciV--:^-to^arrange.to'.'tako'rfoiie;. :,--iSunday. a.njonth each. •'■There could-then; bo •.',-,'- a service every'/Sunday.; -There'is , np reason. : : ;;'.why the.Qoverniiient-should not build'a ,: liU ; y;;.'tie church.'. Jt". would , , cost them 'nptbingbut .;;•':the;'price;of-ithe; matpriaLlanded, on,. ,th«.'. ,:. • :.:'groiind. •.;It-,c.buld-.bo':-built;on .skids"'.asiithei' :'; Vhuts arc'.'.■ "&■ clergyman 'or lay re*ider"gbiiig ..'y-'.:toi-a,;camp': iind just, gabbling,:through'.'■■• the ; :;;;;service does more harm than good.-. What he ~:;i.e hpuld dp is;!itb. spend an , hour or. two.every, ■■;;;■; Sunday ■ in:tlie;;camp,.and-Vbefore .'i-or ~-aftqr -y: -^service ■.to--'hay'e :a; cliat to: tho .meri''in their! •.: v ;':huts!. r.am"isnre:that-a thoroughly .;■; , ; inan''could dpVihcalculable good..'■';■■•■,.• .'■',•-/,q../.. ;':■..;.; I b'elievo;l)K;:'Find]ay's .intentions.'with : ':■■:>'gard to ithe"|camps : :and. reformation are. for- .-■;; • good, but hcViJoesn't know ■.■what really, .docs. ;.';.-. 'goion at the'.'-!c'a'!iipa;- r . ; ,omcials : ta'ke ■i ; v-;ho'dbesn't,' ani34herb'.'.wptiid.'bßia^terrible.iip;' '; roar. nmongst'-tlicpnbJic .if only , . kncW ':■: ■•/".,the. class"o^mehi.thatrare v '-..'; their •'.offences;'/- A:number-of the* warders,are-i '..': totally runfit'ffor a' 1 cainp r lifo,; Riid :to itake' .".' charge; of:a 'gang of men .".on theirj-own. , !— '■' ■■-','-';■ I am,- etc.,■'::•'• ; :i.S v !0' ; -: ; ' : . ; vv :i'-.'?V--'.; -::-■.> V;' ::. .Uf;; £ONE WHO KNOWS.; • :;-';-i;May >- ; '> ; A.v;; '>:.f : ;i. : ': : 0- ; - : .^.":■■■ tlMti'tfALUiliG.^'■'... }-f'^ : ■> i:.. Sir,—Thoi letter 6f : )\lr: 'Lamhert-on land' '■ .' . valuing is nbi hiu'ch to the purpose 'as .affect-■' ■.■';': 'ins;!the'iEsu6sraiscd;by the.statements inadb ; .either !)y;.Mr.',Gardn'er or, myself. ;And this "'.futility of bisio i.due to his prcconb(jived ; no-' : :->■'- : tionsi about >tllo" ignorance; and, incapacity' of ; ,'i our, \ alacrs,' and : the ignorance 'and :'"dis» V , ' -■' hontsty '. of Henry, George. •: A iid soeing that ritho.i'e;notions: pf his have no bearing on.'tho : ' i /main question between :iMr.' Gardner aiid I, 1 , ;. Mr. Lambert'would do well u> reconsider his .'■:■•' : position'and endeavour, to grip firmly, tho / : ; '. factfthat;l,am .trying :to . justify.. a law : i : whereby a sound economic'principlo is estab,:::lishod. Whereas Mr; Gardner, who has nd- • . iniiiktcred .this law for thirteen! ycare, dc- ,"■ nies .that such.'aneconomic'.result is. obtain•.abloi.l'mdbr iiOf law.■'.•':-. •"';';.'■ , . '' ~■■ Nb\y,.'surely th.at'iissuo-,is; clear, onoughl : i Let mo add that' my position', is- that or a :' ..true .beliover in the,law, and only, for tho purposes of this-discussion my old friend is -"infidel." : So my objective is equally ■ ; clear: I want to,convert, Mr. Gardner ip- the .truq : :.fa.|tli,' and .failing that I submit', ho. ..siibuld," iii'a literary sense,' roast mo 'at thb i :i stakb.,;Ahd as Mr. Lambert seems anxibus : ■'. '■- '■•torjjeli). in this.vniatter, "let him 'take, the .":■ ■'■' vefetmn roll»i over,; any.- bait' of tha .fwuntry

