LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14686, 20 November 1909, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE MICKERTON FUND. _ Sir,—Asking for money is not as easy as Ji looks. But, putting asido hypersensitivencss, I would ask all interested who read this to send along their shillings to the "Bickerion Fund."

Twenty thousand shillings aro needed; a, single shilling is welcome, but a single shilling many times multiplied is, naturally, more warmly welcomed by those who want to see the theory of partial impact thoroughly examined and tested. People are asking vaguely: "What's it all about— this partial impact theory!" It is a theory which promises to revolutionise astronomy,, to explain tho formation of worlds, to supply a working hypothesis for tho study of the stars, more rational than any previously advanced, and to give proof of tho immortality of tho cosmos. Over 30 years ago a doubt entered the mind of Professor Bickerton as to whether Lord Kelvin's great law of the dissipation' of energy was not subject to . a higher law. Ho set to work right away, and discovered a series ot complex, interlacing agencies, all tending to oppose the mora obvious phenomena that had led investigators to bclie'vo in tho dissipation of energy. He found Lord Kelvin's great law—that all matter tends to gravitate to ono huge lifeless orb, and all energy to dissipate info useless, heat—to bo ot merely local, not of universal, application. His study convinced liim that matter dissipates but to cohere again in now forms, and led him to formulate his theory of '" partial impact and tho third body." This theory, we trust, will soon be put to tho proof. If funds bo forthcoming, 3'rofcssor Bickortcn will shortly go to England to submit his discovery to leading scientists— ni'Sn capable of dealing wilh so vast a generalisation. Some—such as Rutherford and Gifford—already completely endorse tho theory, whilo many other eminent men accept it tentatively, awaiting further explanation and proof. If it turns out that our professor is right, wo may all henceforth believe in the life everlasting of matter, as well ns of spirit. So attractedand interested in the theory was (ho Earl of Dudley, the Governor-General of AusIralia, that ho offered i! 100 to poy tho professor's censes lo England. Canterbury College followed with a. donation of £25 towards the expense of placing the theory before the world. And now tho lists are open io all interested in scientific research, to all who nre keen on learning new I ruth about our wonderful universe, anil to all friends of Professor Biekcrton—known and unknown—to make substantial contribution to the fund.

This is not a parochial matter. Not Christehurch ale-ira, nor Dunodin, nor even the South Island, but tlio whole Dominion, will give evidence of foresight ami intelligent in joining to afford nn opportunity to one who, we believe, will yet bo recojr-' nised as one of its greatest mon -I nm, ete-. ' A. E T. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Su,—lntend of congratulation's for the above, the workers ought to groan and mourn .at the huge financial debt they will have sooner or later to meet, for, afl Sir J. G. Ward is, body and soul, an Imperial Lifcral, Tory, commercial statesman, so just to that extent will ho never bo what his late ■ two nob.'o predecessors, Mcisiß John Biiilaiico and H. J. Seddon, woro—l!io friend of tho worker. By his action in appointments to tho Legislative Council when ho aesumed the Premiership. 1:y bis ]>r«cdnought gift, and by his legisj.V.ion, he has been ii; S solid eupporter of tha powerful, and we lnivs a Tory Premier and Cabinet, with a largo majority of servile time servers, playing the hypocrite with an intensely, demooratio people. Thnro are two political suanic parties in the Dominion—viz., the'devil wo do know and the devil m do not know. Tho Opposition is certainly tho most blunt and straightforward of iho two. In tho retrenchment of tlio Civil ..-crvicv, tbo PraniicrJ while reducing expenditure, has taken good cam not to reduce his own salary or those of ills Colleague.;, bchVvins 'as lie docs with all his heart that ; 'To him that hath (shall ba ( jrivon." cte. It is high time Iho tocaJ.ed Literal party was ousted from oHjw, It is simply piling up the national debt, and a larse part of the loans fro towaiil.s creating useless Jack-in-ofllek sinecures with b.vge salaries, while £350,000 is to ho {riven annually for navel defence and £100.000 for inland 'dctence-lcgiiJaiion tho. people never asked for and'do not want. As to real, bona fide reforms, this working man's "great Liberal party" tolls us we have gone quite far enough. The Lord save us from our friends!—l am, etc., Radical.

