LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13455, 4 June 1907, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

■.'y; V "'.■ :;'.".■'.; a» '.' ' "' '.; v '-'' V rORTHODOX SOCIALISMSir.—l was veryploased isdvd to see in the IIERAtD Supplementf of to-day Sir , Robert Stout's criticism of Professor James ' Edward .Rossigndl's work hearing, ..'the above, title, like Sir Robert I can say that I*knowlofiiic<i-workt that "puts th» cms so clearly and so well, and I hope that his excellent criticism of it will load to its being very widely read in this "country. It is published, as your footnote gays, in New York by Thomas Y. CroweJl and Co., price 4s not, postage sd, so it ia. within the reach of most, people. It may not bo generally known that Professor I#e Rossignol tooted this country, towards the end of last year. He .spent some weeks in Auckland, and as he brought to me an introduction from ProI fessor Richard T. Ely, the chief of . the ISchool of Economics of Wisconsin University, I saw a good deal of him. He. is * man worth knowing, and I can cordially recommend his book to New Zealand reader*. Auckland, June 1. Savckl Vaiije. AN INCONVENIENT HOLIDAY. Sir,—l wish to protest against the post and telegraph offices being closed on the Prince of Wales' Birthday (June 3) instead of Empire Day (May 24). In rcforenoo to the invitation of the Mayor, merchants and shopkeepers agreed to observe Empire Day, and yet the Government, who arc supposed to keenly support the Empire Day movement, are the very people to giro it a slap in the face, by closing up all over the colony on the opposition day, to the great inconvenience of • business people. The Prince of Wales' Birthday is not observed in England, and I hope that strong representations will bo made by the chambers of commerce all over New Zealand against the practice of the Government in keeping up this holiday. ' > \\, BT/SIXK3B Mas. THE TRAM SERVICE. Sir,—ls the Auckland community handed over to* tho Tramways Company for 30 years, to be exploited for the profit of its shareholders, or arc there any rights reserved to the community?. I complain of:—(ft) The, general air of dirt and ; untidiness of the oars; : (b) the* disgusting overcrowding; (o) uncertainty of the time-table; fd) excessive and dangerous ;speed.;'.';'.:;Each of these faults is so apparent that to attempt to prove them would only bo to emphasise the obvious. One wonders what potent influences prevent the enforcement of law or the exaction of penalties for systematically breaking the law." I do not complain as a novice. As one who has had experience of the use 'of electric tram services in many parts of the world, I assert that in the four, points I have named, tho Auckland service takes the palm. Traveuleb. Sir,— I have not noticed any announcement in': the papers as to the authority and ; conditions under which the Tramways Company is running a half-penny sorvico in Queen-street, will someono kindly state for the benefit of the public: Under what permission or authority the Tramways Company is running such service. 2. Whether the- company can legally ;.; charge ljjd fo.- : . carrying a passenger from Symonds-stroofc to the wharf by; two cars; ; 3. Whether the service is not a broach by the company of the terms of tho deed of delegation, render- . ing it liable to penalties. PENNT-A-tINBB.-,:.' ; ;.;;;. : ; Sir,ln your, issue of May 30 last it is stated that "in view of tlio rider passed by * Coroner's ; jury recently, the city solicitor had been instructed to draft by-laws proventing '-'a •■ high rate of speed : being taken by -; tramoars. In 7 the interests of * those of us who desire to move about quickly, it is, greatly; to be hoped that the present rate of speed will not be reduced. The speed of the cars is the only thing in which thK; town is at all i nearly 'Up to date, though' ; somo of; the Silurians in our midst would, no doubt, like to go back to the days whoa » trip to the Three Lamps and back took ,;' half a day or ; more. If the speed is to be reduced every time some lean and slippered pantaloon is obsessed with a desired to in-;'■; dulge in; philosophic meditation or dreamy reverie in the centre of the track, we may as well stop moving at all. As it is now, some of the humane motormon would sx»nei stop the. car than run over some rHretiftjrottth beast of a dog, whose insane howlines vex the nerves of the passengers, ■;and well merit his sudden annihilation. This, carried a little further,- will .bring the car to a halt while the" sparrows finish 1 their meals un-, disturbed on the carlines, - while sleepy Auckland sleeps inside, or i 1 to moderni«e Horace,," tramoar; oxspeotafc -■ dum aves in, via pascuntur." And while discoursing thus on tramcare I think the thanks of the com- i munity are duo to the management for their ■;/-'. kindness to the weary citizens in not placing \ all sorts of advertisements in the now cars. One's tired eyes and feelings are now spared ?■; j tho anguish of seeing everywhere invitations to taste " Blue Beans for Biliousne*®,'' or " Smotherem's Soothing Syrupy for Senile Sufferers.-' - As a frequent "strap-hanger,'' : -<i I appreciate the relief after having ; for .• ■■■] months suffered from some monstrosity in the shape of an alleged pictorial "ad." staring me straight in the eyeball..; For my own , insignificant part, I hope the management will ; long keep out these nightmares,; audi ,; that the speed of the cans will ; be ill* creased. -. ~;,..;,,.■%.■■. ■--..: ;- F.H.W, . - AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Sir,—ln reply to "Traveller's'.'' letter on. this subject will you allow a little of your valuable -space? "Traveller" ; misunder- ;' stood "A Teacher " if he thought any claim was 'made to the. possession -of an overplus ;{ of brains. ~ If he looks; in the advortisemonfc columns of the He-bald in which-his loiter - appeared ' he ! will find that the Education Board 5 'is "advertising for a teacher fo» ;, | Amodeo Bay at the munificent salary ol £48 ft year. Surely in those days of Arbl» , tration Courts teachers cannot be overburr ; j j dened with brains when they tamely put up , with such shockingly inadequate pay for v ; , what is acknowledged to be wearying work. If '.' Traveller " had not been a traveller he would have known the facte of the case re' Mr. ';Massey and the advances to settlers. ;; ' The < electors of Waitomata extracted av ; ' 1 pledge from the present Leader of the Opposition when a candidate for that seat to , voto against • any loan; proposal. ! The Promier, who was stumping the electorate, de- - ; ' clared that-borrowing had ceased. Yet ' within a few weeks of the commencement of the session the Cabinet brought down a proposal to borrow a million and a-half for-'.;,- ' advances to settlors, and Mr. Massey : having given a distinct pledge to do so voted! against ; it. "A ■ Teacher " '.'. has had no experience of the working of the' Advances ;, ' to Settlers Act, but statistics he has before him show that money can be borrowed) ■ cheaper in Australia, Canada, and England .-" than in New Zealand. Has not the rate of ; interest fallen all over tho world? ' A Teaches.