PUBLIC OPINION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7141, 31 May 1910, Page 6

PUBLIC OPINION

" WHY BE BLOTCHY ?"

(To the Editor "X.Z. Times.")

Sir,—ln the course of the few remarks which have been appearing in the newspapers about the grand oneru season, one striking feature has so" far escaped observation; that is the character of the programmes supplied to oa-' trons by the enterprising Mr Williamson. The booklet handed to me when I attended tho Opera House is a masterpiece, and a Beautiful souvenir. Mot only is it artistically designed and iprinted on fine tono paper, but it contains a, great store of knowledge. It is a miniature encyclopaedia. On the opening page one is told where to .buy a camera or a suit of clothes, where to play billiards, where to get laundry work done, and where to obtain sodawater for invalids. This is splendid, especially as I went to the theatre with the express intention of purchasing a kodak, getting measured for a pair of (you know what), having a game of snooker, getting my linen cleansed, and securing some mineral water for a sick person.

The next page gives a fine representation of a lady clad in a rustproof corset. Again, the very thing I wanted (tho corset, not the lady!) Then I discovered where to go for a pick-me-up at tho interval —a matter upon which I had hitherto been in hopeless and painful ignorance. A set of false teeth next caught my eye, and I learned that a single tooth could be obtained for ss. Now, you may think it strange, but of all my numerous requirements none is so urgent as a single tooth. Overjoyed at finding a single tooth such an inexpensive luxury, I hurriedly turned over the page for more knowledge, and there discovered, to my joy, that gas extraction is only half a crown, and that Mrs What'sername's face cream contains no animal fats. On the page following the author changes his tactics, and presents problems. "Why be bald?" "Why be blotchy?" the reader is solemnly asked. Of course, these are serious questions which every theatregoer needs to study with the greatest diligence, and it is well that they should bo thus prominently brought before the public eye. "Why be blotchy?" Why? indeed. All right-thinking people will ajreo that there are a 'hundred and one reasons why one should not be blotchy, and Mr Williamson must be thanked for directing attention to this important matter. I have given but a brief, imporfeet summary of tho vast store cf knowledge contained in this wonderful programme. There is advice .where to buy coal, talking machines, stuff to invigorate tho system, hat dyes, organs, afternoon tea, insurance policies, diamond rings, hotels, whisky, and porridge. Every theatregoer requires hat dyes, organs, hotels, and porridge; and that is why it has occurred to me that some public acknowledgment ought to be madesome expression of gratitude uttered—for the gratuitous information given m this marvellous compendium of export knowledge.—l am, etc., SEVEN AND SIS. P S.—l have omitted to mention, on the' authority of the programme, that Madam Butterfly smokes Polar Bear cigarettes, not Henri Clays nor Barrett's Tist; and it ought also to be observed that the cast of characters is sandwiched in between the pages of literature so inadequately described by my poor pen. —S. and S. THAT DUST NUISANCE (To the Editor "N.Z. Times.") Sir,—Many attempts have been mad,3 to arouse public sympathy and interest in a claim by the Wellington Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Company, •Ltd., against the Government respecting coal dust'-nuisance, but few are aware of the inner, history of the position, which, briefly stated, is as follows : This company started operations with much flourish' of trumpets as a direct opposition to the old-established fruit brokers of Wellington. Time passed, and a few years ago a number of the merchants found it advisable, in order to inset the great development both in expenditure and volume of business in the fruit trade, to move to a cheaper locality, and consequently largo markets were erected in another part of tho city. The Wellington Farmers Co-operative Distributing Company, Ltd., hastened to change their place of business also, and secured premises as close as possible to the others engaged in the business. This left their old premises vacant, and being in an unsuitable business locality, and owing to the late severe depression, they have been unable to obtain a tenant. The only dust nuisance I am aware of is the throwicg of that substance in the eyes of the public. I cannot see that the Government is to blame for resisting the claim. The 1-ai-iners' Union does not seem to known of the circumstances when it discussed the matter.—l am, etc., _ ONE WHO KNOWS.. Wellington, May 26th. "CATTLE SICKNESS." (To tho Editor -N.Z. Times.") Sir —I have b°en shown an article in a Wellington newspaper re- a mysterious cattle sickness in tho Tauran C a distrieT Somebody has evidently been hav- „« a « out of that journal and moat of the local settlers we inclined to laugh at the article, as oui country is well known to, be the finest district for fattening sheep and cattle in New Zealand; but others are inclined to take the matter more seriously, as they argue that the article may be read bv many that do not know this. Thero is not the, least trouble tor the •sign of the disease among tho eaiitlo of the Tauranga county, and in every way the herds average a better percentage than any other part of the country. The trouble with cattle is at and around Mamaku district, situated m the Eotorua County and between the town of Kotorua and the Woukato, and instead of being in the Bav of Plenty is nearly the middle of the North Island. You might almost as well tax Wellingv ton with some trouble that had a radius of twelve miles round Palnierstcn North. Many vears ago we had trouble here (principally caused by turning young stock on to rank growths of new Eng-

