LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1185, 21 July 1911, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

1 "IS THE GAME UP?" . "TIIK BOUKMAKLK." Sir,--ll is probably due lo the faclof a somewhat icngtny absence ironi Wellington Iliac 1 missed .-eemg your paper .-ocularly. (.'pon my return a tew ways ag.j 1 was higniy amused, in laci, as uie .uncricans say, almost ncKicu to ncatii, 10 read ill your issue 01 .May 12 last a liali-Lviiimn ut stun uiiu.tr tin; aoovu heading. A good portion of tno article was 11 statement, uy. a member 01 the detective lorce, the purport of whicu was "that street betting 111 Uiristcliuieu was a thing of the past.' The only repiy to such :i statement is "fudge." it is a well-Knowu tacc told by oculists that many seamen sutler from "colour-blind-ness,' 1 and, judging lroni the published statement* 01 uetectives and tue action generally of. the police force 111 regard 10 the gaming laws that a new and startling discovery, as omy allecting tho detectives and police, will soon be publicly matte known. Probably scientists wnt pronounce it "tote-betting blindness" Whether this defect of the optics is duo to atrophy of the optic nerve, and so prevents tno police seeing what is going 011 in relation to street betting and illegal gaining. 1 will leave the scientists and your readers to decide. The fact is, Mr. Lditor, tho powers that be, tho heads of tho police force, display too much kid-glove leniency in relation to tho betting evil. To copo with tho evil properly it requires to be dealt with in no flimsy maimer. I travel about the Dominion a good deal, especi-

ally in the South Inland, ami I can say from what I know and what I hear that I. cannot corroborate the remarks of the Christchurch detectives. 'i'o those "in tho know," and they are the public, there is no lack of opportunity of backing one's fancy in Christchurch on any races that are taking place in oilier parts of the Dominion. Tho tame remarks apply to Wellington. I guarantee I can get as much money as I want placed at tote odds in Wellington on any day of the week, if races are held in other parts ot the Dominion. There are betting depots from Jfolesworth Street to Cuba Street, and all along the intervening space. They are not labelled as such, but certain spots are known. Since the last Gaming Act came into force "a shop" or office for betting is carried 011 in Molesworth Street, Tiie police don't know of it. No, certainly not! The public do, and they can see 011 race days a stream of betting people going up to the rendezvous to put on their investments, anil on other days calling at the place and settling. Why don't tho police know these things? The answer is obvious. . Too many. of the detectives and members of the police force are betting men. Take, for example, one race meeting at 'l'rcnthaui. A posse of police and detectives were on the ground. Did'they bet? Vi ell, I should smile. It was notorious detectives - followed certain jockeys and trainers about wanting to get the "whisper." They appeared as if they were hypnotised by the jockeys, one -of them religiously before each race wandered round the bird-cage, went to tho outer gate, watched the horses' preliminary gallops, returned, collaborated with his colleagues, and no doubt on the information lie thus gained lie and his pals made their investments. Now, .what right had this detective to be so regularly in tho birdcage? Did he expect to arrest some of the' stewards or officials for screening "a non-tryer" ? His. place and his "pals' " proper placo was out looking for thieves and pick-pockets. These men are not sent out to .races and paid by the Gov- ■ erniiient to have a pleasant day's outing I and do a deal of betting. They can do : that when they are on furlough. One detective in question can easily be noted ' for his persistent meauderings in the bird-cage. Other branches of the force i were • equally ..interesting. One or two men in uniform—they were supposed to be 011 duty—openly asked trainers and ■ jockeys "which horss could win." These men were not taking on any thief-catch- > ing; they were out if possible "to make '■ a bit." Now, this may read all very fmmv, but it has its serious, side, too. t When men join the detective or uniform - force of polico they must realise thai they cannot do just as other citizens do, - They should not, when attending race 1 meetings on duty, fill in most of their • time, or any of their lime, betting, but 5 tiiev do. They must remember the pub- ? lie 'have to pay for their journey to and t entrance to the racecourse. The policr 3 and detectives do not. pay for theirs, and J probably have refreshments thrown in, t FT they really have an advantage over

