THE OPEN COLUMN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3746, 22 May 1899, Page 3

THE OPEN COLUMN.

WHARF PORTERS. Mr W. H. Gallichan, vice-president of the Wellington Porters’ Union, writes as follows : With reference to the letter of the 15th, I wish to deny the statement therein as to what money the porters earn. They might earn a living if the Harbour Board authorities did not chase us as if we were a lot of dogs. I can flatly contradict the report which has hceri lodged with the Council, and bring proof, if needed. With reference to the porters having to sail close to. the wind, that is the only thing they have said that is true, for they have to sail as close us possible to earn a paltry shilling, otherwise they would starve. Now, it is a well known fact that the Harbour Board has concocted a scheme to try and deprive the porters from earning a living. But I think, before the City Ooundil allows them to have it all their own way. they should ask for an explanation before giving any verdict, and seo we get fair play. It seems that to get a conviction, they have to use tactics which are a disgrace for a public body to employ. As to who wrote the statement to the Council, that will be further looked to by the Wellington Porters’ Union. In justice to the porters they ought to get fair play, if nothing else. STREET LARRIKIN

“Disgusted” writes;—ln a growing city like ours some stringent measures ought to be adopted to suppress the larrikinism, which is greatly on the increase. Last evening, when going to my home in Adelaide road, I was tripped up by a string stretched against the footpath to catch the unwary pedestrian. As I fell I was struck on the head with some decayed vegetable matter, while roars of laughter greeted me from an opposite fence. I should like to know of what uso are our local police if such larrikinism is allowed to exist. I hope that these few linos will stimulate them to suppress this state of affairs.

CITY COUNCIL VERSUS THE TREES. Mr James Barr writes as follows; ; —As it appears .that a green tree is an eyesore to the City Council, I think that some steps should be at once taken to protect our plantations from destruction. The wanton brutality lately committed at Martin’s Fountain is not their first offence. As you are aware, the Esplanade was planted with beautiful flowering shrubs, to the great satisfaction of the public at large. What was the result? The plants had just begun to thrive when, lo and behold! the Council got their eye on them, when, without warning, trey gave instructions to have them destroyed, root and branch, which order was dusy carried out. There was trouble and the city press denounced them, but all the same the matter was hushed up, the same as the business at the fountain. I wish to draw your attention to this matter, as we have no security that the Council will not instruct someone to hack down the trees in our public gardens. I notice two fine flowering shrubs in front of the Bank of New South Wales. Perhaps the Council might arrange with the Bank to have them at once uprooted, and thus complete the desolation of Lambton quay.

TU QUOQUE. “Citizen” writes ; Councillor McGill is reported to have spoken of the librarian as a “figure-head.” No doubt from constant association “figure-heads” are household words with the Councillor (save the term!) His ideas are with dead heads not live ones. Mr Rowe, the librarian, does not need an apologist. . To those who come in contact with him, it is unnecessary to speak of his ability and urbanity. To others, it will be at once apparent, that the Wellington .citizens as* a whole are' hot such dunder-heads as to select any but the most suitable man for the position. Indeed, if some of the figureheads in the Council were relegated to their several avocations and younger and intelligent men selected in their, places, the city would be senaioly dealt with, and its library suitably managed. Witness the disfigurement of the readingroom by an unsightly staircase, up which few, if any women, would ascend, and which blocks the thorougmare.

SALVATION ARMY METHODS. I would like (writes Mr Charles Simmonds) to see some restriction placed upon the Salvation Army people. I consider it most insulting to have to listen in the streets to this unthinking section, blaring out that if you do not believe as they do, the Devil will have you. It is wrong for this section of the people to be allowed to beg for money with impunity, and if another poor creature, man or woman, should beg for a few pence to buy bread to sustain life they are cast into prison. I am aware the Salvationists clo a certain amount of good and relieve distress, but I should like to' see some Government supervision of how the largo amount of money is expended. 1 understand a certain percentage is sent away to General Booth for him to expend as he pleases, which, to my mind, is not right. Let it be kept, in the colony for the relief needed so much hero. I do not like to hear these street preachers making remarks so unreasonable ns when they say the Devil comes from Heaven. How can that be if Heaven- is pure? Truly I consider the manner of services in some of our English churches and in the streets a theatrical pantomime. INDECENT PICTURES. "Observer”' writes: As one who was present at the hearing of the charges against Mr Woods this week of exhibiting indecent pictures, allow me to say that I cordially endorse the finding of the Stipendiary Magistrate. But why should the police make fish of one and flesh of another ? Why do they not prevent the exposure of this class of pictures in tobacconists’ windows, also the photos to be found in certain cigarette boxes ? Further, why are the booksellers Allowed to exhibit in their windows works of art, which, if seen through the kaleidoscope, would be called indecent pictures P Only to-day, while going up Willis street, my attention was drawn to a crowd of men gathered round a bookseller’s window, and upon joining them I discovered some of these works of art on view; and the comments I heard there are my reason for penning these few lines. CUSTOMS REVENUE AND TRADE. On this subject “X.H.M.C.” writes as follows: —I read the well-digested and reasonable article upon “Finance and Trade” in the “Times” of the 11th mst. with great care and attention, which fully bears out what has already been* reasonably contended for, viz., that all examining' officers appointed to the water-side by the Customs should have a sound commercial training at Home, or a good wholesale one in the colony, in the largest houses of general merchandise, to enable them to become experts in a branch of the Civil Service, that is the most important of all for the progress of trade and commercial morality, besides fostering colonial industries. These officials should also have ability to gather a general knowledge of the laws and regulations governing and pertaining to the Customs, and so save the delay and annoyance importers have to endure under the present antiquated and effete system. The most qualified officers should be selected superior to favouritism and patronage; not round men ir square holes, stationed at the principal ports of collection, but reliable men with instructions not to stretch the interpretation of the tariff under its multifarious

headings, for consumers to bear the burden and middle-men to make large profits, as witness the very extensive auction sales of late. Place legitimately-estab-iahed importers at as little expense as possible, consistent with probity and beneficial to the masses; for ultimately the heaviest proportion of the burthen of cost falls on the shoulders of those people least able to sustain it. Let each have its own and not encourage birds of passage who foist a fearful amount of shoddy goods upon the unwary and uninitiated consumer, and then flee to fresh fields to prosecute their nefarious trading. COUNCILLOR IZARD AND HIS CRITIC. Councillor Izard writes; —If “Progreflswill kindly refer me to the report of the Public Works Committee upon which he bases his statement I shall be pleased to reply to his letter. If the report he refers to is from either of the Wellington daily papers I feel convinced that after a careful perusal of the report he will admit that Jus letter was written under a misapprehension of what I am reported to have said.