lish glasses) and the Government held an inquiry into tho matter and the result of the report on same was that nothing could he found wrong in soil or jrrass, but in the ignorance of the farmers, and further tnar the trouble was pretty general all over the Ncrth Island,' but other parts were keeping quiet about it. After thU farmers paid more attention and the result wa.s that all trouble completely disappeared as it did elsewhere. I wa.s born in this district and have spent most of my life in it and have always had its best interests at heart, and if theie was any cajttie disease I w-„uld be one oi the first to have the Government a;iprcashe-:l to get to the bottom of the trouble and find a cjure for it, as they are now doing fpreur less, fortunate neighbours the other -side of the lange at Muuiaku. Tho-e who have visited our countv and have *o3ii the fine healthy mobs cf "sheep and eattlo and milking herds, and our neighbours that know oi our splendid reputation in tiiese particular lints, will take the article for what it is worth, but as with the .'outhcrnors harm, ma;/ be done 1 write this denial.—l am, etc., COLIN NORRIS. Tauranga, May 27th.

N,Z. STATE CURRENCY ASSOCIATION :-.o the Editor "M.i:. Times.") Sir, —In reply to Mr. Longdill's obj?ction to the plank in our platform winch says that "Customs dues must be paid in gold iu order to provide interest and sinking fund on the national debt," it has already been practically decided to d'sleto this plank so that our State money shall bo good legal tender for the payment of any debt within the Dominion. As the Government must have an assured gold revenue to meet London charges on loans, this can be provided by means of an export tax payable in gold when our products are sold abroad, and as this revenue is wanted in London the tax could b2 made payable there.

If Mr Longdill or any other critic objects (o the making of special provision for meeting- interest and sinking fund charges at Home with gold, then we must assum? that their intentions aro the repudiation of the national debt—a course that would be dishonest and which tho bond-holders would be justified in resisting as barefaced robbery. We have borrowed millions of money at Home for tho purposo of developing this country so that food and other products can be produced for the Homo market, consequently it is but fair and just to say that a percentage of tha raluo these goods realise shall be taken to repay the money so borrowed. Our first proposition was to effect this by means of a tax payable in gold on imports, but as objection is made to the State refusing its own money within its own dominions u export tax payablo in gold on goods sold abroad can be substituted, and probably is a clearer and surer method of providing interest and sinking fund on the national debt. Should objection be made to this latter suggestion by the producers of our meat, wool, "butter, etc., want of honesty will .also be their motive, seeing that our national indebtedness has been incurred to facilitate the production of these products.—l am. etc., , F. T. MOORE, President . N.Z.S.C.A. Johnsonvill-e, May 26th. CHRIST AND ANTI-CHRIST (To the Editor " X-Z. Time*.") Sir,—Why to goodness have you permitted your columns to be used for an attack upon the Cross by an unbeliever? Christians there may be who disapprove of an extreme amount of reverence being attached to a mere symbol; but there is none—not even amongst Orangemen, as one indignant correspondent suggests in your issus of to-day—who could speak of the Sacred Emblem of our national religion in the language which Mr C. Phillips has perpetrated upon your readers. But what good has that perpetration served?—l am, etc., ruai p p "SECULAR- PRESS." Lower Hutt, May 27th.

