CORRESPONDENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 94, 20 April 1912, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE.

HYPNOTIC POWER. TO THE IDIIOB. Sir, — Would you allow me to make a protest against a recent exhibition in a shop situated in a main thoroughfare, where I saw a subject in a hypnotic trance? It seems to me to be an unpleasant spectacle, and one that cannot have a good effect on numbers of people, particularly sensitive women and children. It seems a pity that the law} does not restrain such exhibitions. In two European, countries the exercise of hypnotic power by any person other than a doclor of medicine is ■ a criminal offence. Such laws at least recognise the evil, although it may be - almost impossible to properly enforce them. It is barely 'a century , since the practice of witchcraft was punished by death ; yet nowaclays that form of modern witchcraft ill the guise of the scientific term ''hypnotism" parades uncloaked and unpunished, for it is little understood. Few people are aware of the crimes committed in. some parts of the world! by the aid of such power. I have known some instances where this power has.been used in a subtle manner by a man in"a( position of great responsibility ; yet the proof, although indubitable, would probably have been useless in. a court of law. For how is a person to tell when another uses hypnotic power over him when the" operator wishes to disgui&e the fact? Knowledge of the evil seems to be perhaps the best defence against it, -yet, unfortunately, those who strive for this power are generally affected by it. But, if we recognise what is in 6ome quarters regarded as an evil, some step must bet aken. Therefore, I call attention to the instance.— l am, etc., ' PBSERVER. 18th April., ' • LABOUR UNITY. TO 188 EDITOR. Sir,— The successful issue of Professor Milk's Unity scheme, in the 'face of strenuous opposition hurled at the idea from an extensive section of workers while the scheme was under consideration, indicates the ascendancy of Labour in the political life of thip country. The cheery American exponent of the Unity Bch«ne -declared from the .outset that he would unite all eleihents in. the ranks of Labour, and he has succeeded in spite of the hoots and ridicule of opposing workers. Professor Mills has the reputation of being one of the world's best orators: and beet political organisers, and ' it 16 fortunate that Labour in this country has the benefit N of his services. His tact and' adroitness in handling masses of people and the gifted terms, in which he expresses himself soon conquer rational dissenters and lift the aims and objects of Labour to the houee-tops. „ The consolidation of all . elements in the ranks of Labour being now quite assured and the door open for the admission of the middle and professional classes means the early supremacy of this new political party. There may be a few dissentients who will still clamour for revolutionary methods and anarchy, and in doing so make much noise, but the ranks of these, will daily grow thinner, until too small for serious attention. In any case those who foolishly despise and discard political power and evolutionary progress in favour of industrial power and anarchy will liave few friends, and must bo excused for not knowing what they are doing. Society is ripe for evolution, but not for revolution, and those who are too hasty to wait while the political Labour tree buds, sprouts, and grows understand not the inexorable laws of Nature. All that men can do is to plant ' a. tree and leave it to God and Nature to do the rest. Men can conceive ideas and vigorously voice thoughts to make their ideas grow in the minds of other men, but more than this human effort cannot do. Labour has now -firmly planted a political crop of ideas in the minds of mankind regarding ideal land tenures, ideal^ systems of currency and banking, and ideal methods for the housing, feeding, education, and .employment of all people, and is now united in an ■effort to make a .majority see the greatness and the grandeur in all these 1 ideas*, so that political power to put these beneficent reforms into practical operation shall not be. much longer dela>ed. The United Labour Party has set itself this glorious task. The despoliation of no man is sought. What is sought is the elevation of all men so that the long-promised Kingdom of t Heaven on earth may be an early reality and not an Utopian dream. Towards this end Labour candidates 'are to-day nominated for our largest city Mayoralties, and candidates will be nominated for all public positions as they fall open in order that electors may have the opportunity of electing men who hay« the 'interests of humanity at heart and not the selfish interests of land and moneygrabbers.—l am, etc., F. T. MOORE. 15th April. tontinFpolicies. TO TUB EPIIUB. Sir, — I wonder how many people in Wellington invested in a tontine life insurance policy? How we)l I remember, twenty years ago, an agent of the Government Life Insurance Office persuading ane to take one up, telling me of the wonderful advantages to be gained if only one lived, to become an ultimate winner. With a natural belief in one's own longevity, i became- a premium payer on a £200 policy, and all through these long years have I cherished the hope of being a, millionaire or a, person of substance at least, through being the happy possessor of a tontine insurance. What an idea, of riches the word " tontine " conveys, and how lucky the ultimate winner of a tontine ought to bo ! How many tunes have I congratulated myaelf during those years at each escape from dangerous accident, that I was etill hanging on to that wonderful policy, and chuckled at the thought thjit

