CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10018, 9 April 1894, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED.

[Under thia head we acknowledge and notice the letters of correspondents whoae communications through want of space or other reaaonß cannot be published in full:]

William M'Caw, discussing the licensing election, says that thosa who advocated the enfranchisement of women expected good results, and they have no reason to be dissatisfied. "The drinking usages of society may be described as a tree from which there comes forth a luxuriant outgrowth of poverty, crime, and death. Grafted on this tree thero is the licensing system, which gives to it legal standing and a firmer hold of the soil. Against it the weeping cry of innocent sufferers, tho loving voice of the Christian religion, the aympathetic voice of philanthropy, and tho indignant tones of patriotism, all cry ' Cut it down: why should it continue to polute and scourge the earth any longer?' On the other hand the voice of Mammon cries,' Spare it, for by this tree we have our wealth'; and the voice of selfindulgence criea, '(Spare it' for it is a source of pleasurable enjoyment, and why should I be deprived of that for the clamour of other people ? Mmd your own business and leave us alone.' Such is a fair view of the war and warriors. We expect our opponents to die hard, but we are resolved to fight it out till the triumphant shout of victory rings throughout the earth.'

Thos. H. Hodge, in noticing a letter signed " Old Salt," which appeared in our columns, says that the writer has a fling at a gentleman in a high position, whose shoes "Old Salt" is not worthy to brush. Ships through all age 3 have been built to suit the harbours they were intended to frequent, and we have yet to learn that .- harbours have been made to suit aU comers. A steamer's engine room, bunker space, and crew space are exempt from port charges, light dues, towage, pilotage, &c. Shipowners building large ships with large bunker space to carry a large coal supply, in order that the steamer will not have to call at way ports to coal, do so on their owe account, and it becomes no part of the New Zealand taxpayers' duty to study the avarice of the English shipowner.