CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12698, 28 October 1904, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

ROTORUA AND THE TOURIST DEPARTMENT. TO THE EDITOR.

Siifj—Wliilst recently visiting Waimangu I was surprised to find that the first-class ac-commodation-house, erected there and main' tabled by the Government, is not licensed. I think this is a huge mistake, which the Tourist Department should ..remedy at once, as it would" greatly add to the comfort and enjoyment ot visitors who might feel in need of a' little stimulant after the long journey to seo this wonderful geyser piny. There is far greater need for a licensed house at Waimangu than, at Waiotapu (which has one), from the fact that tourists reach Waimangu from two opposite directions, one of these entailing a long walk, and very often tourists have to make several visits before seeing the geyser play; even then many havo to leave disappointed. At Waiotapu and other sightseeing places in that direction, there is no waiting or much walking to contend with. These sights are always available, hence the f renter necessity for making Waimangu House on a par with hotels in the adjoining localities. There is no danger whatever of any abuses arising from making this a licensed house, a.'? it is 17 miles from Rotorua, far beyond the reach of the would-be traveller merely seeking refreshments, and tourists as a rule are not over-indulgent in the use of spirituous liquors. (Personally, I don't use intoxicating drinks, but I don't object to moderate drinkers, when on pleasure bent, partaking of the beverage, especially when they reach Waimangu. Permit me to add that the present managers of the house are thoroughly competent to maintain proper control, and that they are most courteous and considerate to visitors.l am. etc.,

Visitor.

THE APPRENTICES BILL. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —" One apprentice to four journeymen." • This is the perfection of legislation, as enunciated by. the Independent Labour party. Now, in our town, there is a saddler's shop, in which are employed four journeymen and one apprenticethe legal number. But it so happens that these four journeymen have six boys, all of the age to be 'learning hades. And what are 'these other five boys to do? The blacksmiths and carpenters won't and cannot have them, for they are all fin the same fix, and so on all round, farmers and country industries also. We hear a lot of talk about technical education and technical schools, their advantages and their cost. In all civilised and free countries any tradesman can take in a dozen or more boys, and teach them his own trade. This is a technical school in the. best s-snse of the term, and costs the State nothing. A boy who has been at a trade for six months is better educated than the boy who has hot and a bo; who has been at the trade for 12 , months 13 i.till better educated. Every boy . has a right, to be equipped to compete in the higher branches of human usefulness, I and any Act which would restrict his scope and opportunity is simply an Act of Parliament to perpetuate stupidity. Yet in New Zealand we have such an. Act. Thus; the hon. member for the Borough of Ignorance moved that an Act be placed on the Statute Book of New Zealand, that " only a limited number of boys shall be permitted to receive an advanced education." This was seconded by the member for Selfishness, and carried "by a majority of 15; and is now tho law of the Sand. The word " education," bo it observed, has a much wider meaning than mere scholarship. In the dark ages thoso who cotdd read and? write formed a trades union to prevent others from learning these arte, in order to maintain themselves in a , lucrative monopoly; and in New Zealand ; the dark ages have not yet passrd away. In ! benighted India, as wo call it, they have the I " caste system." This is a logical and really ' humane form Of trades unionism compared with that in New Zealand, for all the barbers' sons have a right to be barbers, and all the tailors' sons have a right to be tailors, and so on. No boys are thus forced into tho criminal class by State-enforced idleness, as is done here by the selfish tyranny of, the labour laws. True, they have a criminal caste in India; but then it is found that by some strange physiological law criminals, as a race, decrease, if not. recruited from outside; hence crime is rarer among the followers of the cast'; system than among those who have thrown it off, such as the native Chris ti Let our trades unionists boldly and logically.go in for the caste system, instead of mere " trade selfishness." Over in Australia the trades unionists blatantly announce in one line of their platform, "Equal opportunity for all," and in the next line, " preference to trades unionists." I wonder if a medical expert could pronounce such men to be sane; and yet it is on the cards that such men may soon handle the reins of Government.— ,am, etc.. .-•'• Ait Old Tradesman*. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND . THE . HOSPITAL. ' ' TO THE lEDITOH. Sir,— friendly societies are. evidently going to make another effort to obtain hospital maintenance for their members at half fees. The old and only argument—though badly strained—is being again trotted out, viz., that the general public (that is, the indigent poor) only pay on an average a certain proportion of fees charged, therefore the members of - friendly societies (who would object to lie claused as indigent poor) should be allowed the benefits of the hospital at half rates. Speaking mildly, it would be difficult to find anything more undignified than the attitude of the friendly societies in this' matter, and the spectacle of their officers going cap in hand before the Board begging concessions. for their members is not becoming in such a wealthy body. 1 would ask, why should farmers and country people and others who aro not members of friendly societies pay half hospital fees for those who are? It is understood that a levy of Is per quarter on all members would be sufficient to pay full fees for those who become hospital patients, and that 2s per annum pays half fees. Surely the friendly societies are not going to sell their self-re-spect and independence for two shillings each a year. I hold that no man can have any selfrespect or independence of character who accepts charitable aid when he can afford to do without it, and it is just as much charitable aid to have half hospital fees remitted by the Charitable Aid Board as it is to beg rations from the same body. If the country members of the Board do their duty, this attempt to resuscitate the old ." please the public" vote-catching policy will not succeed.—l am, etc., Batei-axeii. October 19, 1904.

THE FISCAL DEBATE. . TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—lt is redly vesing to see the puzzlement the politicians are creating in this great fiscal controversy. In itself the whole main point in chief is plain and explicit, but they confuse it all by insisting that taxing food is the necessary concomitant of preferentialism, which is, I assert, a very absurd assumption. The correct thing » preference of trade with Britishers in all the British dominions; preference now immediately, with a view to ultimate perfect free trade within the British boundary, exactly as in America. Every American would laugh to scorn a proposal in New York to tax the wheat (or anything else) of the other American Stated. Why confuse the matter? Is the motive partisanship, bamboozlement, and deception? Of course Cobden and Peel were right! Remove the abominable food tax. England cannot grow a quarter part of the necessaries. That was all, and all they did. Why then curse? Now, preferentialism is right, but is only a preliminary.— I am, etc., W. E. Sadler. Ponsonby, October 25.

THE PUBLIC LENDING LIBRARY. TO THE EDITOR. Granting that the chairman of the Sunday-school Union, a clergyman and a rabbi may bo eminently fitted to reorganise a Sunday-school library for the young. I must most strongly protest; against their being permitted to Bowdlorise our subscription library for adults; the more so, as it is entirely unnecessary. As an old subscriber I have read, and glanced over whilst selecting, at least a couple of thousand volumes in all the different classes, and write with a thorough knowledge of its contents. Unfortunately our councillors take but little interest in our public libraries, art galleries, or parks, but for once let us hope that "the common sense of most" will prevent this ridiculous and utterly gratuitous piece of Pharisaism being given effect to.—l am, etc., Old Subscriber. Mount Albert, October 22. ROTORUA TROUT FISHING. to Tin: EDITOR. Sir, —I am given to understand that R. Spencer is the spokesman for the Philistine element only of the Rotorua Rod and Gun Club, and I am glad to say that not all the members agree with that ruling power. The fishing and game laws exempt mo from a license for sport on lay own properly. The best part of Ngongotaha River flows through the centre of my paddocks, giving me nearly a. mile- water frontage. I have always given every encouragement to the real angler to fish there and never refused permission.—l am, etc., .D- Gbu'FKHS.