LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

* CORONATION BISLEY AND COLONEL COLLINS. Sir,—You have published the names nf the Bislcy team to rep:c.-ciit New Zealand, and your evening contemporary lias announced that a general desire has been expressed that Colonel Collins .-hould have command of the team. I lake tho i;arliest opportunity of niK'stkming Hie latter statement, and as a volunteer 1 feel quite sure, no such general desire exists. J. needn't tell you, .Mr. Editor, how such .statements gel into a paper. l!eportci>, as a rule, are kindly and generous sort of chaps, and ever-ready to give "tile other fellah" a lift, but I protest, on public anil other grounds, against. Colonel Collins being sen I to England ill eliargo of the team. Colonel Collins has one of the best-paid positions in the public service, and iias already had ono triii to England at the Dominion's expense. When Colonel Collins was appointed to his present position at XlOilO a-year salary, it was publicly announced he would give up all positions except tint in charge of ;he New Zealand Kille Association, but, judging from tho numerous photos, of him that appear ju the New Zealand weeklies and dailies, he has not quite gone into retirement, but still is very much in evidence. No doubt Coionel Collins would enjoy a trip to England at the expense of the ratepayers of the Dominion, but as Parliament does not meet till la to this year, in tlie absence of Colonel Collins, who is to look after the finances of the country, and to sec that tho various county councils, road Iroards, harbour boards, and other local bodies spend their money legally—or is Colonel Collins's present job such a sinecure that ho could go away for six months and not be missed'l If ho can be, spared for six months, ] take it he can bo scared for all time. If money is so plentiful there are many old officers who could bo sent, but is it necessary to send anyone in charge of the team. Could -not ono of the selected twelve bo chosen to take command?—l am, etc., BULL'S-EYE. March 25, 1911.

A RETROGRADE MOVEMENT.

Sir,—ln Saturday's issue of your journal you luive' a local stating that the Wellington Trades and Labour Council intend'waiting upon the Hon. Mr. Millar, to protest against Mr. T. E. Sedgwick's proposal re his bringing out another contingent of English boys to work 011 farms. Also to protest against Government subsidies being granted as passage-money to enable them to come out to New Zealand. 'Now,' Sir, who is going to rule this country? "Will the Government eventually give the council the reins, and let them back the whole team, contents and all, over the gully. It does seem as though it were coming to that. Does the Trades and Labour Council ever look things squarely in the face? Shut the farms up, and you shut the Rational shop up. Deprive the farmers of labourmid the nation's downfall will not be far off. Is not the nation's greatest expenditure caused by the building up of a navy sufficiently large as a sole protection of tho nation's food supplies along the trade routes, and this principally the produce of tho farms? A great cry was made a little v.'hilo ago about the Farmers' Union becoming a political institution, whilst the trades unions are the greatest sinners in this respect. And, Sir, I think it will bo well, seeing the trend of things, if the Farmers' Union woke up to the situation. One may liken them to undeveloped seed lying in tho ground, whilst weeds are growing up around them, choking them.—l am, etc., HENRY AY ALTON. Waikanae, March 27, 1011.