THE BOOKMAKER PLAGUE

TARIANAKI MOTHER'S PROTEST-

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.")

Sir —lt was with mixed feelings I read your leaderette on "Ha-sing and the Public" in "The Times" oi Thursday. \ feeling of disappointment was uppermost, for I had tliought that our Government would by this time have taken steps to repeal that clause m the Gaming Act whereby bookmakers are allowed to enter a racecourse and ply their tvaue on payment of a license; also 1 was pleased to see that you are still to the tore in urging on a seemingly lethargic public the necessity for attendin" to this most important matter. When the Act first became law most -of us were horrified and could only account for its being permitted to pass by assuming that members must have been caught napping. The astonishing part is tho fact that the clause is given under an Act entitled "An Act for the regulation and suppression of gambling and betting, etc." Before the Act was passed in 1907, those "parasites," as you so aptly term them, could bo held at arm s length, but sines that time they have been steadily gaining ground, till now they are a scourge to tne country. W'e thought that, seeing the evil effects of the Act. the Premier would havo made haste- to have it repealed. In his policy speech Sir Joseph Ward challenges any fair-minded man to deny the statement that progressive measures in the interests of • the people have been placed on the Statute-book during his Premiership. "Well, I'm not a man, but a fair-minded woman, and I acknowledge that most of the Acts passed during Sir Joseph Ward's administration were favourable to all classes, but I say this also, that never, under any administration, has such a blot been added to the statutes as was placed there by the present Government; and tho members who wero responsible for that cla.use werto guilty of a great wrong to the people who 'have chosen them as their representatives.

Our Government cannot undo the harm that lias been done to many a family since 1907, nor heal the hearts of the wives and mothers whose homes they have helped to shatter, but if- they wish they can prevent future trouble. I can imagine a certain class of people exclaiming that this writer must be a "ranter," a term commonly applied to any person who takes a stand against a man's pet vice; but I am not a rante.% only a woman who has seen much -tvi". wrought by men betting with bookmakers; also I am a mother of sons, and do not desire to see them in tho clutch of those creatures who prey on human weaknesses. A man with a settled income may, perhaps, put aside a certain sum eacfi year to be used in pleasure. If that man finds his pleasure in risking his money on horse race- 0 , I suppose lie is entitled to do so, but how many men keep within that fixed -sum? Not many. It is rather depressing fo think that we are such a race tji Ramblers that we have a totalisator legalised by Parliament, but it 'is a scandalous thing that Parliament should be instrumental in legalising bookmakers, whom they know live on the people and are of no'use whatever to the country.

It:' is inconceivable that men, many with families, should permit such an iniquity to "be perpetuated- I hope that pre lon<r the matter will receive the. Premier's attention. Parents, mothers especially, -can work in this matter surely without much persuasion. They know that if they had a bad servant, whose deeds were such that they could not approve of, they would dismiss him.

If these well-paid servants of ours whom v.-e have sejit to Parliament will persist in retaining ars Act which injures such a vast number of people, then we must show- th:m at the next election what we think of them. Personally, I have supported the present Government for years, but I, and many others with me, could not conscientiously vote for men who in the first place do a wrens and then refuse to rectify that wrong. Many of us women have given a fair asset to the Dominion, in the shape of several health-,- children, and it is very unfair, to say the kast, that our Premier and his colleagues cater for a ivorthless class of fellows, who, if not restricted, will certainly, if they get the opportunitv, do their .best to pray on th**-> bcvs'of ours. I am afraid X ami a-iking lor u good deal of your space, but on this subject it would take many more words than these to express the feeUl!:rS ° f A MOTHER. Havera. Moj 2Sth.