the public in that respect. Then, as to street betting, is it not ludicrous to expect detectives and policemen to arrest tote bettors when it is notorious many of the members, of both branches win wagers from the."bookies ? What about the man who won' some hundreds of pounds over a treble from a local firm of bookmakers at the last Grand National meeting at Christchurch? Is it likely that this man is going to arrest the bookmakers he mm such a wager from? Yet he is to be seen continually on the streets, presumably to catch tote bettors. Then there is the reported visit of a detective to a sporting club in -Wellington, and rumour has it. he found everything in good order and condition, and was very pleased with tho furniture and surroundings, but there were no "bookies" on the premises. AVliat a chance! These gentry are just as smart as any of the detectives, and they sav you can't catch a weasel asleep, so you "can't catch tote bettors in. flagrante delicto, if they scent a raid by the detective force. No; something else must lie tried. I suggest to summon some of the well-known citizens that continually het with these men. Will the police or detectives say they don't know them, call them as "witnesses on one another— they must give evidence, and if one or two examples were made of "such wellknown citizens" an cud would be put. to the evil, and then the totu bettors would not bo seen so much in evidence in motors, on bikes, in. vehicles, and on "shanks' pony" in the public streets. Lot the powers that be and the police authorities rattle the force up a bit, and not send, to any race meeting any member of the detective or police force who is known to indulge in betting. Keep this matter before the public, Mr. Editor, aud if you succeed in suppressing the evil you will earn the thanks of alf respectable members of the community. Those remarks about betting by members of the police do not apply to Wellington alone, the same thing exists on almost all the racecourses in the Dominion, but the evil seems more accentuated in Wellington and Christchurch.—l am, etc., NE FRONTI CBEDE. July G. GROCERS' PETITION. Sir,—Tn answer to your correspondent's letter in to-day's issue, I would like to ask Mr. Cameron if. as' he says, there was no misrepresentation used to get the signatures on the main petition, why, 111°™. are a great number of those grocers who signed his petition now asking to have their names withdrawn and added to the counter-petition against fi o'clock? Will Mr. Cameron explain this? If Mr. Cameron will call, I will give him all tho infornvition he n,-ked for re what, is a bi" grocer.—l am, elc A. BEAUCHAMP. I)- 1 Tngestre Street, July 20, ■ 1911.THE FIRST MARTYR.

Sir,—A neighbour of mine, named William Cornish, a youth in his teens, is now in prison, branded as a criminal and clothed in like manner, simply because he refused to register under the new Compulsory Service Act. This severe sentence has naturally arrused popular indignation. The determined spirit which the. lad has shown in resisting what he regards as an arbitrary measure commands admiration, and his example will undoubtedly he followed by many others. I cannot imagine how it came about that a. democratic Parliament parsed this obnoxious Bill, without first consulting the people at a general election, as it introduces a new principle, and'one quite, foreign to the constitutional laws of the Hritish Umpire, and indeed appears to sel (lie Habeas Corpus Act at defiance, as this groat Act is virtually suspended in the cri«o of young men t'rimi fourteen to twenty years of age. Compulsory military service, in my opinion is neither neccssiry nor desirable for'Nc»' Zulaiul. mid 'III? i*.-olw Ue> cojiclujicn arrived at by that diitinguifb,-

Ed soldier—General lan Hamilton—as regards (ileal llrilnin. Should (his country ever be threatened with aggrei-.-ion everybody capable of bearing arms will willingly flock to the Standard wilhoiil coercion. Tho volunteers f.ir the lafe Jlocr war all'ord undeniable -proof of Ibis contention. In order In avoid further and serious trouble il would. I think, be well In suspend the furl her operation of the Act mili 1 the new Parliament meets, when the voice of the people can be heard and made effective by repealing the Bill.—J am, etc., A. 0. COIJZEXS. Brooklyn, July 11. HOW DIFFERENTIAL RAILWAY RATES ARE OPERATING AGAINST THE NORTH. Sir—The Gazette of Juno 1 last gives us the result of the working of the railways of the Dominion for the first four weeks of the financial year, and tho Gazette of June 29 gives the result of the second four weeks. We have thus before us the Government statement of what has been done on our railways during the eight weeks from April 1 to May 27. Let it be remembered that this is the Government statement, not mine. On the railways of the. North Island we carried of "goods" which aro charged by number, viz., parcels, etc., horses, carriages, dogs, drays, and cattle, calves, sheep, and pigs 4115,634 items, and of goods carried by ton, viz., chaff, lime, etc., wool, firewood, timber, grain, mcrchaudiso, and minerals 285,155- tons, awl for Iho service rendered tho North paid .£80,028.

