THE FORESTERS' SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10968, 24 January 1899, Page 3

THE FORESTERS' SOCIETY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Tito prominence (riven of !alo in the press, both by means of local references and leading articles, to the work of friendly societies prompts me to solicit your aid in directing the attention of members of the Ancient Order of Foresters to a startling innovation proposed to bo introduced in the near future in the rules of the society. The matter to which I refer is the proposal 10 augment the funoral benefit by levying the members Is each every time the death of a member occurs, and adding the sum thus o\>taincd to the sum of £20 already contracted for. As there are about 1600 members of the society in this district, this would mean a funeral benofit of at least £50, and at first sight is a very alluring proposal, The system of providing for funeral tbenefitr in this manner by means of levies has been most strongly and emphatically condemned by all actuaries for its unfairness and financial unsoundness; but in this instance the condemnation is moro particularly applicable because it carries with it a distinct breach of faith with those members who are unablo or unwilling to submit to the extra payment. The contract entered into by the society with its members hitherto has been for a fixed rate of contributions, to provide a funeral benefit of £20, and this rate has been paid by hundreds of membors for many years. Should the proposed alteration be brought about, these members will be called upon to pay approximately 4s per quarter oxtra (the number of deaths of members during recent years having averaged about 16), and what for? To provide forthwith an extra benefit of £30 or £40 for those who in the past havo not contributed a single farthing towards it. Another and most important objection to tho alteration is that those old members who are unable to provide this oxtra sum per quarter will bo squeezed out of the society, after having in good faith for many years paid all just dues and demands, and just at that time of life wlion they are moat likely to need the benofits they had been comforting themselves they had made secure. Further, there is no security that after paying these levies for a few years, and as the ago of the society increases, and the deaths in consequence become moro frequent, tho majority of the members may not rebel and wholly, or in part, abrogate the paymont of these levies, thus leaving those who had been members during their existence decided losers. It appears to me that if it is found desirable to augmont the funeral benofits, tho only just, fair, and businesslike method of doing so is to provide for an additional rate of contributions, on a scale graduated aocording to age, to provide for a fixed sum at death. It is well known to tho oxooutive of tho society that a table of payments to provide for various sums at death can be procured from the headquarters of the society in London, and it surprises me that this should not have been done by them, instead of proceeding by tho obsolete, haphazard, pernicious, and oft-condemned system of levies. The conspicuous ability displayed by the executive officers who have hold office of late years in the investment and husbanding of the funds of the society should havo been a guarantee against such a proposal as that I have endeavoured to oriticise.— am, etc., Upper Queen-street, Thus. Wigg.

SANITARY MATTERS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—That part of the excellent address delivered by Dr. Scott, as president of the Medical Association, referring to tho need of a Central Board of Health, ought to command attention. So far as the city of Auckland is concerned, there is, I believe, an inspector of nuisances and a health officer, The health officer's services aro available when a ship arrives with an individual suffering from measles. There is tho usual routine of isolation, fumigation, etc., though half the people in the city may be affected with the same complaint. The inspector of nuisances called on me a few months ago with I reference to a complaint he had received from the Ponsonby School Committee, Cor- ; tain persons were in the habit of depositing refuse from their back yards on to some allotments belonging to the Board of Education. The City Counoil omployees were also making the place a dumping ground for street sweepings. The inspector saw, noted, and inquired the name of the owner of the ground. The Board of Education owned the ground. I was informed that the City Council would prosecute the Board of Education. There the matter ends—not so the mounds of filth, they grow night by night. But, sir, I intended to speak more particularly Of the 'suburbs. ' Take Epsom and Onetree Hill Road Districts. These are bounded by the Manukau Road. Part of this road is controlled by the Epsom Board, part by the One-tree Hill Board. And of course the ditches are parte of the road. Into these ditches goes the sewage from the ad-

