TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4299, 7 March 1901, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE DAY

THU PROPOSED STATUE OE THE QUEEN.

‘.Several correspondents have written to us deprecating the erection of a statue in Wellington to perpetuate the memory of Queen Victoria, ami smjgostiup: other means of attaining the desired oml. Wo have refrained trom publishiiid- 11 icse, from a desire to give the .statue movement an opportunity ot uialvin"- its wav on it' merits; hut the inadequate response to related appeals seems to indicate that tite idea is uob genendiv acceptable. Hence wo deem it iwlrisahic to let other counsels be heard, ami publish the letter of ‘’Now Zealander.'' wiio writes:—l road in the “Times” of Wednesday the letter of the Mayor re the Queen’s statue, and it strii-k mo that many people hold tho same opinion as myself, and hence tho small amount collected. X look upon stal ucs as a relic of barbarism and a pure waste of money. Tho memory of tho Queen will hist in history far longer than her statue. If a .subscription were asked for to do some real good, money would como m fast and furious. Personally, I think it devoted to the Homo for Incurables it would be taken up by tho public, and a large amount procured. To expect a statue at tho present price would bo only ridicule ami a disgrace to our colony. Wo have one example already, which is painful to his friends and an eyesore to tho town.

THE EFFECT OF HOTEL LICENSES. Tlio Premier, in the course of his roplj to the no-liccnse deputation yesterday, called attention to the fact that immediately hotel licenses were granted in a district, sly-grog-selling ceased in that district. When he went to Mangawdka, he found that in nearly every hut sly grog-selling went on. The same state of affairs existed at Ohmgaiti. But immediately hotel licenses werd granted, they found that public opinion changed, ami that people concluded, Now we havo it hero, and we shall not taka the risk of the othdi- plan.” It might bo also that people wont to the hotclkeepei instead of to the sly-grog-sellers for their own protection—because they wanted irood liquor instead of “sbdet lightning. But whatever the cause, the fact was that sly-grog-selling (died away immediately.' This well-known fact no member of the deputation sought to deny.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LICENSING LAW -

The Premier raised a question of considerable importance in the course or conversation with the ncrliconse deputation yesterday. In '.discussing the general question of the! administration of the licensing law, two of the members of the deputation suggested that the police should bo changed to other districts more frequently—"likd the Wesleyan parsons," said one minister. Mr Seddon replied that this plan might lead to considerable trouble. Ho knew of cases in winch the Wesleyan Church hml suffered by tint changing about of ministers, and tiio same thing might occur if a hko system were tried with policemen. A good man, who was doing his work well, and taking every caro that the law was maintained, might bo removed from the district wherd things were going smoothly only to he succeeded by an indifferent man, who would perhaps set everybody by the ears. They must allow discretion to the Comimissioner. Tho Premier, ho waver, wont on. to suggest that

those knowing of any case in which a A policeman did not do his duty, should ] let tho facts bo known to the Minister s of Justice. The policeman should have ] fair play, he added, and an invostiga- j tion should be made before any step could ho taken to remove him. One of tho deputation pointed out that, if the no-license party took the course of communicating with tho Minister of Justice they might render themselves liable to bo described as “base informers/’ hut Mr Soddon did not agreo with this at all. In fact, he considered such a person would be a public benefactor. How far tho public will agree with the Premier on this point remains to be seen. One of those who interviewed Mr Seddon vestorday, afterwards informed a representative of the “New Zealand Times’’ that he intended to take the Premier’s hint, and would communion-*-wPh -ho Ju dice Department regarding the s; a! o of affair* in hu own dw-tnvt.

WESLEYAN CHURCH PROPERTY. Some interesting facts and figures occur in the report on Church property, ■cad by the Rev Dr Morley. at the Wcdevan Conference yesterday. 1 he, rnni-i-t/said :—A comparison bdfcwccn tho it-turns of September, 1885, and September 1900, was most gratifying. At

tho former date there were 32-j freehold properties held; there were ifo churches, providing for 32,004 persons, To schoolrooms with accommodation for 3990 scholars, and 58 parsonages. ihe total cost for land and buildings was rcoorted as €180,228. Ihe debt to loan and building, fund waif£3o2o, and on other securities £4o,odd. or a total ot f-44 250. There arc now 012 freeholdheld Two hundred and nmetydhrce churches have been erected, with of,Ob, sittings- 78 Sunday schools provide lor 15 34(7 children of the- congregations; and there are 04 parsonages. the firs.. cost or value of tho land and buddings is £-289 835' debt to loan and builtang fund’ €0670; on other securities. €34.060 or a total of €43,948. There has been during tho last fifteen years an Miereaso of 63 per coni, in the number el trir-t properties, 08 per cent, in rho number ef churches, o, per cent, in the schools, and 62 per cent, in the parsonages. Tho churches provide sitting 'accommodation fod 18,441 persons additional. and in the schools there is ■•oom for 0350 more children. The increase in first cost or value of land and buildings is C2 per cent but the debt lias increased only by £3ll. At that time it averaged 25 per cent, of the first cost; now 15 per cent. If the debt on Connexions! properties be added, it would still amount to less than 20 per cent a result for which the Church may bo devoutly thankful. It should not, however, he forgotten that 00 per of our properties are built of wood, and will need to bo renewed. It seems desirable that-,wherever practicable, brick or stone should now be used in new erections. The rapid advance ot our towns and cities, and the improvement in, public taste, will also demand better aichitectural designs than in the past.