OLIVER CROMWELL.

Sin,—ln your issue of Saturday last "Killing-, Xo Murder" hints that I have f-pokoit in a disparaging way of these who preserved the Scriptures before the ar;. of printing was invented. I had no intention of doing so. On the cotttrarv, I cannot but admire the polienco and perseverance of the monks of the Middle Ages in t'noir labour of transcribing the Scriptures and ocher theological works, Had they iho'.vod the s&nie anxiety in having tire Scriptures- translated into the vernacular, ins was done by John WieklilVe, they weald lavo still furl her earned flic lasting gratitude of Christendom. Rut. as is well enough known, the Church of Romo has alwaj-s discouraged, and dew vet disccurage, tho circulation of the Scripfines in tho language of Ihc peonle. It is tvui, tlwt Henry VII of England broke wn-li tli2 Pope for his own selfeh purposes and proclaimed li!ms-:lf the head cf the Church of England. Still, Irs doing fo was an incoloulab'o Ix-wOf. to ths ' En<rl!*h nation; but for myself I deny the right «' either King. Pop?, or pro'-ata. as such, to bear rub in I ho Church of Christ' Your correspondent also makes an unjllstiliable E.itack o:i (lie character of England's uncrowned king, Oiiv?r Cromwell Had your covvcipor.d?nt livH in the Sovontenth Coniury in doubt lie would rmv« lwn a sirciuoiis supporter of native obedience and the divine ridit cf kins* to do wrong. llul for tho arbitrary moasaros of Charles J, totii in Church anrl Ktaic, we might never have hoard of C'roinwell, for ambition v;:r, y . o i. om of hi* characterises. As ,i Christian, a skilful frfwral, and a dayman of eminent ability CivimveU ef.inds weend .(A nonO in England during the Unus he lived in. Under hi.-, adriinisiration England was nrcspirous at hoita and r«pocf«l and foi'-cd ,-ibrcad. The execution of Char'?.-. I under Cromwell wus an imiuslifiabb measure, but it was cue among others that ware, ■ fo to speak, forced upon him. Macaulay and Carlyls arc nuite as reliable authorities as Lingard, airf thev bar out all that. I say Cromwell. Whatever CromweH's faults may have l-«n he piwnl* a very bright contr?-t to' hi«' perfidious 6iico?ssor, Charles If one of ■whoM firet acts on ascr-nding (he tluone was, hU a. savag», to have the hodv of Cromwelrpxliumed a.nd his head nlsccd on a p'i to Ik- hcoted at bv a rabble thnf would not have dnre<! l co lc a t if whi'o it '"f ,"•'" Cromwell'.', sl-oulders. .Moreover, Charles perscciifod tho Covenant in Scot.,a.nd i>nd th" di.'.wnter; in England, pockofed his n-ncion from of Franw, lived a life of virions r.lc«surr>. and, oftor l»m? ronno-led o?.V| B il,l T w jtl, tho Church cf England, on hk de»ihb«d.i whin it was no ;ioe any longer playing tho

hypocrite, conformed to the Chinch of Homo, ae, to have been consistent, ho ought to have dono before,—l am, etc., . Rusticus. 0n Tl COrresilondonce is Closed.-ED.

NO-LICENSE STATISTICS,

ii n"' .."'"esi'ondent signing himself Honesty wrote in your issue of Saturday last criticising the figures furnished by «>}■«'[. proving that tho increase in tho (IrinK bill shown in tho last three years was duo to incroasc.d drinking in license areas, not, in no-license areas. If .1 had set out to compare the drink bill per head of Otago with that of other parte of tile Dominion tho strictures of "Honesty would have been deserved. I did not, however, do any such thing. Such a. comparison is not possible, because we do trot know how nmc h liquor-particu-larly locally brewed beer-is shipped away nud consumed in other park of the Dominion, though it pays duty here. For instance, if Speight and Co. secured 20 more licensed houses in different parts of the Dominion, it would immediately worn, from tho appearance' of the custom's returns, as though the consumption of beer had increased in OUgo. .1 daresay this ! actor has aelcd to some extent already, and nas partially nullified the true extent ot tho decrease of drink sent to the Otago •lio-iicenso areas.