under the jurisdiction of Mr. Gardner for thirteen years, and if he can furnish data from these relating to .tho land values of any 'property,, county, or borough; ■ which does ■■. not confirm tho statement in my first lotter, namely: "This, in fact, is tho constant factor of our social conditions. Add to tho population and land values increase," then: I wjir admit that Mr. Lambert has a strong position. Of course, Mr. Lambert may-not reside in Mr. Gardner's old district. In. 'that case wherevor. ho may bo in this island will do as well., ' '■■' ■■'. This is essentially a Now Zealand controversy. Here'we have a perfect method of ascertaining all that is true about tho rising tide of values, and it behoves every good citizen in these islands to be alert now lest tho powers of reaction should destroy what the, poljc.y of John Ballanco made an r.bsolute necessity, namely, a knowledge of tho truth about the land question. Hitherto chaos .reigned, and land monopoly ,was rampant, .and now. we have a' special" tax on monopoly of land by the goodwill of evory member in the most enlightened and pro-; gressivo'Parliament, on.this planet. It; has. its' drawback,' of course. But Mr. Massoy is not a drawback. Liko the late Sir Harry Atkinson, ho is rendering New Zealand a great 'service bv pnshing back the spirit of monopoly into its dark dungeon. He does not .like to: think, ..(neither, did; Sir .Harry) that a new generation in these sunny lands Would 'trample; tho gods : of their fathers' into dust. But ho sees as Sir: Harry saw, that this is' inevitable,- unless they, are removed from tho path'of..the trampling host of practical 'men; :-. And: in this " manner Mr. Massoy , may;.be said,to "bo shaking.his little finger, at "all-thnf is antique in politics, and purely, : drnamental in social life, saying, cpme'with me out of the. hurly-burly into this sunny nook;;'. ■"•' ; ;:: "C. ■■■ ; ..-'■' ' ■: ■ 'And this is as it should be. • Thero ie not. the,. least." necessity for -hanging the "parsons" in the cause of .reform. Besides; there is enough 'marpin' in'.our coipmunity—credjted'tolub'of :laiid—to smooth out; the 'wrinkles .'on': the, face, of social life-and to do thines'.handsomely.to all those concerned. .'.And this last remark :is intended snecially for. Mr. J.. A. Lambert;, We are indebted to pur Valuation Department, for this information to enable all these good; and ■; desirable things to; be achieved bv our Parliament. They ! cannot. bo done othorwise. ;And all the'figures drawn ors due from the statistical grave:or well of England or Egypt are alike useless-for pur purpose.—l am, etc.,: :■ "> ■,';-,',■'ALEX.:'BBESE.'"-- ; Pahiataa, ; May'24. ;;'/:.'•■' ; ' MR,' M'COWEN AND REPRESENTATION ; ; ; : OF MINORITIES. _ . I [ .- Sir,-7 Mr. M'Gowen,.; the great leader of .South, Wales, -has been" to Tasmania in : ;the. Parliamentary,, elections of that' State. Having/re-turned-in'-triumph, from his wordy and.blood-, less .campaign , to-his.home. inSydney , ; he. is denouncing the Haro system: .of voting in vogue in that State, in, unqualified terms as it, system for, the of minorities inParliament.';; is indeed .a in. the ranks of-.organ-ised labour at any rate.'Truly, Mr. M'Gowen is a man of many.mighty words and great renown in'tie land. He is a great .and .ddughty champion of Mr. Fisher, the minor-ity.-JPremierof-.the minority Ministry lof the :Federal Parliament in: Melbourne,-and:_ was also a mighty champion of a former minority Ministry, under Mr. Watson in the;.same qountry. r.Mriii'isher. and! his party .managed. very : cunningly, to oust .Mr.-Deakin, their whilom friend;-from the Governments few days before Parliament .went into a long recess, it impossible for the majority 'to■kick'them out ; -for a considerable part of the '-year.'NFor overpowering: . presumption .anddbhiineeringigiibranco it would' bb: hard itb'beat'ihis'iminority .Premier's address to' 'the Presbyterian-Assembly in Sydney a , short' time, agtf!'?.Only.raV.f6w weeks since there was in this city a representative of'the'Churches in: Sydney, ..the Jley.; Wi. Taylor, who, has. no : doubt 'forgotten'' in the ' practical' service of humanity more than Mr. Fisher or tho whole ■'political-Labour' crowd- ever knew.—l, am, V°'',:..'•:'■'.■ .:'; V; CORNSTALK. '] ;:;: vy--. ::;. ■■:■"•.

BRITISrI IMACINfiTiyE' LITERATURE. ;• Sirj-r'Yoar-swan : sotig of ■'jmaginativo,literaturo.niay,be useful a≤ tilliu^'an interstice of ■geiiera) journalism, but, stripped of pedantry, your company : ,of :those;that .mourn :will bo limited : ;ihd6e'd;j ; t How many of .your readers Mow*-any thing about Milton's '•■■("Paradise ;Lost,-" r unless as.'■the.-.echo.v'of a. catch-cry? How- many .'of' your ■readers' of 'to-day'icould stayi"'an' excursion;through--and through■ its tortuous,tracks to its goal.bfirifinito dubiety ? I. think , if~ cchpaiiswer.ed truly, the response Iwouldi'be'l'hbnel' , : ;'*lnspired. poetry ''pores, the- ffibdern'-thMker^he'nceHbio'>vriters ,of it : disappear.', v abHora a.vacuum,-and if an age" ; arrived -wheri'-inspired poetry.became a distinctly felt want, its writers would .arise is''jn:the-g|d''iiime;befort..-.'.'---The-age''of 'in-' spifatibn; 'is , .with' -iis: just'-.'as 'it -was with. our forcf.athers,, ; only. it has left'"dreamland for. the ImhVbf , a' more practical and perfect day. ;Tabe the birth of The Dominion itself for'an instance.-.Was ,that not an inspiration?, Supppsing the thotieht; had conio tq : Miltoh, what a'wonderful tliome he could havoworked out inVfigurative 1 language of 'what journalism ou«ht to,be; But (the; inspiration camo'to a, Milton 'of modem times, and c tho result is,-a po6tic:panprama,of-the realities'of life. . 1 hate'inspired poetry myself, but :am: willing, to concede that at.times a,poetic movement of language occasionally'. and obstinately/ tiimblos iii.thp v way "of clear exposition, aoid forces one to swallow and use it upi-in order toi, got rid'.'••of. tha . _ its irresponsible wanderings- entail./ Inspired poetry, requires, an inspired protective aura hardly accessible to tho busy mind..of .the masses, pressed_ m upon .all. round as they are nowadays with the seething swirl'of the effort tp'live. Tho ago when therb were ./moments -;of ."stand-at-ease might' have offerfed some enconragonieiit .to inspired pootry,:but"attention-all.tho timp : has to bo our watchword, or submergenee under biting- competition will bo our fato.— | I; am, ietc., ■ ; ; . .., V ;, jj ENE y tjodLEY; f i May 22,' 1909. "- "•";;■' : ':■/. -■■. -' WAIAPU NATIVE LANDS. :!' gi r^ one of the pioneer settlers in the Enst Cap© district I: have been hoping t,hai Wiiio abler pen .than-mine would,i ere ttua, have taken up'the cause of the European settlers in tluit district, in , relation toi the land policy of the Hon. Apirana Ngata.-.;■'. the meaning .: of.. tho platitude,s.v-:.;with:'!which..i.tho;. Hon. Apirana Ngata !-,b.harms.:.his hearers .in. the -House, it is : thb''general'"opinibn, in his native dis- i trict that'ho/will'; (with: possibly' a' few ex-'l coptionsJl ■ use his to endeavour to , prevent aiiy'-fur'tliei, Eurbpeah settlement in J ■thb' ; northern: distriot, ■ and. .the re-port-of the Nati.V6 Land Commission seems to lend colou'f,'.to this, idea, for that report strupk mo as, being ah entirely- one-sided affair, one member .of the commission ; seeZing only just what, thp othor member intended -ho Bhould: see; and i-learliing .only., iust. what ifc'was intended he should learn, feo far, no good; but.in justice fe.tho.European settlers m tho : nortlicrn -Waiapu distnet, ; as .-tax-,-I payers:;aml countrymen of' the(most of whom are Crown tenants),'l think i \vo can rightly,'claim , to. ask tlio',Government [to give us-an.assursnee>n. this question ono way.or tho'other.i./jj ■■-■:-, .; ; .",•'.; : If thoHon. Apirana Ngatjis to be allowed to ■ Woclc all furtlicr. 1 ; European' settlement 111 (he district in' question, then I think it be-hovca-the settlers. already there 'to soriousty consider , whether, in, tho best interests of themselves and thcil - ; families, they should not petition Parliament to pass such legislation as. shall enablo them to, bo bought out, and -their holdings returned to the Maoris, so that tho Hon. Apirana-Ngatai' may have a Maori reservein which to. try.exporiinenW' for.the/bonefit, or otherwise,..of .the Native race. ■ Tho reverse of that picture, _ so hap-; pily put beforo tho Chief Justice by. his astute pilot on tho.coastal trip,,prior to tho report of the East : Coast Native Land. Commission,, is not to bo found in.a-flying tour of that description, but it'..found by years, of hard oxperienco .'working,;in.'the- , jjack-blocks of Maorilaiid, striving. to plush forward, oven a little, that progress-arid'civilisation which must .assuredly como to a standstill for man.v years if the Hbn,. Ngata is enabledto block ■European settlement. .1 dp.not' wish to , infer'that norio of tile" Maoris itfa'. Pttod -to become good settlers' and sheeD-fax-

