MORE "STATUE."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1908, Page 8

MORE "STATUE."

,A MEETING THAT DID NOT MEET. It was promised for to-day thafc the echoes which ha'yo been slumbering around the Queen's Statue since Comrade DowdpU's denunciations of the "currupt ,and vicious Government" would bo roused and would fill the .Square to-day. An advertisement in The Post yesterday invited "unemployed" to gather around the statue at 12.30 to-day. Unhappily for the convener, the weather began to be v-ery much employed between 12 and' half-past. The northerly's clouds weredoing their best to earn the exertion wage, and the rain thrashed down viciously. However, almost as the clock, chimed the half-hour tho elements rested, and so did the "unemployed" in cosy corners beyond the bite of the wind's tooth. Mr. Campbell, of Auckland, a political Labour organiser, and convener of the meeting, strode slowly past the statue, and glanced about him for an audience. Men were huddled in little groups here and there in doorways, but they did not seem eager to go out into the open for the comforting warmth of any speaker's eloquence. So the meeting did not meet. Mr. Campbell explained to rreporter that he had inserted the advertisement to see how many men were still out of work. He believed that many lacked billets, but he did not think they had mustered in sufficient numbers for a meeting.

At the meeting of the S.P.C.A. yesterday afternoon Inspector Seed reported that ho was refused admission to the Ngahauranga slaughtering works. Ho had wished to see if there was. any improvement in the method of humane killing, but the manager refused to. •allow him to entej? then, giving as a reason chat the directors would have to bo consulted. Ho had promised to let the Inspector know by Friday last week, but so far there had been no communication. Tho meeting believed that, as a special constable, the Inspector could not be turned away. Mr. Seed was instructed to prosecute the matter further, and in the meantime his legal position will be .ascertained. Conversing with a Post reporter this morning Lieut. -Colonel Hume, Inspector of Prisons, said that he was thoroughly satisfied with the amount of work which has been done by the prisoners who are tree planting at Hanmer. He visited the camp last week and was much gratified with the progress made since he waa there before. The season has been a favourable one for planting, and during the past. two or three months thousands of trees — principally larch and spruee — have been placed in the ground. The larch grows rapidly, and experts estimate that in 25 years it will be fit for use a» railway sleepers, bridges, etc. The Inspector of Prisons found all the camp men in good health, and the warder in charge reported • that their conduct has been satisfactory. There are 34 prisoners at Hanmer, and at present there is no intention of increasing the number. Arrangements for tha annual dinner of the Yorkshire Society of New Zealand to be held this month are nearly completed. Sir Joseph Ward, Dr. Findlay, Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Mr. W. F. 'Massoy, Mr. T. W. Hislop, Mayor, and Mr. John Duthie have intimated their iatfintifift Of bciuu present.