the natural desiro of a brewery firm which can. keep up «. huge output on very little more expenso for labour tlian is required for a small output. Would bo to WOk now licences elsewhere to balance tiwsa lest in Invercargill, etc., so that the output might be kept up. Tho assertion of tho liquor party which I set out to answer was "that tho increase in the liquor bill was caused by no-licenso, and that no-license did not decrease tho consumption." liven supposing that the'population'of Otago had only increased 5 per cent, in tho pericd concorn'd (which I take leave to doubt), the increaso in tho drink bill is less than two "per cent. Yhereforc, it is plain that it is not Otago that haa sent tho New Zealand drink bill up.

As regards "Honesty's" jilts at mv claim that tho no-license areas had fdt the depression to thin the rest of N*w Zealand, I know whereof I speak, and can prove it. Tho Mayor of Oa-nfam said lately that " Oama.ru had felt the depression less than any place, except perhaps Inviiwirgitl." Travellers have told me repeatedly that Invercargill, Gore, Balclulha, Oamaru, and Ashburton woro a. set of as sound towns to do business in as any in New Zealand. Just lately wo published an account of a collecting compstition all over New Zealand by a firm that sells a cortain article on weekly payments. Ashburton came easily first in tins record, Oaroaru next, and Invercc:i\iill close up. " Honesty " makes a great point of an increase of local brewoc'i beer for one month in Dunedin since no-license in Bruce and reduction in Dunedin becamo operative. There havo been returns now for four months since that event, and it is not very' honest for "Honesty" to take just that part of the four months .that really suits his purpose and aieglect tho others. For the four months mentioned there has boon a reduction in the local-brewed Beer of 14,800 gallons, or equal to 284 hogi'hrads of 52 gallons each,. The October reduction alone

was equal to 507 hogsheads. Yet. hceaueo one of these four months showed t'iw slight increase of 89 hogsbeadi "Honesty" says, "How can you explain that?" I csrtainly co-nnofc explain how a. pa-son who signs himself "Honesty," awl claims to Iw unbiased, can carefully select his statistics as "Honesty" has done, and carefully avoid anything that seems favourable to noUecir.se.—l am, etc., Seobetahv No-license Pasty. SOCIALISM AND THE BUDGET. Sin, —The cpinious of ad but the Socialists so far navo been voiced on ihia vision*, l'jjjislation, ana on tne .budget in particular. 1 shall try as briolly as i»ossil'k to suney'tlta .iienu,.ot proposed lugis-tat-ioii from us tnoad a point ot view as Itossiole. No.v, it no start with tlio taec urn political legislation is the lellecuun ol uoveiopeu ccoiiuiuiu conditions, ancl not llio luvei'SO, as it is soiiiotulii* contended, men we sirali be'auio to see a little more cleui'y through and ■ boliiml tne scenes ot uio political theatre, for instuiice, let us uiiia the ftiato' limiiamccd Advances Jim, wmch win piacvieai'iy create a kind ot State liank with limited poweis—i.e., of lending only. Uoveiopju economic oonditiau mis CicaUci tlio necessity ot a State Jiank with state nolo lttme lor the putposo ot providing cneap money to the borrowing- public,—chielly the small settler and the ciua.i business man, ot wnoin tlio intior is at prcseiic »being practically exploited by the private banning and money lending insf.tut.oiis—and lor tne displacing ot staus uorroiring. Thus we see tuat tlw biaio Bank and ids right of note iwue is beginning.lo bo demanded by the majority of thu people of Aicw Zealand— uau-.ely, tlio wui-Ker and the smaller middleclass resident. Air iiogg Waa the. political iiioitthpieoi' to \o:ce this demand, when in tho position of Minister of the Crown, and his propaganda on nis 'ministerial dismiegaj couki not altogether be neglected by sir Joseph Ward, ar.<! tho Prime Minister as .political agent of the capitalistic class, has compelled to Uovisa a scheme- to fiUlil two obligations—vi/„, to satisfy the demand for a Stale Bank, and at the same timo njs oi'.'laugev tho [Coition of the English money-lena-or. llence tho State Guaranteed Advances Bill provides—as 1 have already pointed out—for a limited State bank run on borrowed capital,' thus fooling the majority-of the ialieady lleeccd peoplecf' N.Z. in the poisons of the workeis and the members ol tho smaller middle claw, and at the same tihw securing tho position and power ot exploitation ol tho foreign moneylender, while doing little 'of no harm to the [owl institution. Thus, throughout the whole of tho Budget, its land proposals and its taxations, we ever lind tho sanvi two fundamental principles 'pornioating it —namely, that developed economic conditions havo increased the unimproved values of land -J New Zealand by over 200 per uent. in the last 15 years—vido Financial Btntemsiit. The incrokso. of private wealth' in land alcne is £n3,s'f3;Bß'l—and the increased volumo of unearned increments and llio National Debt are gradually making tho workers' position mow precarious, for all these unearned increments help t_> increase his cost,of living, increase unemployment and .poverty, etc. Under this load tho worker is beginning to kecomo restless, greatly to tho annoyance of Sir Joseph Ward, for it once' agaiii compels him to devise a subtle scheme, with W-hifth temporarily In pacify the hord-heado'd worker --upon whose support he chiefly depends. But with undaunted fidelity to tho capitalists, whom ha economically and politically represents, he takes great care not to impair their position by increasing their share of taxation—to wit, on income over £2000 the tax is Is 2ci in the pound-jior impair their favourite game of land speculation by abolishing tho freehold. On the contrary, he further stimulates tho game of land speculation by extending ths freehold.

