HUMOUR AND SOCIALISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 6

HUMOUR AND SOCIALISM.

We regret that after careful study of the letter in our issue of this morning wherein a correspondent who describes himself as a scientific Socialist discusses the strike in the State coal mine we still find 110 ground for revising the opinion to which he demurs that the Socialist with a sense of humour is infrequently encountered. Had our correspondent not made it plain that he desires to be taken seriously we might have been disposed to regard him as one of tho exceptions to the general rule that the sense of humour is • inadequately developed >n section of the community to which he belongs. Ho quarrels," th our suggestion that tho Socialof W Zcalaa d who have beet,

crying for State ownership are abusing that measure of it which they havo got. With the assistance of "tho truo socialistic definition of tho State and of State control" wo are invited to realise that State ownership, us tho Socialist understands it, docs not exist in New Zealand, that the Stato coal mine is not a State coal mine at all hut a. capitalistic enterprise, run, like every other Statu industry in tho country, on borrowed capital, and really t-lie property of the money-lender. Wo arc afraid our correspondent takes it for granted that the people can only constitute tho Stato and own and control State industries when they proceed upon.. lines approved by such good Socialists as himself. It is an old delusion with tho Socialists that they arc tho people, and' they ca.ii appreciate 110 wider democracy, " Let it bo mado quit© clear," says our correspondent, " that our Government is purely a capitalistic institution and carries on its business on purely capitalistic linos." If it be an indispensable part of tho policy of the, Government that is not capitalistic that, in lieu of borrowed capital, it relies on, among other things, a Stato note issue, it may be that "Scientific Socialist" begins his exposition logically enough, but when lie proceeds to unfold, his notion of what State ownership and control should be we feel that there is 110 telling what Herbert Spencer, who attacked Socialism, would have thought had the proposition been thus presented to liiin. In, the " industrial democracy " wliieli our correspondent would substitute for the present capitalistic affair called tho State, tho miners, for instance, collectively—subject to tho approval of the rest of tho democracy—would elect their own administrative and other officials and would enact their own conditions of labour, for " who," gravely , asks the writer, " knows better than the worker himself what his conditions of labour should he! - "' Who, indeed? V/o axe indebted to him for his pleasant picture, and most of all for his kindly query, and tlia working man should be indebted to him for his convincing explanation of what a State-owned industry really is, and of the deception that is now being practised in New /calami. His reflections on governmont by ;l band of legislators arc answered in tho reply made by Mr Will Crooks the other day to a complaint that was expressed in his presence, when Ito said that tho people in New Zealand have the power to make tho country what they would liko it to be. It is well, however, that in a, Dominion where adult suffrage obtains tho people have a good deal of common sense and are Mt, specially interested in Socialism even of the scientific brand, '

I* is authoritatively stated that tho Ketailers Association will not take nnv stops with respect to tho forthcoming C'hrislmas and New Year holidays, which will therefore fall in their natural course. I hat IS to say, tho shops in Ditnedin will bo closed on Saturday, December 25 (Christmas Day), and Monday, December 2f - # illK ' 011 Saturday and Monday of t.'l:o following week.

Tho propositi submitted to the. Tramways Committee by Cr Shacklock that further concessions should be given on tho Is, 2s, and 3.s 'tickets in ooncequenw of the esfimaied saving of £1000 per annum following upon the abolition ot rajhvay crossings and signalmen at AnderK)ii6 Bay road and Kensington, was connidcrod ypsilordnv and referred to tlie tramways manager for report. A communication from Cr Douglas in regard to ilio decision of Hie council do duplicate tlie Anderson's Bay track as far as (ho Queen's drive was also before the coinmittcc yesterday. It, v;ts asked if the cars on this lonte could be run up to time were the terminus at Awlcveoii's Bay lixed al Ross's Corner as formerly; also if, in tho event of it being then possible to run tho care to time, would duplication of tho line bo • necessary; and, further, would it. be necessa.ry to obtain tho sanction of the local ''authority before fixing the terminus (it Ross 6 corner and thus eliminating the recent extension of tho lino from that, point. The communication was referred to tho tramways mianager for report.

