CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8474, 27 January 1891, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

FIRE ON VESSELS IN "WHICH FLAX IS LOADED. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — several instances it has happened that flax has been on fire in the hold of vessels, but how it became so has been left "to conjecture. That of the Leading Wind points conclusively to its being fired while loading. The loss falls heavy upon insurance companies. The cause may be attributed, suggest, either to a carter smoking when taking flax to the vessel, or a spark from the donkey engine engaged in loading. Both cases are easily provided against; but-the most subtle and dangerous is, the men employed below having "their smoke." As & precautionary measure, let the insurance companies appoint a man (a non-smoker) on board when flax is being loaded, whose sole work should be to see that no smoking takes place below. He could also inspect She bales as sent down. —I am, &c, Albert Potter. January 24, 1891. LICENSING ELECTIONS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — trust your remarks regarding- the apathy of the bulk of the ratepayers to the importance of the above will be successful-in causing a feeling of responsibility to arise, which will make the ratepayers bestir themselves. It appears to me that the Act requires amendment in the direction of placing clearer issues before the people. At present the elections are to be held on the same day as the} local option poll is taken. That poll only asks, shall licenses be increased, yea or nay It should have two other issues, shall licenses be restricted ? shall licenses be abolished? In such case the ratepayers would instruct the committee. It may be said they do so now by the election of gentlemen who stand for one or other of the programmes. __ This is partly true, but it places the-committee in an unfair position, as they have to bear the odium which should fairly bo borne by the ratepayers en masse. And then such definite instruction would prevent the committee going back on their pledge, which was so strongly attempted in the case of the three closed houses in City North. In view of the issues involved, it is desirable that the franchise for the election of these committees, and record of the local option poll, be extended, so as to include those most interested—the people resident in the licensing distriots, and should embrace every adult, male and female, resident, as a goodly number of ratepayers are non-resi-dent.

In this direction only will finality be reached on this important matter. Another subject that should engage the attention- of these " independent ratepayers" is, why is the will of the people, as expressed in 10 o'clock closing, and no Sunday selling, set.at nought? For this someone is responsible, and who more than the police ? Where does the steady number of first offenders who appear on a Monday morning come from ? If liquor shops were absolutely closed from ten p.m. on Saturday to six a.m. on Monday they would rapidly decrease. The advent of interest in these elections, if it only succeeded in killing the paid canvasser, would be highly beneficial. We have far too many men hanging around all elections who would be doing better service to the country-in some honest toil.— am, &c, Uncle John.

BATHING AT DEVON PORT. TO THE EDITOR.

Sffi, —" Vauxhall" tells everyone that they can bathe when they like at the cliff end or Cheltenham Beach, "which is outside-the municipal boundary." Evidently the wish is father to the thought in this case. Even supposing this were correct, " Vauxhall "is perhaps not aware of the Police Offences Act, which forbids bathing without proper dres's, and this has been, so far as I understand, the cause of the late complaints. The "objectionable female " whom " Vauxhall " mentions I have not seen, although I am a regular bather during proper hours and a frequenter of the beach at all times of the day, but I have seen a party of half-a-dozen ladies obliged to leave the only shady part of the beach because a person who lives hard by deliberately undressed' and bathed within a few yards of them without any dress whatever. The beach is not likely to be so popular as it ought to be with residents while the Police Offences Act and borough by-laws are tacitly allowed to be broken as they have been. I think a simple bathing house for men about the middle of the beach, and a portion of the beach marked off for their use at all times, would be the best way out of the difficulty. Then if any of " Vauxhall's" "objectionable females frequented it they would have no sympathy from anyone. Cannot the borough councillors be induced to move in the matter now that < the bathing season is in full swing.—l am, &c., Atjspex.

FEMALE DOMESTICS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,-— am obliged to your correspondent "Home Comfort" for his suggestions, and while agreeing with him in the main, regret there are many who have not the moral courage, while others, alas, need the physical power to uudartake the various duties required in a large household. The main objeel of my letter was to direct the attention ol those who have the power to the necessity oi resuming the immigration of suitable female domestics, a class of labour which from circumstances I have shown does not enter-into competition with labour here, indeed ;ia despised by the daughters of our workingclass, and would result in equalising the-pro-portion of sexes, and finding wives for our young labourers also, a position whieh I presume the girls of the colony from the humbler class will learn to despise.—l am, &c., Mater.