LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

EGOIST OR EGOTIST? Sir,—May I ask you a conundrum?— Q. Why is Sir Joseph W T ard a far-seeing statesman? A. Because he is. full of "I's." In a recent short communication to the electors of New Zealand the pronoun "I" occurred thirteen times, "my" three times, "mo"' once, and "myself" once. The ego eighteen times in all. One would expect in a letter addressed to tho electors that the second personal pronoun "you" would predominate, but if is conspicuous by its absence, either in tho nominative, possessive, or objective cases, By-thc-by, as a literary question, which 'is the proper word, "egoist" or "egotist"? I may say the pronouns are , counted from the "Southland Daily News," a Government paper; tho "Otago Daily Times" (Opposition) dispenses with one of- his thirteen "I's," and probably you have been assisting, as a political opponent, in further tearing his "I's" out.— I am, etc., PROSPECTOR. Gore, January 9. [Wc should say that our correspondent would be -quito safe in describing tho head of the Government as both an egoist and an egotist—that, is, of course, in a political sense. There is very little difference in the moaning of the two words. Tho egoist is a selfish, self-centred person, who values everything only in reference to one's personal interests. Tho egotist, is one who indulges unduly in tho practice of dwelling on one's self—a victim to the habit of talking or writing too much about one's self.] CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. Sir,—l have been very much interested in the books and papers in the public library on' Christian Science. I should like to know if there arc any persons in Wellington interested in this subject, and if I can get moro information from them. I shall be grateful to you if you can secure for me tho desired information.— 1 am, etc., ONE INTERESTED. Wellington, January'lo, 1912. [Probably some of our readers: can supply tho information asked for.] "PROHIBITION" METHODS EXAMINED. Sir,—The letter in your issue, of this date, signed "Phylax," is ' interesting chiefly as an indication of the fact that the liquor trade has been "hit -hard" by the voting of the people of New Zealand. The closing paragraph contains the gist of the compelling power that brought "Phylax" into view. Ho would like to see Parliament enact a law to stop these contests as to retaining intact the liquor business as it is or not. That is as daring a proposition to choke "liberty" as could well be imagined, but the people have at length roused themselves to have "Reform" aud improvement all round— and why not? It is a farce to spend large sums yearly educating our young pooplo'and then permit by law a lot of greedy capitalists, and to a large extent their slaves, to open up various avenues of temptation and stumbling-blocks that ruin so. many which have cost the State already, a largo sum. From police statistics, crime arising out of drink is seriously increasing, and the awful deaths through drink since Christmas makes one almost wonder how such things can happen in an enlightened Christian country. Surely it is sad and shameful. It is- a vory serious matter to write in defence of such a traffic. —I am, etc., HIBERNIAN. January 10, 1912.

A CHANCE FOR THE PREMIER. Sir,—lt was with no small amount of surprise I read in our local papers that the Chinese revolutionists have approched the late President of America, llr. Koosevelt, to put the Chinese nation on an up-to-date constitutional footing, which, to say the least, points out (lie great desire 011 the part of tho Chinese to obtain the greatest mind in tho world at present for the carrying out of this initiative. 'Sir, though the Celestial Empire may be very well informed I feel sure that our Sir Joseph Ward, Baronet, is not known to it, or has been overlooked. Therefore, T beg to suggest that tho New Zealand Consul for China be approached and the high political qualities of our Sir Joseph Ward bo brought under his notice with a view of giving Sir Joseph Ward a tip-top position wherein to show his excellent ability to give New Zealand a splendid advertisement and to give Chiiui the only mau in tho world for thoiii. —I am. etc., X.L.X.T. DRY-ROT IN THE G.P.O. Sir.—Tho General Post Office of this city is a fino building, but what use a fine building if things ore dead inside? What do I mean? This: That inscribed on the doors of the public office of tho G.P.O. are these words, "Open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m." Now I lake tho oommon-«mse meaning of this to bo that tills particular office is open to the public for the sale of stamps, etc., from 8 o'clock in the morning until 8 o'clock in tho evening, but such is not the case, according to the men who sell tho penny stamps behind the counter. Tliis-morn-ing brought things to a head, so far as I am concerned, for what I am about to state has been going on for some time. This morning I entered the G.P.O. at live minutes to nine, and this is what I. saw: Thirteen parsons waiting at the counter, five people behind the countor—four men and one lady. Yes, quite sufficient to attend to thirteen customers, that is, if fliev did. attend, but this is what this lovelv, five were doing: The lady was tit her • post,. but what of the men—tho men with the Government job and retailers of Id. stamps? No. 1, at the far top corner, was seated in a chair reading the .pap Dr. ("Times," I suppose); No. 2 was cleaning his nails, while Nos. D and i were taking their cash and stamps from their'boxes and -conveying, it- to their respective tills. I made my way to . the counter, and asked one of these monied men for half a dozen, penny stamps, but he was so kind and gentle that you would have tlioucht lie was a block of stone, except for the fact that he went 011 taking stamps from the box to his till. Yes, for fullv five minutes eleven out of the thirteen" were kept waiting; in fact, it had struck nine o'clock before I was served. Now, this is a deadly state of affairs, and slioidd not lie allowed to continue Either the wording 011 the doors should be altered to read, open from 9 a 111. to S p.m., or new life should be put into those people behind the counter. and the public looked after a little better.— IWn ' OtC " / W.H.B. AN "INDEPENDENT" MEMBER. q.- r rt would be rather interesting, nt this juncture, for Mr. L. M. Isitt, ]'~ to explain what he means by Independent, as applied to politics. One. might lie excused thinking that, a I nily Independent member of Parliament would never be found at a Government "caucus. Also, that a trulv "Independent member of Parliament 'would not declare himself total!v opposed to the Opposition, or any other' party, but that 110 would be entirely free to judge every measure or question purely upon its merits, no matter from whatever party it emanated.—l .-1111, etc., Y ' DROOP IN POSTCARDS. Sir,— Though the postcard trndo is not such a crazo as it was, say, two years a „ 0 there is still a large demand for really up-to-date postcards. Certain lines, such as general views, children studies, clover comics, and artistic cards general ly are "till popular with the public. But the bookseller has to use more judgment in purchasing, as tho public generally are now requiring better value for their money. TTic demand at Christmas for postcards was simply enormous. On chatting with, other booksellers, I find the sales were remarkable, and quite made up for a little slackness during tho winter months. \part from postcards as a selling factor, 1 find them a splendid advertisement for a window display, as tliev make people stop ami inspect the windows, which, naturally, improves the sale of books. 1 am convinced (lint postcards have come to stay, notwithstanding tho picture-.-how fad which, all'ected them to a certain extent, ar. it ntfected other lines.—l am, etc., BOOKSELLKK.