'X'ho installation of a system of clcctric stre.ot lighting i u tho Borough of Green Island waa mado the occasion of an interesting function in tlio local Council Chamber last evening. In addition to the Mayor and councillors of Green Island, thero were present, by invitation tlio Mayor of Dunoilin (Mr J. 11. Walker), Mr K Stark (cilv electrical engineer), Mr J. B. Sliae!;loek (chairman of tho Electric Light and Power CommittcoJ.llr Walter lilnckic (chairman of !ho Taion County Council), Mr J. London, representatives of various industries in the district, former Mayors of the borough, and other;. The turning- on of the switch which controls the 20 50 candle-power O&ram incandesiviit. electric lights which servo to illuminate tin; main road, and tlio power for which is obtained from tho Dunedin City Corporation's (station at Waipori, was performed by Mrs Geddes (Mayoress) shortly after 8 o'clock. All adjournment was iiien made to tlio Council Cliainhjis. where various interesting 6|ioooh<\s wore •delivered nwl numerous toasts honoured. One of the speakers, Mr Jlarrnway, referred to the former Isac!.--wardlicss of the Green Island district, and said ho was ple.wd to see that it was now waking up. Mention by him of the pollution of the Kaikorai Stream and the fact of its boing an object of so lliue.il obnoxionsnes; was followed liy Mr Stark informing tlioso present that ho could clarify the water of the stream by •A process of electrolysis. The much-anticipated report" by Mr English on tlio leak in the new gasholder lias come lo hand, and will be before the Gas Committee of the City Council at its nicotine to-'dny. We nixlprstand that whatever course is decided upon in the way of rectifying exi-ting faults in t.h« foundations of the holder, tlio expenditure of n considerable sum of money will be •involvcldi. It. is highly probable rliat strong opposition will be raised by a section of the council against any proposal to carry out repairs to the foundations on the prosojlt site, the fooling being ihat the instability of the ground is encli that n recurrence of similar trouble might be experienced at any time. A deputation, coniDris'inr -'ha Mayor and town clerk of Maori Hill and seven residents of the Leith Valley, yesterday waited upon the Tramways Committee of the C'.'.v Council and placed before ii a request that (he tramway system should be extended up the Leith Valley. The request was referred to the tramways manager for report. On the tug, cestion of tlio Mayor tlio Tramways Committee has- decided to procure lighter headwear for tlio tramway employees on account of the hot weather that is now coming on. On Monday the Kirl; Session of the Roslvn Presbyterian Church telegraphed to the I'rime Minister and tlio lion. .1. A. Millar protesting against tlio institution of military canteens. Sir Joseph Ward replied in terms similar to those employed by him previously, <md Mr Millar siirfilv acknowledged receipt of Uic wminuilifation.

Tho Council of Churches also received a similar reply from Sir .1. CI. Ward. A. Press Association telegram slates that, a meeting of clergy of tho Anglican Church ill Chriitchurch and neighbourhood, many of whom have had experience in military, naval, and A'olunteer forces, was held in Cliristchurch yesterday, and tho following resolutions were passed<l) That while recognising an element of danger in tho canteen, especially in regard to uie younger men, this meeting 1.3 nf opinion that a cantam under strict miliary supervision will be a lesser evil ih.m tiio illicit bringing of liquor into tho ctunp, which will almost certainly prevail if f,'|n canteen is suppressed. (2) That this mooting regards the penalty clause in the new Defonce Bill as altogether inadequate, and considers that, the olt'enc.l of the db.- i

supply of liquor should bo 'made a felony. (3) Thai tho chairman (Bishop Julius) b« requested to convey a copy of these resolution to the Right Hon. tho Prime Minister." A great-deal of export opinion was taken, and information given at the meeting, and the decision was arrivod at after considerable discussion.

Recently the contractor for tho Prororvation Inlet mail service was notified the service, would bo immediately changed from a monthly to a two-monthly ono. Ilivercurgill business incr interested in -the Homing Star, the Tarawcra, and ot'W mining interest* at the Inlet made representations through the Mayor to the P-imc Minister to havo the monthly service maintained. Last night (says our correspondent) the Mayor received tin following teiegram from Sir Joseph \Vard:-"l have pleasure in informilig you that f have accepted the oiler of tin? 'Invercargill Sinnping Company to perform tho servioj for ono year, making six trips a year. (Ju account, of i.lio mining activity I havo also arranged for extra trips 1o ma!;e the service once monthly during the iirst four months of next year.''

