IN DEFENCE OF COLONIAL ENGINEERS.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1899, Page 6

IN DEFENCE OF COLONIAL ENGINEERS.

Mr. G. S. Morris, chief engineer of the s.s. Swainby, recently Avrote from New-castle-on-Tyne to the Christchurch Press: — "I have just seen a statement by Mr. Morrison, M.H.R., to the effect that there are not twenty-five colonial engineers Avho could hold their own in an English shop. 1 have been sailing out of England for over four years noAV, and can say that not only is that not true, but foremen have told me they do more and better ivork, and so vimse trouble Avith. the union men. A third was wanted for a ship I was on, and a Christchurch man got it. Arriving too late, he Avas sent to a big ship, the worst in the company. A voyage later the superintendent said, ' If you" have any more men like him send them along.' No New Zealander need bo afraid to come Home and go into a shop. He has done fitting in all its branches, while the English apprentice gets one p ar fc o f an engine and probably turns out nothing else during his time. I should not trouble you at this late date, but it is not fair, either to us or to those to Avhom we served our apprenticeship, to make such a false statement. I expect others Avill have taken this up before me, but I can speak for those Avho are in Eng1 md now."

The fine weather prevailing this afternoon has attracted a large atbeadance to the club shed ol ihe Star Boating Club to witness the annual swimming sports. The water is lumpy and not in a condition for making records. Following are the result* up to the time of our going to press: — Coxswain's Race, 40yr]jj — M. ! Litchfield (6sec), I; H. D. Bell, jun. (12sec), 2 : l\ limes (lOsec), 3. Seven .started, won by half a yard. Maiden Race, 50yds — A. G. S. Thomson p.nd A. E. Exley, dead heat, 1; F. Fining, 3. Eight started ; won by a few inches. In the swim off Thomson, won by about a yard. 100 yds Club Championship —A. Duncan, 1 ; <i. Hutclunson, 2 ; D. Home, 3. A fine race and r. good finish. These were the only starters. To such a large ex tent are people in England taking advantage of the "conscience clause" which the Government last session so weakly admitted, into the Vaccination Act that (writes our London correspondent) some Magistrates bave most of their time occupied in hearing and dealing with applications for exemption. In one case the Court tjafi all night to get through the list without blocking business next day. It is quite clear that a third, if not half, of the rising generation will grow np unprotected by vaccination from the fell disease, which bade fair to be wholly extirpated from this, country. All the highest medical authorities in the land warn us that a lew years will consequently witness an Tppalling recrudescence of small pox, with "its terrible effects of blindness and frightful disfigurement. The life insurance companies are being strongly urged to reject all unvaccinated applicant. 4 !, and it is suggested that employers shou'id make vaccination a condition of employment. Something assuredly will be done — and will have to be done — toward undoing the evil results of Parliamentary and Ministerial weakness and