APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8539, 6 July 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

TO THE EDITOB. -" Sm, —The arguments used by Mr Adam D. Johnston in his criticism of your leader on thiis^ subject are entirely beside the point. TheTlSls?* 5* tiou at issue is not whether the act should have entrusted the appointment of teachers to the board, but whether, since, as Mr Johnston bimself admits, the appointment is by the act made the duty of the board, it is a proper thing for the board to delegate this duty to the committee. Mr Johnston as good as says that if he were a member of the board he would be in favour of appointments,being the "right »*>t»"'* privilege" of the committees. No doubt'this * would be an eaßy way for the' present members gaining popularity with the committees, and bo securing their re-election; bat it is to the credit of the majority of the board that, although they must have been perfectly well aware of this, they still voted against Mr M'Kenzie's motion, because their duty was clear. If I am not mistaken, your critic, Mr Johnston, has been on at least three occasions a candidate for a seat on the board, but hitherto the committees have not appreciated his merits at; their full value. Perhaps, however, Mr Johnston contemplates another attempt; and aB Mr Johnston warns the members of the board that; the committees may use their light and privilege of electing members of the board by ostracising those members who so far forget themselves as not to keep the fear of the committees before their eyes, it is perfectly fair to infer that Mr Johnston wishes the committees to understand that, if elected, he would always lie mindful of their rights and privileges.—l am, &0., Dunedin, Julyl. DiDTMUS.

• PUBLIC ABATTOIRS. TO THE EDITOB. Sib, —It is scarcely possible that the large □umber of persons interested in growing, slaughtering, buying, or selling meat, can be aware of the extent to which their intereats are affected and their liberty interfered with if this bill—Slaughterhouse Amendment Act—now before, or about to be presented to, the legislature, is passed. The objectionable clause is where power is sought to make a law compelling all meat sold in the city or suburbs to be slaughtered at snch abatoirs, under a penalty of ten pounds (£10). This surely is seeking the monopoly of a trade with a vengeance ; for cool audacity it will take a good deal to beat it. The reason adduced for such a bill i 9 that all meat might ba inspected before being sold for consumption as food. The necessity for food of all description, as meat, fish, fowls, butter, fruit, &c, being subject to a rigid inspection commends itself to all right thinking persons, but this can surely be accomplished without the passing of such an unjust law as the above; »nd I submit that when the meat is all cut up and the various joints exposed in tha shops it is a better time for a thorough examination thau when the animal is alive or the carcase Kinging whole in the slaughterhouse. It does not need a genius to see that the cry of meat inspection is but the " sprat" to catch a good fat " mackerel" in the shape of the fees for slaughtering the 300 cattle, 200 pigs, aud 3000 sheep and lambs which are weekly sold in aud arouud, Dunedin, And where is there a block of land adjacent to Duuedin that would afford sufficient paddocking for nearly double this cumber of animals ? As all animals need several days to quiet down after the excitement of being driven to and from the markets, it necessitates the butchers keeping nearly a fortuight's supply on hand. Then as to the present existing slaughter houses, surely it is contrary to , all priuoiples of equity that our legislators and city council should be made tools -jf by a few money bags and grab alls to ruin a body of y honest, hard wofk-ig, obliging men, who have / purchased or leasi"' land at a' high figure "i erected suitable b -liDgs nnd expensive fern'«» For the conducting of their business. ; Then there ate our Oairymem who, fr^ m .*>« parts for many milts around Dunedi"? > bring their dairy fed pork in for sale;, iti/- passing of this act will entail their mafeiH? » separate journey to briug the live pw^. for slaughter. The bacon curers, too, from reat porjs^o^^ the province will ba exqladcd frSjiJcy^ggfiedin""*"*1 market, their an:oals Dot having .EScn^laughtered at this favoured abattoir. There is yet a I more numerous circle who will be affci'ted by this act —the general public. For wherever a monopoly of anything exists it invariably means increased charges. These of course will be added to the price of meat, for though it is of course possible for a tradesman to sell fin article for 10s which cost hita£l, the business soon becomes drill and lapses for want of interest on one bide. Let qualified men be ar-pointed as inspeotore by all means; the ortbdertfi number one to work and two to superintend him. But being an Englishman and endowed with all a Briton's love of fair play, I enter a most emphatic protest against the handing of the interests of the many over to the tender meroies of a few capitalists.—l am, &c, Julyl. Chables Wix.