It is to bo recommended to ('no Council at- its next meeting by the TramCommitter, Or Kenst. fcliairnianj jjj. forms us, that tho Castle street lfno lie continued to fho Gardens in & direct line, awl that, the llowo street, loop ba done away with altogether. Tho contention is that the cars .ire practically empty when travelling over the llowo street loop, and that were the Cast-la street, line oxteiu'M to tho Gardens it would greatly assist in easing the pressure of traflio on ill's Georgo street line on Sundays and on occasions when any band performance, or such like, was being hold in tiio Ganbns.

At a special meeting of tho Pressors, Cutters, Trimmers, and Othar Clothi»<r Trade Operatives' Union, hcfcl last evening the following resolution was unanimously adopted That, 'this meeting protects against any furtlwr sale of Crown lands, and highly appreciates tho action of tho leaseholders in Parliament who are endeavouring to prevent t-lie present Land Bill from being plnc«l on tho Statute Hook." It was decided to forward a copy of tlto resolution to the city and subiiriian M.l'.'s.

A Press Asfiociation telegram states fn.n! the West Coasters residing in Wellington entertain,'d tho Hon. ]?. M'Kenzio (Minis ter of Mines and Public Works) last night, and presented him with an illuminated address. Mrs M'Kenzio was presontetl with a. gold bangle.

Cur Grcymouth correspondent states that, all tho West Coast. Sawmills wii'l clc&e down on Saturday for ono month, bearcity of orders compels this lengthening ot the usual Christmas holidays.

i'rofeeeor Biekerton gave the second of bis soriei of lessons oil tlm cyclo of the eternal heavens at the Metaphysical Club Rooms yesterday afternoon. The subject, of the lesson was "The Majesty of Creation.' 1 The two majestic streams of slurs in stately proccssion, as pictured by Sir David Gill, were first dwelt on, and it was shown what u wonderful coulii'ination of tho impact theory oi tho origin of tho universe, as advocated by tho lecturer 30 yeans ago, this was. The fonti of the universe was next touched upon, and this was shown to consist of sl vast irregular belt o' stars; the milky way; ' and at tlio extremities of the axis of vast- regions oi lleeisy clouds, called nebula, many thousands of them being of exquisite form, l'rofossor Biekerton then explained that as the stars were drifting in opposite directions and were strongly attracting one another, collision must ensue, and tills bccamo tho more probable when we conceived of the number of dead iuns believed by astronomers to exist. It was shown how by lan impact there jntghl result temporary variable and doubie «tars. At, tha conclusion, of the lesson a number of questions were asked, ami a very animated general talk on the subject 6 broached brought tho meeting to a clo=o. 11. was intimated that the last lesson woulcl lw given at 2 p.m. on Friday, and that tho remaining evening lecture was cancelled.

In tlio Hospital Saturday collections in Port Chalmers and surrounding districts there was a tol/al sum of 6s 6d in mutilated and defaced coin. The returns ot the collections are now all in, and the total amount is £75 Os 9Jd, from »i,v has io bo deducted the sum of 6s 6d a hove referred to. The sum of 8s 5d was collected at tlio Sawyean' Hay School, and tlio amount collected at I'orlobello was & 3d more than that- previously notiiicci— viz., £13. lis.

The usual monthly meeting of (lie Ravcmboiirnc School Comniitteo was held on -Monday evening; present--Messrs Milne (in the chair), Gregory, Crosby, and Muliengci'. An apology was received from Mr Barker. The Head Master (.Mr J. B. Grant) reported that the average attendance for the pa-'.t month had ban 133. and the l>eroontage of attendance to number on tlio roll 92.3. Tha present roil number is 190. Tlio thanks of the School Committee aro due to ilie Atheuieuui Committee for ita ofler of a year's membership ticket as a prize for general Knowledge. It was decided; that tlio annual break-up and distribution of prizes take place on December 15, at 2.50, and that the school reassemble on Jauiiary 31. Accounts amounting to £2 7s lOd wow passed for. payment.