In conclusion, we see the political machine: utrinped to nudity ne the enlira property of tho capitalist, whoso work consists of deception ulid dcferlnent of necessary economic notion. Wo Socialists can seo these things, and we ulso recognise that tho timo is economically ripe. We know tho couic-s of action that is necessary to remedy tho present condition of things. But it is necessary for the majority also to understand this, and if the people will not learn tho necessary losson, through literary and oral education, then thby will be compel'ed to rise to action • through bitter experience.—l am, etc.,. SoiKSTinc Socialist. Dunedin, November 15.

A VOICE FROM LAKE WANAKa. Slll,—The floral beauty which a fow weeks ago adorned our fruit trees has now given place to the secondary stago of development—the materialised form—ami 111 generous quantity apricots, peaches, plums, apples,, and smaller fruits are now beyond possible danger from Wind-storms, which during the past weak wera ' exceptionally severe. A plethora: of all such fruit will be at the disposal of our settlers, and as, owing to the. want of transport facilities whereby the surplus is rendered of no commercial value, .our friends from'afar are invited to come and partake of it without money and without price. The 'disappearance of the steamer Alakarora', which went under ii, few months reduced our lake licet to one cil launch, but an addition has been made to it to-day in another oil launch, unfortunately too small for our hike tradj, since it is a third smaller than ~ TiUicuni,. admittedly doliciont in size, which' 15 at, present plying hero. The liovernment lias been asked to put a 6te(un service on the lake, but the request Ims boon declined with thanks. Hod we to undergo -ill? ordsal through which our Wakatipu friends have passed in respect to n now steamer it k i*rhaps just as well our request was negatived.. Wo trust, however, that tne drawbacks referred to will not daunt the seekers after health and the beautiful in Nature from, visiting the loveliest spot in tho Dominion. Nature's tonics, to abuudantjy stored 'midst the glaciers and

eternal enow, aw daily dispensed on tho same basis' as our surplus fruit—without menoy and without price.—l am, etc., „ , , B. M'Dodgau-. Pembroke, November 15.