moTS—there are many intelligent men among them who, under proper pakcha guidanco, would, in timo, become such, and theso men, I think, rcaliso that tho advancement of tho Maori must como through 'the .cordial cooperation of tho pnkeho. Nearly soveriteca years' experience of tbo'Nativo race has mado mo of tho opinion that the solution of tho Native land problem is not to be found, for the Maori- by the Maori. Trusting this lotter may draw opinions. from' others who nro bettor qualified to speak on this question than myself.—l am, etc., • JOHN BIDDLES. May.22.. " - ''. ■■' 'SIR. GEORGE,CREY... . Sir,—ln your paper of the 22hd instant, under tho heading "Books and. Authors, and with special reference to a new book with tho titlo "Sir George Grey, Governor _ and High Commissioner," by James Collier,.l note tho often-discussed .item, "the diversion of tho troops from China to India," and am. constrained to ask whether too much importance may not have -been ■ attached', to the act of tho then Governor, of Capo Colony. Sir Goorgo Grey has been called the Saviour of India ; and the term, I subinit,has influenced him in believing that his 'action was more than a contribution to the ultimate success of British. arms, ■ rendered at a most pppor-. tune time, and worthy of tho nation's approval as an incident. That Sir George diverted . tho H.M.S. Himalaya- with -some four or five hundred troops from China to India cannot be doubted. That he suggested and then directed Commander Chambers,.: of H.M.S. Transit, with troops, to call at Singapore and take-instructions from Lord Elgin, is also unquestionable But what other troops did ho intercept by his initiative J There; was certainly a battalion of the military Strain on its, way.to Hong Kong, .but' , with, instruct, Singapore, 'whore it arrived about'Angust 7,' and at once left for Calcutta; . Sir George thought prompt action would:crush or stop tho insurrection feared when • the rejection of the lubricated cartridges iby the native • troop's was reported. Until tho cloud burst the Government seemed to ignore the. warning, that the dissatisfaction was assuming alarming proportions. Sir George, in his younger days, was said to be not insensible to praiso, and that he readily'absorbed it if it were not administered by an awkward flatterer or convoyed in fulsome adulation'. We of us— apt to see things as.others view them. We readily credit what we are. not unwilling to believe. Sir George could not have realised how few the troops were, that he assisted to divert, compared to , :the force whoso, oporatioris resiilted jh; successfully quelling tho mutiny. Notwithstanding,this, it. seems to me;most-scrora to say. of so ablo a man that "in:,,his last/djays tho memory and vanity of the. old Pro-Cotisul played him| apparently, somo sorry tricks." When it is remembered there were no.cables or otiher means of commiinication with the Oape, except by seagoing vessels, ono should not bo surprised if "ho. brought his eye to bear microscopically, on a detaiLand ipenored the main featnre," and bs ready'to admit that all niiose efforts have assisted .in. presenting -the integrity, of the Empire aro worthyof the'warmest commendation; and that all acts performed on behalf, of the. nation,.especially..where .consciousness is'.the , only reward, should:not be anill.Hicall.v reported; with a view of dotermining the degree of usefulness of each component part to the community.—l, am, etc.,' '■•• '". ■'-'.-■ 0. T. BENZONI. May 23. ■-; -~-':', '■;'' '' .:,.■...-