A general meeting of the Tapanui Anglers' and Deer-stalkers' Association was held on Saturday evening, Mr it. A', liodgev (president) in tho chair. 'There wins a good attendance of members. The questions of a cW season, procuring new Wood, and culling were discussed, and it was decided tin Courier) to make tho following recommendations lo the Otago Acclimatisation Society: — (1) That next season open on April 11 and close on May 11; (2) that the Acclimatisation Society bo 'asked to procure fresh liloixl (to tho number of 20 stags, if possible), and on their arrival at least two close seasons lo N; declared; (3) that 14 points be tho minimum at which stags can he hilled. II was decided that culling operations lie suspended until after the close of next SMfon. dalo to be fixed tat next meeting.

A l'l-Ks Association telegram liom Chrlstchurch states that the lite Mrs A. J. White's estate was sworn at £50.000. She loft £2000 to build a Roman Catholic Ciutrcli .it Sumnor, £500 to the Roman Catholic Cathedral Fund, and £100 for olliot' religious purposes. Annuities nmonntins to £1700 were left to her children and sister. The residue 0 f tfio Cctato is lo be dovotod to orphanage under tho control of the Roman L'atholio Church, but. not for Roman Catholic children only. The income of tho residue will be increased by accumulations during the next five or six years. Tho actual value of the estate has not been definitely settled.

At tho Lyltelton Magistrate's Court yesterday morning (says a Pn..s Association 'telegram) Kin-soy, Bams, and Co. wei'o cliarged with committing a breach of clause 10 of tin Lyftteltoii stevedores' aw|ard by failing to engage certain men in front of Coronation I-lall. Tire evidence showed ilint two men, whose names were called, wciv not present at the hall, but went to work on the steamer nowithftanding. The clause is designed for tho mutual convenience of employers and men. -Mr Bishop, S.M., said that the crux of tho mutter wis thut men who know they were to work for a lirm ought to como to the hall, or abuse would crap in. Tho question was whether what tool; placo was sufficient conipliancc with tho award. He must hold that it was not. In view of the award having nearly run out ami nothing of tho fort having ecmo up previously, he imposed a fine of 10s on each of the two eliargcs, with costs.

The. monthly meeting of the Musselburgh School Committee \v;u held last evening. Mr J. Harris (chairman) prcskV.ng. The Ilcad Master reported for last month that the number 011 the roll was 352, anil tiio average alteini.av.ej—boys IE6, girls 15b; total, 312. It was reported that tho amount collcctcd in aid of tho prize fund was £9; that ;he general account was 111 credit to the amount- of £14 12s sd, ami the improvement account to tho amount of £67 12s sd; and that the total amount in the penny savings bank was £160 ]3 S 7:1. Accounts amounting to £6 lis were pa?£od for payment, An offer from Mr W. 1*;. Gladstone to conduct drawing classes in tho evenings was accepted, arrangements to be made after the holidays. It was deciik-d that the breaiiingup ceremony bo hold on Wednesday, 22nd inst-., and that the. school reassemble on February 7. Tho Visiting Committee reported that everything had been working satisfactorily, but drew attention to fho fact that the school was very much overcrowded, and again urged Iho necessit,v for increased accommodation.

Tho Now Zealand Tablet state that six students of Holy Cross College, Mop giel, will be ordained to tho priesthood m St, Joseph's Cathedral on Sunday.

With l'oganl to the publication of Wesley 3 Journals, the Rev. Nehcniiah Curnock has informed a representative of the Westminster Gazot.to that "every night. during the time 1 was engrossed in the work I took ono of th? little notol>ooks to bed with mo, slipping it under thu pillow a;? I dropped olf lo sleep. Often I dreamed about th« work, and awoko, only to be disappointed, Ihinl;i!:g I had found fho golden key to the cipln:r, Ono 11 i'_ r 111, however, an an/jel, if. seemed, enmo to me in my dreams and revealed the meaning' of one. single, little sign—llio symbol of ono simplo consonant. This key unlocked the mysterious cipher system, and after much liawl work and research tho whole story of Wesley's life during this important period was opened up to me." The. result is, it is declared, that "Hie biography of tho founder of tho Methodist Church will havo to t» rn written." Wesley's student. days at Oxford and the life of the Oxford of the timo are seen in a new light, and his travels later in Georgia are described with .a wealth of hitherlo unpublished detail. Wesley's romantic attachment to :\fej Sophie ITopkev, and the quarrel with Governor Oglethorpe on that- account, arc fully described, tho heroine of the romance being unveiled as a woman of iiuor character than many havo supposed.