CORRESPONDENCE. BREAKING THE LAW.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1910, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE. BREAKING THE LAW.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —May I again refer to the timehonoured custom of some cf our lawbreaking shopkeepers who continually, day af^er day, break one or more of the City Council's bylaws : firstly, by sweeping down the pavements in front of their shops after 8.30 a.m., the hour stated in the Act. There is an old saying that- "there are none so blind as those who won't see," and if there ever are any of the inspectors passing along our main streets about this hour any morning they must indeed be blind. Why sweep the dust and rubbish out of the shops at all ? Shopkeepers have, or should have, proper covered receptacles in which they could put tho sweep- j ings from the shops, instead of sweeping it alj into the streets, which are dirty enough already. Uncovered kerosene tins seem to be the favourite rub-bish-box in most cases, despite a recent statement that the council's inspectors were seeing that the use of proper cover- I ed bins was to be enforced. Another filthy and offensivs habit is that of ) emptying pails of dirty slop-water into the gutter. Surely this, too, is quite j unnecessary. In view of the two cases \ of plague reported from Auckland on Thursday, it is to be hoped that our I inspectors will stir up those cheerful offenders, as prevention, we are told, is better than cure. This open, breaking of laws is a disgrace to our city.— I am, etc., DISGUSTED. Wellington, 20th May, 1910. THE MEMORY OF THE KING. XO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln reply to Mr. C. C. MAdams letter relative to the death of our beloved Sovereign King Edward VII. : Without so" far forgetting myself as to enter into controversy about the substance of this letter, I would like to express, in a slight degree, my disgust at the sentiments expressed in it by a subject of his late Majesty. Mr. M^Adam's assertion that the consideration paid to the late King's memory is because of ihis rank, is granted. This is jure divino, and cannot be questioned. Mr. MAdam says: "Distinction in rank in this life may ■be necessary . . . but . . . the next life will be a democracy so faa: as Tank is concerned." The nation is expressing its sorrow only at the death of the personification of the rank that was. Mr. MAdam objects to his arrangements being put out in consequence of, the death of the King—the father of the nation. Surely, one does not complain when an individual suspends his arrangements as a mark of respect to his Jate father, the being to whom he was want to look to for help and guidance in his hour of trial. And in these respects is not the King truly the father of the nation? Then, surely, it cannot be right to complain because the nation suspend* its arrangements as a mark of respect to its father? To my mind the £entiment expressed by Mr. MAdam is revolting, and he is grossly irreverent when he commends his sentiments to the support of the Church. — 1 am, etc., PRO DEO ET REGE. 18th May, 1910. LABOUR AND SOCIALISM. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Mr. M'Laren's letter in last Monday's Post must be disappointing to hi 3 ■followers. They have been expecting llio oracle to state a definite policy for months past, yet the voice of "Oor Dave" is still quoting the words of some other body. He has told us what Mesare. Hnghss, Fisher, and Watson, say on Labour politics and Socialism: might I suggest, on behalf of his bewildered supporters, and for the sake of variety, that ho should give us his own views? They would be interesting So far his pronouncements on Socialism have been vague and guarded,-but his Socialism, if we are to judge by what he has already said on the subject, must be something weird. His economics have prompted him to put it on' record that he advocates the Socialism of wealth (no wonder Socialists have the divide-up gag thrown at them), and if lie accepts, as he applauds, the Australian platform, then he either does not understand Sociali6m from its ethical standpoint, or he is at great pains to conceal his knowledge. The British Labour party believes in and works for Internationalism. The party organ, The Labour Leader, has stated: "Let the capitalists make their wars as they have wrecked lives and ruined | homes." The duty of the working class i is to hold out the hand of fellowship to I our comrades in. other lands, and to denounce militarism in any shape or form. We recognise that the enemy of the working class is not the German or tho coloured man, but tho capitalist. Tho Australian Labour party is exclusive. It's | cry i 9 "A fleet, a fleet, our kingdom for a fleet." Socialism stands for the "brotherhood^ of* man." Militarism and Dreadnoughtism foster racial hatred. Can Mr. M'Laren reconcile the two? He has advised Mr. Wade to read "Alice in Wonderland." Can it be thai Well I always thought Merrie England as good a text book aa could be got for a Labour leader. Perhaps that explains why he Looks upon us Socialists as extremists. Our language must jar upon the artistic feelings of *the disciples of Hans Christian Andersen, eto. If Mr. M'Laren ia acquainted with the works of our foremost social reformers he will be aware that their denunciations of modern society far exceed in scorn and power any abusive language employed at the street corners. Carlyle described it as a festering* dung-heap, and his philosophy of the •'pigs is a terrible satire on. the system we, live under. In preaching the gospel of socialism we may have our deficiencies, but our movement requires no soap and water to make it presentable. If Mr. M'Laren wishes to win tho confidence of Labour, let him speak out. What Labour wants is not a clique of white waistcoated political contortionists, but a band of honest determined, men. Tho muck-rake and plenty of legislative chloride-lime are needed badly. But tn'e waving of a putty sword and a voioo charged with artificial thunder, crying "Follow me," will never satisfy intelligent workers. It savours too much of tho "Never Never Land." They want to know where they're going and what will come of the journey. Besides, they may come to see that the giant is only a common man on stilts. • 1 am, etc., G. CHRISTIE. Wellington, 18th May.