the years for its termination wei*e hastening quickly on. Ala* ! for all those bright hopes! I am an ultimate survivor; I have lived through those drear/ years, and paid regularly the premiums as they became due. When I hastened to the Insurance Department to enquire about my riches accumulating in their hands, expecting to be delighted at the abundant figures, I received a. tremendous shock to my system. I have not recovered from it yet. To my enquiries for my gold 'i was informed that the ultimate result of that great tontine- was {hat I was entitled to exactly- £10 12s in bonus on death, or £4 los in present cash, and that I must still go on paying my premiums to the end of my life. 1 could, not believe the statement until it was, repeated with every appearance of truth, and 60 I am mentioning my woes in case there might be any other ultimate survivors of this wonderful system called tontine insurance, so that we may weep on each other's' shoulders about our lost hopes.*— l am, etc., TONTINE INSURER. 18th April. [Regarding the above letter, we understand, on enquiry, that no estimated tontme results were ever issued by the> department or were permitted to be promulgated by its agents. The conditions of the scheme were set out in very moderate terms in the department's special prospectus, and extracts' were printed on the back 'of. the policy form itself. A brief statement of the benefits was embodied in the form of application signed' by all policy-holders, who had to certify in, writing that they had read and thoroughly understood the same. The department claims that it did all that could • reasonably be expected to prevent persons deceiving themselves or being deceived by others.] . HARBOUR NOISES TO TMJS EDITOR. Sir, — My house overlooks the Boat Har•bour at Clyde-quay, and since Easter j week the residents in this neighbourhood have been rudely robbed of their rights of peace, and are now in fear of a veritable bombardment of explosions at any hour of the day or' night. I refer to a new type of infernal machine which has made its appearance on the wateis of the Boat Harbour in the shape of a motor boat, the explosions of whoso engines make as much noise as a Maxim gun; but with the addition that when once it commences, one never; knows when it will cease. * Now, eir, this nuisance has been in existence, several weeks, 6o that the owners of this " Maxim-gun-craft " have had ' ample , time in which to attach a silencer to the exhaust of the engine, but as they appear to enjoy the infernal din created, 1 wish to point out that the residents in the vicinity do not share in the enjoyment. Whilst my wife was undergoing a serious operation at 10 o'clock at night, I can assure you my feelings were far from the kindest towards this new monstrosity, which commenced its horrible noises. Its owners have not the slightest thought for the children in bed or any person who may be ill, or dying, lor what they know. In conclusion, I may say that if the whol© of the other motor launches in the harbour were working in synchronism, the noise from their combined explosions would not half equal the ones referred to. Trusting that you will see fit to publish this. — I am, etc., ' 18th April. " R.J.H. RELIEVING DISTRESS. 10 TEE EDITOB. Sir,— On behalf of' the Wellington City Men's Brotherhood Executive, allow me to express appreciation of your action in opening your columns for the acknowledgment of donations for the purpose of relieving the present distress in England caused by the great strikes. Doubtless there are yet many— both men and women — in Wellington sympathetic with the efforts of relief, who have not yet shown their sympathy in a practical way. May I use your space to suggest to such their attendance next Sunday at the pleasant Sunday afternoon .of the Brotherhood in the New Theatre. This building has been placed at our disposal for the afternoon through the Kind courtesy of Messrs. / Mahon and Donnelly, and well known musical helpers are offering their assistance, the whole proceeds of the collection being devoted to the above object. This will give a fine opportunity to such sympathisers to help. Thanking you for allowing this intrusion.— l am, etc., E. O. BLAMIRES, President W.G.M.B. NOTABLE WRECKS, XO TBS KDITOS. Sir, — The Post has overlooked some notable shipwrecks, notably the wrecks of the London and Quetta. The former was wrecked in the Bay of Biscay on her voyage from London to Melbourne. She was laden with railway iron, und had many passengers, amongst them being G. V. Brooke, one of the greatest of tragedians. He worked at the pumps for hours, and, a vessel passing,' he called to her and sent a farewell message to the people of that city. The remarkable thing about this wreck was that many persons had declared before she left port that she reminded them of a coffin in her build. The Quetta struck an unknown reef leaving Brisbane very shortly before, and it was from this vessel that a girl, 16 years of age, saved herself by clinging to a dead 6heep all through the night of the wreck, being rescued the following morning. — I am, etc., H. R. HAE. 17th April.

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