THE INDUSTRIAL HALL AND MR. TEWSLEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1148, 8 June 1911, Page 6

THE INDUSTRIAL HALL AND MR. TEWSLEY.

Sir,—lt is interesting to see Mr. Fletcher's proposal for an Industrial Hall for Wellington being backed up as a "sound business proposal" by Mr. Tewsley, the president of the Chamber of Commerce. In Mrs. Bee ton's Cookery Book she says, "To'make hare soup, first get your hare." Before we begin to spend the profits, let us know what the profits are. Mr. Tewsley thinks it would he a splendid idea to erect such a building, and suggests that it "might very well become the permanent home of the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Association, the Employers' Federation, and other commercial bodies." May I ask Mr, Tewsley if the surplus or profit from the Exhibition (if any) belongs to the people or to the bodies he mentions? Is the Trades and Labour Council to be housed as well, or is that body beyond the pale? Such a proposal as Mr. Tewsley makes would, he savs, mako kindred bodies think closer together. A splendid reason why the* Chamber of Commerce and the Trades Council should share the same building. Mr. Tewsley wants a "headquarters of local commercial life." Very well, but why should the public pay for it? Are the manufacturers and the commercial men unable to obtain for themselves by their own efforts thnt "headquarters" which suddenly appears to be so desirable the moment someone else's cash is available to do the' work? That money, if it is evc-r realised, belongs to • the people, and should be spent for their benefit, and not for two or three select coteries of moneymakers. Tliq whole proposal is a. stupid one, anyhow. There is not enough population hero to support a permanent exhibition, and the public is too hard'up to be able to' afford keeping "white elephants" as pets. Besides, wo have to keep the Ministerial menagerie, going, and that takes-all our "beans" just now. Mr. Fletcher might get the Government to take it up. They may be able to "buy" a Wellington seat vrith- a money-wasting scheme like this. One never knows—l am, etc., ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE EXHIBITION. ' WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?, Sir,—l would be glad if you will grant mo space in your paper for a few' statements that may interest the Government Baiiwavs locomotive engineer. About two weeks ago I noticed a locomotive standing on a side line at a station in this district, with water running freely from the ashpan, and being curious as to the cause of it, and the furnace door being open, I looked in the firebox. One may judge of my surprise wuen I observed n Haw in the boiler plate, fully thiee or four inches long, with steam and water issuin;: from it. Now, 1 would like to ask the locomotive engineer whether he thinks that a boiler carrving 1701b. per square inch, with a cracked furnace-plate, is safe? For myself, I think it is a veritable mantrap, in the meantime, should an accident occur, and the driver and fireman be killed or injured, who will be resnonsible? in conclusion, I would like to mid that I saw the same engine in use, and in fho samo condition to-day.—l am, etc., VERITAS. I'apatawa, May 30.