THE NEW ZEALAND CROSS. Sin,—A good deal has been written and read of Captain Northoroft and hia exploits anions the Maoris in tho olden days to show why ho should bo granted <i New Zealand Cross. I do not for ono moment infer that he does not deserve that decoration. I havo read with pleasure of hie earlier exploits, but that was before the time lie came to Waihi. I forget the (into, but I was tho first person married ' m tho Presbyterian Church in Hawora, three miles from Waihi, and that wa» long bsfore Mr Northofoft eamo there. When he came I was seorctarj to the Hawero, Mounted Rifles. What I wont to bring before tho public, however, is this—to ask why Captain Wilson Hurethoueo was not decorated with that honour. He was a surveyor by profession, but for his own likfts he was a soldier, and often left his theodolite in a very dangerous position, and to his honour in those.past days ho knocked down many more of our then enemies with his riflo than any other one did.—l am, etc., ; J. S. Greig. Diincdin, November 16. A LTJMSDEX BANKRUPTCY. ' • Sir,—ln reference to your report of the meeting of the creditors of James M'Doagall, o{ Lmnsrten, hotelkceper, hold at Invercargill on the 15th instant, I may say that Mr P. J. Rogers's mortgage was duo on the Ist day of February, 1208; that Mr Rogers exercised the greatest patience, and 'bat Mr M'Dougall expressed his thanks to Mr Rogers for so doing; that bo offered to vacate tho hotoi at any time rathoiilinn humbug Mr Rogers; that I only took the mutter over to oblige Mr Rogers, and, further, that I anticipated, after the protracted period of negotiations for settle incut, that the hotel would be given, up lo mo without any trouble whatsoever It would almosr. appear from the report that I acted hastily in taking the matter tip. My solicitors accompanied Mr Collins as «• matter of form, and it was a good thing they djd so,. In addition to the allowance of £25 offered to Mr M'Dougall, ho was informed that ho an! his family could to-. main free, gratis, and for nothing at tbe hotel for a few weeks, and that tho hairtlrcMing saloon, tobacconist shop, and J billiard room erected on the leasehold promises toulo remain there rent free .lot an indefinite |.crkxl.—l am, eto., Dunodin, 'Nov. 16. Wif. Milleb.. THE PRISON SYSTEM, Sir,—There has been a steady reduction* in the prison population of New SowtJv Wates for some years past under tho present system. Especially has tftis been seen since Captain Noitenstom, the late Comp-.' ilirofcMjcneral of Prisons, instituted his reforms. And, to judge by the steady' reduction, tho reforms have been airily justified. On October 30 the prison populn'i. tioii was 1359—a reduction of 141 since December last. At the eixl of 1694 the general population was 1.251,4-SOi and the' prison population was 2604. At tho eoid of .1903 Uie general population had risen, to 1,605,032 i but the prison population had fallen to 1500. On June 30 last, according to tho latai figures available, tho population of tho State was 1,622,740, but the prison population .had sunk to 1359. TV,, ithoso who. take an interest in tlw reformation of the criminal Che above facts give" some idea of what can lie dono. In looking through tho New Zealand prisons report, matters are not so encouraging. This is owing to t'ho antiquated system that is carried on here, principally to the association of prisoners. In fact, the whole system is bad. I find from table A that at the commencement of last year .there were 764 males and 82 females confined in prison, while at the oloso there wero 823 moles. and 56 females—an increaso oi 60 males and a decrease oi 26 females. But I havo every rca;o» to think that the present Ministerial head of the department, does, not intend to allow matters to continuo. as they are. This is no party mattor, and I do trujii. that both aides of the House will vote the nooesrary funds to admit of alteration being effected in a system that is simply making criminals through the association. of all classes of criminals'who