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING. Sir,—-As a naturalised New Zealand subject aud;,father of three boys,. I take a keen interest in the mpaV burning.question ,of the day, .viz., the'd'efenco question. -Tho view which forcing itself von the': people-oi^,the. Dominion, ? supprted by ■ tho earnest portion of tho yolunteor corps, is one that a foreighor could hot help ontortaining, abl» as ho is to comparo with conditions ho has himself lived.under. . . . On ono occasion; now about ton years ago. a.Major wished mo to join a inountea voluntepi-coTps-about""to horaised, n's'liiad had training and was considered a good horseman. I declined the invitation,: stating that -I looked, upon th'o wholo voluntary system as out of flate.'i 'Tq^tbe-:' major's . question". > what I , woukUhavo iiitftend, my reply was ''conscriptioni" 'whereupon the major with a half dramatic'jost burst out; .'.'Britoris':never will be slaves.' 1 ., : 'f<-\ . .' ''.' , ! /'■:.'.",'■ ' . Ndthing"mofo-was said,. Tnrb 'Ithought of my stout-hearted./, countrymen^: who. have fought, and bled and held their own for cen-tunoSj/'ondi-nover.'bcen slaves, and how to guard their' dearly beloved'liberty they: long long ago adopted, as tho only effeotivo means of defenco for a'small nation, the military J training. of, ey.ory. ( physically.. fit ■, male ; adult ■at: the ;life| viz;, 20.« : Gymnastics, !• military J under , army officers,-- rifle shooting is;', and was, as-much part of 'pur.'sohooiyeducation as anything else. .'Apart' froraHhe feature of developing tho body and, instilling early into tho young mind discipline, it acted as )a preparation for. tho, training proper to bo undergone -when manhood was reached; and so it should. bo, for the boy taKos;hie training in, a' boy's war —the man will realise and loot upon the work as it is, a "national duty." Whatever' distinction of "class" society in its everyday life/may observe disappears entirely at that particular stage, and the rich and tho.poor, tho employer and. the wage-earner stand side by-side. '■■'.'■.■.,'•.•, ■ ■:■■;■.■_■ ■ : , ;' ,-' : ' . .:'. / It is a grand lesebn to the young man on. soto say, the threshold of life, when ho will see and realise that whatever hisf privato position, aim, and ambition, ho is a unit, ahd : that'for his country's sake he Bhould bo ready to offer "self.". Tho enormous increase in tonnage and development of speed, .the changes -in the East, and. tha.consequent move of the centre.of gravity of the world's commereo-■'. has gradiially but steadily drawn Now Zealand within, tho interested sphered and it cannot nlford : any 'longer as a small nntion (for as such sho must bo looked upon, although-part of a big nation, through her isolated position) to risk her independence, wealth, and position by sticking to' an ineffective and absolutely out of date dofonce 6ystom. - ■-.: . ...... New Zealand is a democratic conntry; and snrely not a ,voice : should bo raised against : the introduction of ono of tho admittedly tnbst democratic social moves of modern times.—l am, etc., ........,..,' '.■■•• CAHOLUS. : Lower Hutt, May. 27, 1909. . AT TAIHAPE." Sir,—rln-perusing the columns of this momvng's DojinnoN;, my eyes quickly y alighted upon the'tTireo words used by me as a head'ing to'this.vletter,' viz., ."Distress' at'.. Taiihapo."'ls'it true that poverty exists in this ; Dominion, where we so recently offered one Dreadnpught, and two (if required), of suoh cost, well, , ' Hover mintl'tno'expense I .■■ :. Just imagine .in God's own country such words, as the following .being 'written, by;■ a mere coininon'worker :to .a; gentleman, a high and mighty and paid politician in this workers' paradise:—"Will you do somothing for'mo in , the/name of God? I : have a. dying child and others' starving. ■•Wβ are not • on the verge of starvation, but wo are starving in earnest," etc. . Now, with all our boasted advanced ideas and ability to throw' about Dreadnoughts, would it not bo far moro prudent' to spend tho equivalont in cost of'.oilo or two of theso lifo-extcrniinating vessels in our own couni! try, and allow us to open up the , same, : thereby-finding profitaqlo employment for our thousandsof doserving unemployed) who would not reap any benefit' in tlie'lconstruc'tiori"of a battleship, seeing "that the same ,must needs be built.in tho Old Country. No doubt the Prime Minister knows full woll ;that his proposed personal' gift be "turned out" α-t.present in this part of tho world. •. ■■■ ■ .■' ~ ;•' : •■■■■■. " Wo deploro our deoreasing birttirate, but ■do not seem to realise tho crime we commit in'filling our cradles and permitting tho iohfldron's ".stomachs to remain ; empty—by compulsion. It is all vory fino and largo for ,Sir-Joseph Ward and Ill's retinue of perpetual political pilferers to' bo , stumping this country at .our, expanse, seeing that many of us havo. to curtail household aaid other expenses.so as to enable this grasping,..incom•p'eteiit and "long-lived Govcrninont to enjoy tho. sweets of ofHoo aud patronage. It is about timo those political wastrols, who caine in on' a '"non-borrowing policy, were given 6hort shrift, and I truet joiir yuluoblo papM ,jvill (WMiiiiiiu* *» us UX the fuiam.

as you have, in tho past, to tho misdeeds of the, Government, and tho persons they have been tho means of allowing to starve. "< Trusting you will insert this letter, and thanking you in anticipation therefor. —I am, 6 ° -, "FEARNOUGHT." Wellington, May 24, 1909. DAIRY-WORKERS' AWARD. Sir,—As a, farmer who lias been intimately connected with dairy factories for a good many years, 1 must express. satisfaction at' tho Arbitration Court's award in tho' dairy-workers' dispute. The Using of the hours of work at- 70 per week is, 1 think, particularly good, as it allows amplo time for nil tho, work in tho factory to bo done, and well done, in tho day. The wagos may not bo quite as high as have generally been paid in fae-; tories. but against that, wo have the extroino probability of vory. much lower prices being obtained for dairy produce in the future than in tho past. ; . _ 1 think 'that, it would have been better! if the factory managers had also been brought under tho award—at, say, 10s. a week above the first assistant's wagos. In! most factories the manager gets n holiday, every week or two, attending grading, etc., and.tho work goes on as well in his absence, thus showing that we have ■as good mon i amongst the assistants as tho managers'. 1 am proud, to • think this is so. . Possibly somo future award will embody tho managers also.—l am, etc., FARMER. , May i>4. NAVAL SUPREMACY. Sir,—ln the speech made by the GovernorGeneral of Canada at Otta>va on the occasion of a dinner to the Australasian press delegates, ho stated to tho effect that "the offer, of Dreadnoughts by Now Zealand had , caused the blood of every Briton to pulse more buoyantly in their veins." In such a statement it would appear that a peculiar feeling of doubt exists in tho minds of responsible peoplo at Home as to tho part these colonies ' would play in tho event of complications arising between Great Britain and any foreign Power. Otherwise, why should there bo so much overjoy expressed? There must surely be doubt entertained of the loyalty of tho colonies. For were the Home people assured of our fidelity! to the Crown help would, in the ordinary course of events, Tie looked for. Ono could understand such extravagant expressions as Lord Grey uttered had tho defeated Boors, six months after tho termination of the late war, made such an offer as that made by Now Zealand. If' these mtn in. high positions think! at all, it should bo in tho direction of .discerning the possibility of such rapidly impulsive offers'"- remaining unconsummated. •. If.Lord Grey and nien occupying similar social positions could obtain-a view.of the situation from the standpoint of tho colonial, they would quickly conclude that such an offer as that made by Sir Joseph Ward is only the deceptive nareligjit of individual importance. Tne position is'that a promise, has been made. Now, how would tho matter stand did the Prime Minister lose office be.fore consideration of his proposal could come 'before tho House? Would the wisdom of his' successors (assuming that .they considered it justifiable to repudiate the offer) bo set aside in order that what they pronounced a fool-ishly-made promiso should be fulfilled? What will be the position should .new Ministers decido that this country's substance is not to be given to the flames so that Sir Joseph Ward may forsooth, Nero-like, tune nia fiddlestrings by tho light of a conflagration. There was no statesmanship in the offer of Dreadnoughts, and those gulpings on .tho part of the Prime Minister to catch the accents of fame can only be accepted,, as hopes''reposed in him as the saviour of the country. Real statesmanship, would have declared itself in a far-reaching and deliberate setting-up of our defences long before thero was any rumour of difficulty, at Home. It is not good seamanship to await the arrival, of-the tempest before shortening sail. It is astounding to think of matters, in which enormous consequences are involved (our defences especially) being left in. the hands'of tho veriest tyros. What is the moahihg_o_f it all?' It has been in the power d the prime .Minister to put. chanco"and. speculation beyond a doubt. Ejttt, no, the lives .of our citizens and the independence of bur'country are risked , by leaving matters of national importance to the sentiment: of personal friendship. Oh, what a legacy of nonsense was bequeathed to our country by our late Premier. . ' , i ''.'..".•■' .How long, sir, ia this unreality■ and indefiniteness of purpose to,' last? Is this country to be nurled into tho vortex of national disaster with hands bound, pinioned, and useless? How much longer shall, the country, look on and fear to lay the axe of sincerity to the_ roots of this .'upas. 'treo f of political insufficiency?—l am,' etc:,.' ' -■•" V : '.-.v . ,;..,.'. . A. TEMPLAS. ; Moy 24. ■ ' ; "■,:.. -~•:■. ! ..■.-;■ . KENT TERRACE RESERVE. ) : Sir,—Let-. us ■ ■hope. that ,our presont Mayor, who is sincerely anxious to improve tho appearahco of. the; city,, will not allow tho Kent Terrace Reserve, between. the ■Vivian Street, intersection, and Courtenay Place, to remain indefinitely an eye-sore. It is, of course, a fact, that a reserve is that which is kept for future uso, and!perhaps, it has been the intention of those in authority to keep this place for the use of posterity. Wo may well ask, with Sir Boyle Roaehoy "What has posterity ever

