LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15481, 12 December 1913, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

WOODBLOCKS FOR PAVING. Sir,— correspondent Mr. Arnold Wilkins, in commenting .on my letter, speaks of mo as "advocating" the use of green timber. I did no such thing. I clearly stated it was a question upon which a difference of opinion existed, but that the demand for green blocks was much greater than for seasoned. Both the above and my previous remarks refer only to hardwood blocks. Softwoods being subject to dry rot very possibly require to bo treated in a different manner to hardwoods. J. C. Dove. INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENTS. Sir,— the proposal of submitting the industrial dispute to the arbitrament of Mr. Justice Williams, as suggested by Mr Hughee, president of the Australian Labour Conference, might I suggest tho futility of doing so, when a man whoso word is evidently of no value to himself or anyone else is a leader and the mouthpiece of the United Federation of Labour, who we are asked to treat with. This is what lie said of agreement"!, which should be borne in mind : " Every agreement entered into is not binding upon you for a single instant.- No, not if it was signed by a thousand officials and ratified by a dozen Courts. Tho agreement- is not sacred. Only a fool would regard it as such. Tho moment an opportunity occurs to better your conditions break your agreement. Break it whenever it will pa/ you to do so," ete. Now, sir, this same gentleman has the audacity to state that if the dispute is left to Mr. Justice Williams to decide "that we (that is, this consistent and honourable gentleman, representing the United Federation of Labour) would loyally abide by the decision of the arbitrator." I wonder if they would? Tk Akoiia. FATHER WALTER McDONALD MEMORIAL. Sir,—l noticed in your issue of Tuesday a notice calling for carpenters or others who would care to assist in the building of a memorial school to the memory of the late Father Walter McDonald at Ellerslie. Well/ I consider the erection of a school in the district where tire lato and lovablo old cleric laboured for so long, as a memorial to his memory, is a very suitable and appropriate monument, especially so if it is a needed institution, as I understand it is. It does not need any words of eulogy to say why this appeal should be readily responded to by any who could manage'to give a day or a half-day to "run up" this building, the mere mention of the name of " Father Walter" will, I am sure, bring many volunteers. Although not one of his own creed, but as ono who lias recollections of many varied and charitable and christian acts of tho dear old priest, I intend to make one to give a hand, and have already sent my name to the secretary, and trust others will do likewise. Trusting that you will assist this matter by giving me the space in your columns,-for this letter, in the hope that others will be brought to ' know of this and come forward in the charitable cause, Carpenter.

Sir,—Will yon kindly grant me space in yonr valuable columns to make a few remarks regarding the advertisement appearing in your paper yesterday in connection with the erection of a'memorial to the late Father Walter. It is a matter of surprise to me that at least the Catholics of Ellerslio are just now thinking of erecting this momorial to the memory of such a great old man. In my opinion, this should have been done long ago, but as the old proverb says: " 'Tis better late than never," I gladly endorse the scheme and will b» pleased to add my quota. The name of Father waiter will ever be so closely associated with the districts of Ellerslie and Panmure that it will nover die till Auckland dies also. The erection of a school will be a fitting monument to the memory of that grand old man, and recollecting* the day of his funeral, and the outstanding feature of the long cortege, in which were represented members of all creeds, classes, and colours. I sincere!* trust that the appeal for voluntary labour for this work will be widely responded to.

„ „ D- N. Movn-ihax. Newton Road. December 10, 1913, THE NE TEMERE DECREE. Sir,— Rev. Mr. Clarke is very anxious that ignorant Protestants should know what an innocent and inoffensive thing the Ne Temere Decree is. Perhaps he gives Protestants credit for more ignorance than they, are entitled to. The result of this decree is that a Protestant man who marries a Catholic woman has the satisfaction of knowing that her Church encourages her to desert him, because according to that decree they are living in sin. There are portions of Liverpool, and of all large Yorkshire and Lancastrian towns where the Catholic population is dense, and #vhich are generally known as the Irish quarters. In these districts it is by no means absurd to talk of "enforcing " the Papal decree, and " interference" and "open aspersion are but mild expressions to use with regard to the condition of things which arises under such circumstance*. I know something about these things, for I have seen them myself. John Ro.valdsok. THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. Sir,—According to Mr. Snowderi, the author of "The Living Wage." there are in the United Kingdom 240 millionaires and over 8000 people who arc each in possession of over £100,000. There is, therefore, he maintains, a surplus of wealth available for tne better remuneration of labour. Now, the 240 millionaires would probably aggregate, say, 350,000,000 sterling, and 8000 hundred' thousand pounders might run into £800,000,800, making a grand total of accumulated wealth representing some £1,150",000,000, This magnificent sum divided between the British community would give to each man, woman, and child, £23 10s. It would, of course, bo utterly impossible to make such division in coin, for the simple reason that in the banks of the United Kingdom and in circulation, the total specie available- is certainly under £130,000,000, which amount would pan out about 60s apiece to each inhabitant of the British Isles. This would represent very much less than the average weekly wage of the Dominion striker, should he" resume work. The fact of the matter is that what is now assessed as wealth, would, under certain phases of communism, vanish from the sphere of calculation in toto. A painting by Constable is bought in this city for tho value of the frame, it goes to London, is pronounced by experts' as genuine- and put up to "auction at Christie's, fetches many thousand pounds. Under the wile of "the Federation of Labour what would this rare work of art fetch? Something less "than it did in Auckland. An Auckland man owning 100 ft frontage in Queen Street can command a big overdraft. With I.W.W. on ton it would be a case of " taking no risks." Wealth, or at least 95 per cent. of it, is the creation of the present order of society; communism would drown it in chaos, leaving many poorer, no one the richer. That priceless stone, the Cullman diamond, now graces the Imperial Crown. Stuck in Dictator Semple's billycock a ton of flour would be good value for it December 8, 1913. H J '

STRIKE "NEWS" IN AUSTRALIA. Sir,— following paragraph was published in the Sydney Daily Telegraph of Saturday, November 22, 1913. As it is of importance to New Zealand at the present time, I send this on to you, asking you to insert it in your columns. It is just as well to let the people of. New Zealand see who are their friends and who are helping the strikers in their work. If such things as these are published in Sydney, you cannot blame them for their ideas of the strike in New Zealand. This is the paragraph:—" Australasian Federation.—' Napoleonic Method.'— cable has just been received by the secretary of the Australasian Federation of Labour (Mr. W. Rosser) from .the secretary of the New Zealand and United Labour Federation (Mr. ' Hickey). It, reads as follow?

' Maoriland workers are engaged in a mighty struggle against an armed State. Thousands of men are involved, and funds are urgently needed. The federation appeals.' We are viewing with great concern,' said Mr. Rosser yesterday, ' the developments in regard to the New Zealand strike. We are led to believe that a large number of unions in the Dominion were not supporting the strikers, but we have now received information that all the principal unions there are helping, either by ceasing work or by giving financial assistance. vWo are informed, further, that Sir Josoph Ward and a number of his followers are in sympathy with the men.' Labour objected, he said, to the Napoleonic method attempted of endeavouring to smash tho unions one by one, and the only course left open was to fight in the mass against the wiemy. New South Wales workers were in entire sympathy with tho strikers. The Australasian federation intended to stand to its resolution not to handle 'blackleg' goods." A Seeker of Truth.'