shoruld all lxj «ig'.iged in some useful an«i beneficial oeonpoticn, so that bettor men and woman may be tfe result. —I ani, etc.i November 18. W L. ''•' A CLERKS' UNION. Sir, —The letter which appeared in your paper about a wco!c ago concerning' tho ' Clerks' Union voiced the feeling of a largo number of girl clerks in Duncdin. 'There is no doubt that most of tho clerks (male ajid female) employed in offices receive very poor wages, mid .Jurat they are often, expected to work a great deal of overtime for no additional remuneration. It is quite timo that tho clerks combiner together arid dsimnded more juc* teatmsnt. Girl" r-lerks'ibiiij tho same work as males should fairly exr-cct an equal salary. Provided . tho proposed union advocates equal payment for equal work I wiM, amongst many, other girl clo-vks in Duncdin, certainly ■ support it nn<l urgo others, to joiji.—I ani, etc-. Gikl Glekk No. 2. , Dunedin. November 18. THE NIEDERBRONN INCIDENT. Sip.,—Tlw incident which Mr Henry Chamberlain, a retired naval lieutenant, reported some lime ago to The Times and which you reprint in this morning's Otago : I)isr:iy Times, is utterly childish and ridioii--leus on the (ceo of it. Having read tlio. . •'yarn" very carefully and having a fairly/ iri'.Stusto acquaintance with tho "docile, Sflxon," I have no hesitation, in expressing my opiuioi; that tiro wholo "incident" originated in Mr Cliamberlain's imagina ; tiou, a lid that instead of llio "docile ■ Saxons" being mado fools of, it was tho rasters of Tho Times.

Mr Chamberlain is, unfortunately, not the only romancer' of this class wearingtho King's uniform who Was hoodwinked ■thj coniiding British public, I rcmeiinbor" at the timo cf tho Russo-Japanese war-.a, British oefiiei' coming 'here on a lecturing tour and lellin? us tho silliest twaddle .as incidents of tho canpaign. I happ»ired to know the facts, and was anxious to expose this utitfehing "humbug," bftt you thought you might lay yourself oponr to a libsl prosecution, and put tho . letter aside—l am, etc., 0. B, ■ Duiiediu, Novombov 19.

THE HIGHLAND RIFLES/ ':'; Sik, —I quit" agree with the writer in' this morning's paper with regard to''the Highland Rifles parading in khaki; I know for a fact that among the Highlail-', ihrs fhe-melvea there is a. vcrv stroii" feeling that there should be more parades m Highland dross. And why not? What is a greatcj- sight to the old Highlanders in Dimcdin-tlittii to see a company of High. Mutters, with iho Pipe Band at their head ■ parading through Jbr> main street? Not amy that, but parades in the kilt* brine out Lipjr muste.-* Him khaki parades ' the khaki was introduced the parades nave never been like the parades of old, when th» only dress was the tartan. Honmg that tins will come under the eye of the proper authorities.—l »m, etc., r , .. '' HIGHtAKUKBNo. 2. Duncdin, November 13.

. A TRAMWAY SHELTER SHED t\tl r "«l ** by H' B morn ,i"S's Daily Times nt„l ' o| '° 3 'r, «¥»"»">S t,le 60-Callcd holtcr shod in Cwtlo street | IM been reWl W K d ' f° thc TramWa * s CommitW a 1" J 1 "?? • not , l** 1 th«o is « M o ', "'".objectionable structure "una left where it 13. It would bo in«ho made themselves busy in getting this abortion erected. Perhaps they would ike to put it u» ,„ ttoa t of their own door* 1-think, in tin interests of common decency' 1 ei! o tho U l h T I , ' d ra " oVe fh,S sll2(l M on rhi -3 '"* St6p ma * ta a reflection which au tvri, on i' a ? ,tt of - th * Commi «< :o winc.i authorised its creetion.-I am, etc NOl ember 18. NbabßmdSS.'.

LADIES' CRICKET. corning the Dunahn Ladies' Cricket CVo n the course- of which it is said that hh .HHieflmelubof. its kind in Dm, , ol ' s .'? (<> ""-' nt is "ot founded on tacts. The resident pupils of St. Dominic's u> lege, Dunedin have had a k«W crictot no for nearly three years. This Droves Hem to bo the members of the first chtb of its kind in Dunedin Thc second ladies' cricket club is that known as the St Josephs Young Ladies' Cricket Club Thii 'Ml) lieW itn initial practice on the 10tn November on the tramsheds ground. Con frequently ;h« Dunedin Ladies' Cricket Club far from being " the first club of it* ki„,i m Dunedin, merely ranks c 3 third upon "V'-'r 1 J"' 1 e, L c - FAinrLA?. i-iineclii], November 16.