done for us" that,:we should forget what is due to ourselves P .. ■ Inside the broken fence, "whero heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap," one can seo frequently, especially on Sundays, loan horses ■ nibbling, the rank grass under the tutelary.care of gamins, who,seat them' solves precariously on the broken wires' of tho fencq. A ; sight: such: as this, in the heart of the city, can . scarcely impress visitors with pleasant momories. A. few workmen can; soon make this neglected, place a ■ credit to the city.—l am, etc., '" , : ( OBSERVER. •'■May. 24. ; : ' •

THE ROAD TO REFORM.

Sir, —"Wake Up," in his letter which appears in your valuable issue of yestorday-s date, seems to have entirely overlooked .the true reason why the Church does not "throw in its lot' with the landless wage-earners* and assist them in. tho light for freedom and jujitice." Which is becauso those who most need assistance—the poor but'genteol, the unemployed, and the wage-earning classes generally—particularly tho latter—do not stand by the. man, clergyman or otherwise, who is prepared, if. he : had the necessary moral and financial support, to use all the influence ho possessed upon their \ behalf. • They do not realise that not one man'in fifty who possesses the natural qualifications for a leader has an independent income sufficient to enable him to devoto his lifo to. an unproductive calling, and oven so there is no moral reason why men should be. expected to .devote their lives to improving the social, conditions of .their fellow-men without reaping somo benefit for themselves. And until tho masses have learnt this lesson that if they want loaders to persistently advocate their cause thoy must bo prepared 'both to extend their sympathy and moral support to such persons, and at the same timb be prepared to put their hands in their pockets to provido the wherewithal to. enable persons who have, a natural instinct for leading in such matters— a class from whom tho word cent., or gentleman was originally derived, though a good many people nowadays expect to bo considered gentlemen though they have no such instinct—to devoto thoir .lives to tho concerns of mankind. • , . , ■ There aro many people, I.am afraid, stupid enough to imagine that reformors can dovoto their lives to improving the lot of thoir fellow-men without any pecuniary roward whatever, or can continuo to earn a livelihood in some ordinary vocation in lifo. But such peoplo do not Tealiso what bittorness and prejudico original ' thinkors in any lino of thought creato in tho minds of thoso with whom they aro brousht into close contact, or with whom thoy differ. Tako as an instanco tho case of the Rev. Gulliver, of Auckland,' who brolio away from his- Church with a view to teaching what lio conceived tobo higher and nobler ideals of lifo and religion thai) those taught by tho orthodox school. After bfliiig tho principal of St. John'o Colleco for , soma time, ho evontiiAUr took to Urcachina

his advanced views to an earnest but small band of followors. But ho had a largo family to keep, and in tlio end went to Australia and was ultimately found dead in a garret in the city of Melbourne, having apparently died of starvation, with his last poem by his side, which led tho orthodox to assume that ho had died an atheist. However that may bo, Mr. Gulliver was a sinoero and good man, who deserved a hotter end. But his weakness was a passion for social progress, and ho suffered accordingly. But if such mon woro provided with ail llicomo that would place them above tho fear of want, no matter what amount of prejudico their opinions might raise against thorn, wo might confidently expect to find men had been slumbering in our midst with mental powers sufficient to shake kingdoms to-their foundations, and "build them anew in three days" upon an improved model. One penny per month from 250,000 persons would yield £12,500 yearly. A halfpenny per month from 12 million people would yiold £50,000 per annum. Thus wo seo that it only requires an infinitesimal sum from each individual to raise a fund sufficient to maintain quite an army of gentlemen (or in othor words advocates of tho people's rights) msido the Church and out of it.—l am, etc., . . SLEEPING LION. Masterton, May 25. . CLEAN SPORT. Sir,—As I always take- a deep interest in , your correspondence columns, and think it so commendable on your part in allowing all 'shades of,opinion to air thoir views, I would like to wnto a little comment on Clean Sport's" letter of to-day's date. I must confess, at tho outsot that I. am not what Is generally termed a sporting character, and much of this "Sport of Kings" is a mystery to me.. And from "C.P.'s" letter surely tho Kings cannot have vory much to Dβ proud of in their choice of sport. ; . -The- first clause deals with bookmakers. What is wrong 'with these bookmakers ? They could not thnvo and present such a respectable exterior if their business did not pay, let'alouo pay at tho rato of from .ten to twenty pounds per day for a license. It must surely be a well patronised business, for its promoters to shell out at this rato and then como out on tho right side at tho end of the day. But whore does all tho money come from? The public? Why then tho public must like tho "bookies" better than tho "tote" (as they call it), or how could tho fraternity keep the pot boiling?- It is all a puzzle to mo. Tho racing clubs get tho licenses. Would they be' better off without the "bookies?" Yet what is wrong?. Arc tho "hookios" very wicked, and do they contaminate tho religious people who attend tho races? What is tho matter with them? If they were abolished would the rest of tho people who go,to the.races be better and more pure? ■ •••. . ' , Then again, who are to be tho umpires as to whether the races aro conducted properly or not? .What,is a properly-conducted race meeting? Does it mean that only honest people shall be allowed to run horses, and only honost jockeys rido them? , • Thirdly: What is there connected with raco meetings that we see such an agglomeration of all that is degrading that it should be made compulsory on the part of racing clubs to keep away those who attend to engineer a lot of misohiof, i.e., disreputable characters? If a'racecourse is a hotbed of blacklegs, pickpockets, and the scum of tho earth, will tlio fact of turning them off- tho course make tho course and the remainder of the people any cleaner? Again, if these "cursed" bookmakers were not licensed, would they becomo ministers and Sunday . School ; teachers, and would thoro bo loss betting on tho part of the public? , Do they ''get at" tho favourites and influence thorn, or do ,they hypnotise them, or how do they cause theni to lose tho racoe? 'Truly it is all a wonderful mystery, and does need a wash seemingly* Does tho licensing of the "bookies" mean