Dining tho same period of time wo carried on the Southern lines (they have at least -130 more miles than wo. have in the North) 960,(105 items of live stock, ete.. and 6J5.331 ton? that were paid tor by the ton. Tor'this much larger service the South paid only 45107,539. '.Clio figures givon above eonclusivclv prove that the prices now being charged, throughout the North Island, nro for all classes and all distances considerablv more than double the pricts charged in the South. It must be remembered that tho returns are for eight weeks only, and it will be some months yet before I. shall be able to ascertain what the differential rate against the North was on' March 31 last; but on March 31, miO, it was 4s. IOJd. per ton against tho j North, and so far as 1. can' sec it was

again heavily raised last year. The figures already given show that for ■all live stock and other articles, cm which freight is charged by number, very nearly double the number was carried in the South, while of tonnage goods they carried double, also 78,000 tons over and above double in the eight weeks, and this was the price paid for the service rendered:

The North Island paid The South Island paid only ,£107,53!). Or only J26,nil extra, for certainly much more than twice uw service rendered; and Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. George Powlds coolly -assert that there is no such thing as differential rating in this dominion. The sooner the northern citizens wake up the better—l am, etc.,

, SAMUEL VAILE. - Auckland, July 13, 1911. COUNCILLOR M'LAREN RE SMALL GROCERS, Sir,—'Will you allow me space to state my protest against Air. Al'Laren's actions in tho council last evening, re the grocers' petition, and his inconsistency, for ho professes to bo against monopolies aad trusts. But he did his best last evening to assist the large grocers to crush the small ones out of existence, by urging tho council to sign and seal the petition, and forward it on to the Labour Department to be gazetted. 1 wish your readers to note the difference, between his actions and those of Air. V. M. 13. Fisher, AI.I\ for Wellington Central, who introduced tho small grocers' deputation last Wednesday, and gave them'such valunblo assistance, and who is ever-ready to do his best for the great majority of the general public. In conclusion I would ask Air. M'Laren to study .the motto of "Live and let live." Thanbing you in anticipation,—l am, etc., .... ELECTOR -WELLINGTON EAST. July 11. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Sir, —I noticed a letter in .vour issue of vesterdav attacking tlio charts of tho Public trust Office. 1 have had experience of legal charges, and can well appreciate the difference between the charges of the Public Trust Office and those, of solicitors outside. Tho Public Trustee administered my late wife's estate. He took out probate, passed accounts and tho Stamps Office register title, and transferred the laud to me. The whole fee, exclusive of out-of-pocket espouses, was £5 ss. 'I am informed (outside tho Public Trust Office) that the charge of a solicitor for the same would have been .£25 at least. I was so well pleased with the administration that I have made a will appointing ' the Public Trustco executor. This will was prepared for me for nothing by a solicitor in the office free of charge.—l am, etc.. WELL SATISFIED. Wellington, July 16, 1911. OVERDONE. Sir,—Both the Press Association's agent and your special correspondent in Auckland seem to have made a mountain out of a molehill with regard to what is termed "The Kingsland Mystery." 'When I read tho graphic .description given of the arrest, of three persons, two of them females, I was greatly amused. From the elaborate precautions taken and the. large staff of police employed, I had visions of a repetition of the Houndsditch affair. I pictured to myself tho gallant .detective'and-.his merry men advancing under a raking fire from automatic revolvers', worked by dcfiperaio anarchists. Surely, Sir, your special correspondent's perspective is slightly astray, or is it another.attempt on tho part of the inhabitants of the' Queen City to surprise their simpler neighbours in.Wellington?—l' am, etc., A SIMPLE WELLINGTONS. LAND-GRABBING. Sir,—Sir Jimmy Carroll said in his speech at Christchurch that lie was not going to allow the land-grabber to exploit the Maori. Now, sir, I would like o ask vou what constitutes a "laud-grab-ber."' Docs the fact of si man holding lO.flCfl acres constitute one? If so, I would ask Sir James Carroll if ho comes under that category. Is lie not in possession of that amount' of laud at Tahova, near Gisborno? He also states: Give mo the man who will ro on the. laud and roar a family ana I will help him. How will ho help him? By offering up a prayer or doing a "baka while the man chops bush and scratches along to try and meet his liabilities on a Government bark-block section, where he has to pay £n to .£lO per lon freight on his eatables owing to neglect of the Public Works in not providing roads, while thov waste millions on a useless railway lino like Wo.-tport t(. liceflon, that won't pay for the fireman's cotton waste?—l am, etc. CONSERVATIVE.