PUBLIC OPINION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6490, 9 April 1908, Page 5

PUBLIC OPINION

MR HISLOP AND MR DUTHIE. (To the Editor “N.Z. Times.") Sir, Having regard to tho efforts in past times of Mr Duthie's,. friends to lasten upon him the soubriquets of ■'ixonest Joan DutUio" and “xruthful John Duthie,'' I have searched your reports of my remarks to iind excuse for ills statements that 1 had set out to show that Mr Aitken's friend, Mr Duthie, benefited by Mr Aitken's vote in regard to widening TVillis street; also his statement in his to-day's letter that I had written that Mr Duthie was advantaged by being permitted to rebuild to the street line. The result has been that I find these assertions of ..Mr Dutiue's, like others that 1 have exposed. have no foundation in fact, but arc the emanations of his somewhat disturbed imagination, which hue lately shown great activity and irregularity. 1 repeat what I have already stated over and over again that Mr Aitkon, by his deliberative and casting vote, threw out the proposal lo widen Willis street from' tiie Empire Jiotel to Mercer street, which wus estimated, after full inquiry, to cost at that time under £15,000, and that future operations in the same direction were hindered and rendered more dimeuit by Mr Dulhie's building-lino not being set back. I did not suppose, and 1 certainly did not state, that there were circumstances which convoyed a meaning such *as Mr Duthie attributes lo my statement. 1 followed my remarks by stating that Mr Aitken's shortsightedness then 'was a block to carrying out tho work for very many years, i made no suggestion that Mr Duthie acted unreasonably throughout the matter, and 1 am quito sure that the Council, including the Mayor, would not have allowed the interests of Mr Uuthio consciously to interfere with their views of what was right. Want of foresight and faith in the future were what X attributed to those making a majority by Mr Aitken's two votes. *

Mr Duthio asks what * I harp done ip. regard to the Heath estate? Though our olUce, X understand, has acted as its solicitors, X personally knew nothing of it till lately. The records of the Council show a good deal of what was done in my time. Our hands were, however, largely tied by law. The letters I wrote to the Government with proposed alterations also show we have not been inert. His suggestion that X had something to do with subdivision X caiinot understand, XV e have had no offer made which could advantageously have been accepted. Mr Duthie is again guilty of the absurdity or accusing me of using partnership information 'improfessionally. This is only the characteristic language of an overbearing man, careless in assertion. X have never seen or heard of any information in my office having regard to Mr Duthie being a director, nor did I receive the information that he was a director through my partners, I personally have had nothing to do with the “Dominion's” work. The fact that he was a director was talked of by many, so that his accusation is empty. I am bound, also, to say that it is the first time in the history of companies that it has ever been suggested that the appointment of a director was to be regarded as a secret. Next time you accuse another man of anything, do, dear Mr John Duthie, be reasonable—at least as reasonable as you can b&i—after your inaccuracies have been . bowled out.—l am, oto., i T - W. HISLOP. . April Bth, 1908. MU AITKEN AND THE YOUNG •MEN. (To the Editor "N.Z. Times.") Sir, Are Mr Aitken's committee not 'playing a somewhat questionable game in trying to make a political engine of young men on the strength of Mr Ait ken s supposed personal exertions? Why should he. seek such a reward? When I contributed to the funds I certainly did not think I was helping 'to construct an engine for Mr Aitken's’ political advancement. No doubt it was an astute move, but I am astonished at Mr Aitken adopting it, and I am pleased to learn that it hag been resented by the young men.—l am, etc., . .. HELPER. April 7th, COOK MEMORIAL AT SHIP COVE. (To the Editor "N.Z, Times.”) Sir,—At a meeting of the Captain Cook Memorial Committee, held in Blenheim on April Ist, it was decided to extend the scope of the movement which seeks the erection of a monument at Ship Cove, and endeavour to secure for the project a national character. With this end in view, I, as secretary, was instructed to write to the editors of the leading newspapers in the Dominion, inviting them to treat the subject as a national one. I trust you will see your way to lend the movement your valuable influence. ' It is unnecessary for me to remind you of the historical and Imperial importance of Ship Cove, and I feel that I can confidently represent to you the desirableness of marking for all time the spot which the great navigator visited no less than five times, and where he S reclaimed British sovereignty over New ealand.

The site of the proposed monument was selected recently by a . epresentative gathering at Ship Cove, including the Hon. 11. McNab, who is taking a keen interest in the movement. The Admiralty is forwarding an old ship's gun to mount on the monument; and the committee is inviting in all parts of the Dominion competitive designs of a monument to cost between £2OO and £SOO. As the cost of advertising for designs would under ordinary *onditione be heavy, the committee would be much indebted to you if you would give publicity to the competition, the closing date of which will be fixed later on.

Tho amount of. the funds to date ’s about £230 (including tho Government subsidy of £100), and it is thought that anything from £4OO to £SOO would secure a worthy monument. It is desired to give people in parts of the Dominion other than Marlborough a convenient opportunity of contributing to the object, and I have been directed to ask you if you would allow your paper to be used as a medium for the solicitation and acknowledgment of subscriptions. A proposal is now being discussed to form a committee at Wellington to cooperate with Marlborough committee, and it is pointed out that such a body would afford valuable guidance to the local promoters.—l am, etc., W. E. ALLEN, . Secretary. Blenheim, April 3rd.

fContributions will be "eceivcd and acknowledged at this office.— Ed. "N.Z. Times.”! LAND AND LABOITB. (To the Editor "N.Z. .Times.”) Sir,—The main point I hare to notice is, I suppose, , that of "A Working Man," who maintains that higher taxation on land would lower rents. Now if this were the case, higher rates (only, taxation, under another name) would operate in the same wav, and wo should find, all over the world, that a rise in rales was followed by a fall in rente. Surely this is not the case?

Your correspondent seems to imagine that heavy taxation would force the present landlords to sell, I can only say that if a man elects not to sell at present high prices, but "holds, for a rise," then if you taxed him heavily he would have not a bit more inducement to sell, because, of course, he would bo offered a correspondingly reduced price. To turn now to a aide issue. Is it moral to tax land up to the full rental of the unimproved value? Yes. says the single taxer, the landlord didn't make the land, and he has no right to the rent. To this I renly. nor did the State make the land. The State calmly assumed that the land belonged to it, and

therefore that it had a right to sell it. Citizens bought it, induced in many cases chiefly by the hope of a rise in value. The State used the money. Now the State turns round and says the land was not its to sell, and it must resume it. To me this sounds like a scene out of a farce. To make it complete the State ought to have the land valued, and after resuming it hand over the whole value to the Creator (who really did make it, and to whom It really belongs). -1 am, etc., WAIEIMA. Tane, April 7th. ORNAMENTAL INSPECTORS. (To the' Editor "N.Z. Times. M ) Sir, I bclievo there are now at least four inspectors employed in connection with the city’s tramways, whose duty it is to watch the conductors. Speaking for myself, I must say that the only thing I admire about these officials is their uniform. Their billet is a distasteful one, and it could well be obolished. If we cannot • trust the staff of conductors there must be a low standard of honour in this community. X consider tho existence of tho inspectors a reflection on the conductors which they ought to resent. If the inspectors were dispensed with we could save at least Xl2 per week in wages, and- that would enable us to pay something more to the rest of tho staff, and I assert that no man should bo asked to work for Ices than 8s per day in this city.—l am, etc., AiVi'I.GADGItINJD. April Bth.