loss rovenuo to tho racing clubs, preventing them giving larger prizes? Does tho breeding of raco liorses improve tho breed of tho general run of horses and make it better for commerce? If, again, there are such multitudes of cardsharping thieves connected with horseracing, is it a. sport in which my character or that of my son's is going to become more fitted, for tho duties of life? I suppose, too, it would .hardly bo safe for tho guards in the second-class smoking carriages to interfore with card-sharping thieves, so discretion becomes tho bettor part of valour. I think, on. closing, we havo a very considerable distance to travel before horserocing in New Zealand is sufficiently clean to become an example to the rcst ; of the world. The racing dubs have a tough nut to crack in the purification process. Still,, "in the multitude of councillors there- is much talk." —I am, etc., '•,•• ,''■•.■ . ■', .... ;■.. •■', K'RECT CAM). May 25. \ ■ '-V-y . .. . ;■•. ■. ~'■■ . , LAND ALONC THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. Sir, —I read in a recent issue of your paper remarks from an Eltham residont, in which ho adversely criticises tho land situated between Taihape,and To Kuiti. He states that this country for tho most part as seen from tho train is only capable of carrying one sheep to five acres. This is a wrong and misleading statement. 'Thero aro parts of the land as seen from the train which is -certainly of inferior quality, viz., Waiouni and Waimarino Plains, but those stretches, capablo ; tliemsolvos of carrying at least $ sheep to an acre, do notbear comparison with tho lowerlying countries to the north and south. Wβ have 800.acres within three miles of railway, consisting of pumico flats, fern hills, and heavy bush. There are 400 acres partly light bash, fern Mis, and , pnmico flats in grass, on which we are wintering 700 sheep. As this section is one of the cheapest in the block_ which ■'extends from . Taumarunui to Raurimu, it will give a. fair idea of what the adjoining \country will carry. An average quality, section a short distance from here carried 300 sheep on fifty acres for five months. 'When taken off there was still an abundance of feed. , I think if Mr. S. bad made a few inquiries en route and received a little enlightenment thereby ho might : have taken away a bettor impression, and given your readers a truor account of the country's worth in these parts.—l am, etc., ! :,: ' ■■■■'■:■ ' '■ settler; Pireaha, May 25. . • EMPIRE OR PARTY? Sir, —The Prime Minister has said that Imperial considerations require bis presence at Home—a statement which ovorybody endorses. But he says that ho will not go Homo I unless Parliament agrees to postpone tho .business of the session. .'ln other words, sir, ! be is going to let party considerations tako I precedence over, the Imperial'considerations that he talks of so enthusiastically. ;"Tko Empire's needs," so his argument runs, "demand my presence in London. But I'm hanged, if I'm going to consider the Empire's needs if the .session isto bo hold as usual. Blow the Empire and its'needs if by serving it and them I must leave my incompotont colleagues to look after themselves." —I am; etc., ■■/..-. I ';■■'•■■ WIDEAWAKE. Wellington, May 26. ' STATE SAWMtLLING. Sir,—Wquld you kindly allow mo space in your valuable columns' 1o make a few remarks on the above subject? Just now, as the Timber .Commission is sitting, there is a great deal being said about tho success of the Government sawmill at Kakahi, in tho King : Country, and it is being used as a means of advocating State milling, and throwing discredit on the operations and means of working adopted by nrivato enterprise;. I desire to point out tho immense advantages enjoyed by this particular mill,'and to show that tho comparison is not a fair ono. In the first place, tho Government, in selecting a. block of timber for milling, had an'enormous area of the best bush in the North Island to pick from. Practically all the hush between OhaIfimo and Tauronninui, a distance of 62 miles, belongs to the Government, and I can say from personal knowledge that thoy choso about tho best block of timber in the whole of the Waimarino forest. In tho second place, tho Public Works Department put .in a railway siding at tho mill sito,. so that thoro was no carting to bo done, as most private millers have to do. Then again, this mill had the bc«t customer in Now Zealand (tho Government) reserved expressly for their benefit.' No waiting for money, no bad debts, no large trade discounts to contend with. Also .in puttim: in a plant'plenty ijonej';

would bo available to obtain the best that could bo got.. Then again, -.there was no royaJty to pay. I say, sir, with exporienco and knowledgo of .tho business, that any sawmiller in New Zealand would mako money under these circumstances. As if tho advantages enumerated abovo we-ro not enough, I may also add that, the workers at tho Government mill do not cc-ruo undnr tho Arbitration Court awards, thus freeing tho maiiager from tho harassment endured by private millers. I venture to predict that if thoso exceptional advantages were removed, and tho State mill placed on tho samo footing as others in the business, many of those peoplo who so strongly support State sawmilling would very soon alter their opinions on tho whole matter.—l am, etc.. , FAIR PLAY. '. Taumarunui, May 26. .-.' . ' . . COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAININC. , THE LOGIC OF MR. M'LAREN, M.P. Sir,—Mr. M'Laren has committed himself to two statements which, when considered conjointly, would seem to render his position in regard to tho question of compulsory training both ridiculous and untenable. Writing in reference to tho mobilisation of the militia under tho Defence Act of 1886, ho says, "I am not. ignorant, however, of tho fact that there is legal power in Now Zealand to mobilise tho militia, but I am. opposed to its mobilisation in times of peace," From this expression it is to be understood that Mr. M'Laren would not object to tho mobilisation of the militia in time of warthat is, ho upholds the Act so far —hut that ho would not allow the Act to bo put: in force in times of peace. Could anything ho moro absurd ? Mr. .M'Laren would bo a party to tho mobilisation of an untrained militia in tho faco of the enemy; he would ask, nay, ho might compel, unorganised, untrained, helpless troops to stand', maybe, between him and tho drilled, organised,,and efficient footnon of his country. ')- But .Mr. M'Laren goes onto say, .in connection with tho necessity of training of officers) "I have previously affirmed >that you cannot' havo organisation without proper officers and leadership, and you cannot get tho right stamp of officers without strict tests of fitness.". Now, if there is any ono thing which' is moro' essential than another to tho creating of efficient officers, it is their training in peace timo, and to effect that it is an essential .part of ■ their training ..that they should .handle ■ bodies of troops' frequently in times of. peace;. and yet Mr. vLaron demands efficiency in officers whom ho would not permit ■ to' drill • their ' troops prior to war breaking out. Nothing.could be moro suicidal. , V 'V . j . .■■.'.• ; ;