jacont houses, and all through the summer ono may see festering masses of matter at the end of each drain. Just iu front of my residence a drain runs across the street through a part of the Epsom district, having an outlet in a rocky hollow on private property. As this drain took a good deal of sewage water from the One-tree Hill district, tho end of the drain was stopped by order of the Epsom Road Boar;!. Onetreo Hill must shift for itself. Now the salvage, in wet weather, makes its way down tho ditch, and finally settles in a little pond on private property on the One-tree Hill side of the road. The owner is proprietor of the sewage from about 50 houses. As soon as the district is supplied with I water from Ouehunga, thore Hill bo so much the more sewage. As soon as we get an inspector. nuisances, he will probably prosecuto the owner of this little pond for harbouring a nuisance. No doubt we require a Central Board of Health invested with; power to move the local bodies. But who is to move the mombers of Parliament ?— am, etc., Bsxj. Bailet. Epsom, January 17, 1699. PUBLIC PARK FOR THE CITY. TO THE BDITOS. Sir,— appears that tho present is an opportune time to secure a piece of land adjoining the city reserves in the Waitakerei district, on which stands a large number of beautiful kauri troes, tho last, 1 believe, of many thousands which once occupied the slopes of tho Waitakerei Ranges. Somo years ago the owners and the Government were in negotiation for tho sale and purchase of this clump of bush, but unfortunately nothing resulted. Tho clump, which consists of rather more than a million feet " super," is yet standing in all tho glory of our sub-tropical forest, and presents a splendid spectacle to tlu beholder. The trees are veritable giants amongst the denizens of our forest, and to havo them destroyed teems almost a crime. This clump of timber is well known to nil who have visited the Waitakerei, as it stands quite close to tho Nihotupu Falls, from whence, in tho near future, our water supply must be drawn. It would therefore be useful and ornamental, and would retain in the hands of the city or Government, as tho caso may lie, such a reserve that the people of the future would be justly proud of. It seoms a very great pity that the Government of the day evor sold so valuable a forest so near to Auckland. I do not know who is answerable, but it was a great shame to sell for destruction such a splendid clump of timber so close to the city, which ought to have been reserved from the very first as a public park. It is not oven too late now, as the owners are perfectly willing to treat if a reasonable price is offered for the clump.— am, etc., Bead Ideal,

PROFESSOR MACLAURIN. TO ME EDITOR.

Sir,—Wo have latoly been informed in your columns of tho appointment of Mr. B. £. Maciaurin to the chair of mathematical professorship of Victoria College, Wellington. Those who have- seen the testimonials in his favour laid before the governing body will not be surprised at his success, and we, as Auckland?!*, may take some pride in the appointment of one educated among us, Especially may the University College here bo congratulated on producing so eminent a mathematician. Nor is it to bo forgotten that ho was a pupil of the Senior Wrangler who lately held the post of mathematical professor hero, Mr. William Steadman Aldis.— I am, etc., CANTAB. {

THE MOUNT EDEN 'BUSES. TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,— view of tho many 'bus accidents notified and otherwise of the last few years, is it not time that the practice of racing between rival lines should be severely suppressed? So long as one 'bus proprietor has the monopoly of any ono line, the travelling public is at his mercy. His 'buses may or may not run to time; they may bo taken on or off at pleasure ; thoy aro nearly always overcrowded. But they are comparatively safe, and the unoffending citizen, though subjected to a certain amount of discomfort, may still travel in them without oitlicr insuring his life or making his will. As soon, however, as there is any opposition this is changed. Two 'buses run whore formerly only one was needed. Passengers may travel at pleasure as to time and fare, but at risk of their lives. The practice of two 'buses of the old lino shepherding one of the new, for the purpose of racing or of impeding progress, nas been followed ior some months at Mount Rctkill, and tho residents enjoyed much excitement at the risk of their lives; and now, judging by hist Saturday's experience, the same tactics aro to bo pursued at Mount Eden. What the probable consequence of this may be before the opposition is drivon off the passengers by any of the three 'buses for town at seven o'clock on Saturday evening had some means ol judging. As the residents of certain suburbs aro altogether at the mercy of the 'bus proprietors, is it not time that these gentlemen should bo taught what is their responsibility to their supporters?— am, etc., One of the Passexgebs. Mount Eden. TC THE EDITOR. Sir,— was a passenger from Mount Eden at seven o'clook on Saturday evening. Three 'buses loft for town—one of Todd's and two of Paterson's. Ono of the latter's drivers had his 'bus full, and could not take up any more passengors, so he devoted his energies to preventing the rival 'bus from benefiting by this. In his effort to ensuro the fares for his fellow driver, he both drovo his horses at racing speed, contrary to by-laws, and pressed so closely the opposition 'bus that how a collision was avoided is a marvel. Is it not time that the travelling publio should be protected from this constant menace to life and limb afforded by the ways of the rival 'bus proprietors?—l am, etc., A Resident op Mount Eden.