, Compulsory service in time of war, which is what Mr. M'Laron has tacitly'approved of,- has as its corollary.compulsory- training; in time of peaoo. Tho first.is useless without the second, and it-is.a thing to bo thankful for-:that the lawmakers who framed tho Defence Act of 1886 perceived this truth moro clearly than apparently does Mr. ••M'Laren. For her defence, New Zealand ■ requires at least 100,000 men, efficiently trained, fully oauipped, thoroughly organised, and led by officers chosen from the best manhood the country possesses. Such a force might ho raised in several ways at" great expense, but tho -Defenco Act enables the country's safety to.bo assnred-in'themost'ecohoroical manner possible. But lot, Mr. M'Lareri ■ niako .no mistake, such a force- must be mobilised for training in times of peace if-it is not'to bo useless in time of war.—l ain, etc.i . ' '-.' . ■'. J. M'KENZIE. Murchison, May 26, 1909. THE APPOINTMENT OF STATE SCHOOL TEACHERS. Sir,—Under the action of tho WeUington Education Board tho last vestigo of tho democratic element in tho control of our public schools seems about to pass away. The people of this Dominion aro to have,no voice whatever in tho selection of tho men and women who arc- to teach and train their children..The Education Board has decided that it is,.within.its legal, rights in sending only one naino to .tho school committees. If this is so, which I very much question, then. it is time for tho school committees and tho pooplo of this Dominion-.to wake up. Parliament last session "blocked a Bill intended to do what the Wellington Board is now doing, and had such amendments mado in tho measure as would ensuro tho people's voico through their committees being heard. If tho Bill has failed to accomplish this, Par-

liament is about to meet again._ Let .the school committees tako united action in this matter. A Wellington School Committceo' Association is much needed at present.—l aln ' C : ' , "ETERNAL PETONE.". p.S.—Fivo school committees havo protested againet the action of tho board. Let ■them all protest. , , '. ■ . ? AM EMBARRASSED OPPOSITION. Sir, —I have been told to-day that a Section of the Opposition is in favour of postponing tho session. " Can you wonder that tho Opposition is uuablo to make much progress . J Horo istbo Primo Minister saying ho must go Home, but that ho won't go unless tho sossion is put off. Tho Opposition aro afraid, that if they oppose the adjournment or tho Session they will bo accused of having for-bidden-Sir Joseph to go Homo, of having blocked tho proper representation of Now Zoaland. Should they opposo tho adjournment tho Prime Minister will say: "1 would have gono Homo as tho Empire's'necessities required, but for tho Opposition. Tho Opposi : tion aro anti-Imperialists; they cannot riso above party." And although it will bo quite obvious that the obstaelo will have been, not the disregard, for. tho Empire, but tho. Prime. Minister's- subordination of the (Empire's needs to his party's, needs, his own refusal to go Homo like a , man and let the session go on—although this will bo quite obvious, the Opposition aro afraid tliat they 'cannot defend themselves against tho, Primo Minister.'s subtle misrepresentation of the ca-so. They lack the wit to checkmate tho Primo Minister's shiftiness, and they therefore adopt the' cowardly course of stifling their consciences and acquiescing in n'wrong. Are there-no-brains in tho Opposition? Is there no courage?' ■ How can they hopo ever te do anything ?-I am, etc., DisGusr^ Wellington, May. 26. ... [Our correspondent'is prejudging tho Opposition. Mr. Massey has shown no/sign nf weakness in his attitude-on this important question, and the views of individual, members have yet to bo disclosed. Tho question is not a party one, and it will probably ho found that Government members as well as thoso in Opposition realise' tho unwisdom of the suggestion to postpone-'the sitting of Parliament.] '.'■'.■.■.

BANK REFORM. Sir,—ln his policy speech' at Invercargill, tho Primo Minister, after denying that tho local borrowing policy had contributed to tho present depression, declared that the real cause of tho tightness of tho money market was over-speculation" in land. investmonts. Noiv what is Sir Joseph Ward's remedy for the stringency: brielly, to charter moro banks to facilitate wild speculations to continue the financial delirium tremens by inducing the banks to enter-upon- a wild cat mortgago career, upon risky securities. The legitimate function of tho banks is to aid ■ commerce by supplying tho lubricant money. Their proper duties aro to deal with money on call, and short term deposits.' They should avoid locking largo sums oi" mpney up in long, terra deposits on mortgages. -If a Lank enters upon tho business of dealing cxtonsively in mortgages it is liablo to oxcecd the limits of prudenco when thoro is an excess of deposits available It was this orror that was responsible: for involving tho Bank of Now Zealand in difficulties, yet Sir Joseph Ward's proposition (o increase the iiumbor of banks is evidently intonded to offer greater facilities to borrowers to obtain loans upon land valnes that have collapsod under tho depression. Tho inovitablo otiect of this proposal, if given effect to, would bo to .indefinitely retard recovor.v to normal prosperity. In fact, it would mako hard times permanent. I trust that tho people aro not so giilliblo as to swallow such quack nostrums, oven when they omanato from a so-called. Nnpoleon of finance. —I am, etc.. P. W. BURKE. Ashburtoo, Mjw 20. ,

THAT DREADNOUGHT OFFER. Sir, —I rend your articlo to-day on tho invasion of the Civil Servants by one of!tho canvassers to tho testimonial which is now trotted around the city, and fool that there is much'" point in it. It set mo thinking, and I mado a fow inquiries, from which I gathered that tho whole business is politic-' •ally engineered by- the Liberal Federation. I sought out ono of these canvassers, and lie told mo thero were niuo of them canvassing, and in reply to a question ho told mo.ho was put on Jjy a Mr. Gallishou.-'Now, on asking a friend who this Mr. Gallishcn was, I was advised that ho was the secretary of llio Liberal Labour Federation, and tho significance, of this accounts for tho boldness in : invading tho Government offices. I think that, us the business is a national one, that Mr. Martin, tho Opposition' organiser, should have been asked to assist, as I saw him in town a day or two ago. But as tho small crowd who are running it are largely recipients of' Government favours, Mr. Martin or any indopendent representation would be out of the question. I am not at all surprised to boo Mr. Nathan, chairman, and Mr. Arnold on tho committee. lam told they aro members of this federation. ~ ■ . ■ . But what I cannot understand is . tbo cadging and cautious stylo the whole - thing is gono on with. Is Sir. Joseph Ward afraid to meet, the citizens in tho Town Hall at a meeting convened by our courteous Mayor (our chief citizen), even at the oxpenso of a little-heckling or good-natured banter, which tho late Mr. Scddbn gloried in ? If eo, then ho has a very thin - skin. Has he anything to fear about this offer ? If not, then why does ho not instruct tlio one-sided committee to ask his Worship tho Mayor to tako chargo of tho matter? The canvasser stated that all tkoso who signed tho testimonial were! to be invited to a meeting at the . Town Hall;. Well, this is good. Where do thoso people cemo in who have not been - approached by tho. canvassers? Aro thoy to bo refused • admission? . It is a decided insult to tho general public that such an important national occasion as this is should bo etiQod by a few individuals. I suggest, sir, that this matter ehould'bo: taken up by tile Mayor nnd tho councillors, and that his Worship convene a mooting or tho-citizens, where free and patriotic discussion could take the nl.ico of t/i-^ywn , - and flunkeyism: As a, citizen I should like to'hear other citizens''opinion's, on' Hub mutual admiration concern; Hoping that you' may kindly insert this letter,*—l am, etc., "NOT A SO-CALLED LIBERAL." May .27, ..'.' . ; ' , ' ... SHIRKING THE SITUATION. Sir,—Tho evident anxiety shown by the Prime Minister to get away to England at a time when Now Zealand-born children are going hungry to'hod, and thousands ■ are within measurablo distance of distress, can only bear olio interpretation, i.e., that he does not caro to.faco■the situation. 'That ho has been applauded by a fewof .-his hangers-on is no evidence that ho is either a statesman or a patriot. Had ho been tho former, he certainly would never- have allowed Now Zealand to got into such financial straits us it suffers from to-day. Had ho been tho patriot that ho wishes us to behovo him, hoi'would havo.seen to the welfare of tho people who were instrumental in raisinghim to iris present high position.' Ho knows that if, ho has. to-face the Opposition (small though it be) that ho runs tho risk, of having to appeal to tho country- That ho dare not do, for ho Veil knows by doing'so that 1909 would see the last of tho Ward Liberal and Labour Administration.—l am, etc., JAMES BOWIE. , May. 27.' : : ■'- . . - '■" ': A ONE-HORSE SHOW. ;. Sir,—Now I know why it is that New Zealand is styled abroad as a "one-horso b1iow"» whilo the horso is away tho «how has to bo shut down. -.' . : ■■'■■'.! Ye gods I When it dawned on my somewhat hazy understanding to-day, after reading tho papers, that Sir Josoph' Ward wanted to attend- tlic : Naval Conference,- and,whilo ho was'away Parliament was to bo postponodjiit mado.nio feel''almost'ashamed of tho. fact that I was'-a. New Zealahdei'. Of coursoy-r havo no objection to Sir Joseph attending the conforenco-Kl say lot him go, if .ho doesn't appreciate tho sentiment of tho m>. vitatioii—but if wo' , havo to send'ilolegatel to. theso' sort of things, aiid; spend a thousand or more- of good public money, why keep ' a'High Commissioner hi London? I must, however, emphatically protest against Parliament being postponed—am I to understand that whilo Sir Joseph is away New Zealand is not' capablb of going on 03 usual? Am I to understand that- Sir Joseph'cannot trust ono of his colleagues to take hisl placeP or.(hero a sinister thought rises in, my mind), am .1..t0 understand that the Prime Minister, is afraid that something that js not for tho public eye may como out during his absouco? Last year tho session was uiiablo to ma its': natural course on account of the approaching, elections! Bills were sent to the knife in batchos, and about six weeks' worh was crowded into ono; and it means that if Parliament is postponed this year, it can. not possibly meut before tho; middle of October. Parliament will sit-about six -weeks; and what work' ■ will they, do, I ask you? For this sort! of thing wo pay our Ministors large salaries, and our members get £300 a year—a fairly , expensive business, I think. ' ; -' ■:"■. ' Mr. Editor, I have read tho leaders of your paper on tho subject, , and I say "more power to you." Tonly hope that tho people of' New Zealand will think as .you think, and that tho : members' of Parliament will be prevented from making our Legislature 'the "cheap affair" it is becoming. Our Legislature should be .our national prido, and its dignity' should not wait tho plea* suro of anything "in the heavens above, tho earth below, or tho waters boneath, as far as it lies in our power to do so., Gβ it, Mr. Editor, give it. to them good and hard, mid I am with you every time. Apologising for trespassing on your valuable space, and thanking you in. anticipation.—l amC°" A YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER. Woodville, May 27. ■ . '. . ■..'■,• .'■;. THE NAVAL CONFERENCE. : Sir, —Why should not tho New Zealand representation at tho Naval (and Military) Conlorenco, to bo held in London in July nest, bo arranged thus:—Sir Joseph Ward cablo to London that his presence- in New Zealand at tho present time, from several causes, ia most desirable and urgent; and request that tho invitation to himself bo offered to Sir William Russell, of Hawko's Bay. That Sir Joseph immediately communicate with. Sir William'and learn if the nbovo request is acceded to bv the Homo Government; whether ho (Sir William) could arrange for his very early departure to England as Now Zealand representative at tho conference That being fixed, Now Zealand, would bo represented by an ex-Imperial military officer, a former Defence Minister, a 1 good old colonist and settler, and a reliable English gentleman. On questions of commerce and financo I am battling for Sir Josoph Ward.—l am, etc., - "at A. L. ■ ■ Wellington, Mny 27,1009. . ..

A small hoy .writing a composition on Ouakcre wound up |>y unying that . the "Quakers never quarrel.-never, get into a fight, l'.cvor claw each other, and never talk , back." Ho added—"Pa is a Quaker, but 1 really don't think ina- can bo." "Santa- -Clans brought 1110 α-littlo baby sister for Christmas.", confides tlm small girl from next door. "110 did? That was fine-1" nniiwcrs tlio.neighbour. "Yes; an' il'a th , only, present mo an' Freddie- pot that papa hasn't broken already windin 1 it. up an. , she-win'ub how it runs." :' ; WIUT KHF/JMO WILL DO. ■, ■■ It is W groat thing (o know of amedioinft that will irive relief, with llio very first doso. That is exactly how KIIEUMO _ works. If is a positive -antidote Tor. uric neid poisoning. It' you EuiVet from Klicunintisiu, Gout, Sciatica, Lumbago,' or any other'disease duo to excess' urio acid in.tho blood, K tUjUMO—which has ourcd so many others—wilt cure you. RIIKUMO is a liquid to bo taken in prescribed dosps, and will give relief with the ilrsf dose.-' 11IU3U.M0 expels llio uric, acid poison, cures tbo pain, and removes llio.swelling. Those who, have.tried, it. nrnisa it most. K-IiIJITMO enroa, lUienmalism. Sold by nil chemists and sloreat' 2s, Gd. and 45.. Od. jjur bottlo. $