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Otago Daily Times, Issue 15396, 7 March 1912, Page 6

DEMORALISING LITERATURE. Thk agitation against tho circulation of demoralising literature which for some time past has been carried on in London by the "National Council of Public Morals" camo to a head in January Inst in an influential deputation which waited upon tlio Home SccrcUiry to tu-gc that a Bill dealing with the subject bo introduced into Parliament in order to givo effect, to the clrief recommendations of tho Joint Select Committee which reported in 1908. Tlic deputation was introduced by Mr St. Loe Strachcy, editor of The Spectator, and amongst the speakers was Mr John Murray, tho well-known publisher. It was pointed out tliat while under existing legislation tlm polko had no difficulty in dealing with books and publications which were manifestly obsoone, thoro was a class of fiction of a corrupting artd demoralising character which, in the interest of public morals, it w<ifl (Icsirnlile should bo suppressed. Mr M'Kcnna declared that the deputation . was doing a public service and clearly showed the existence of a healthy feeling on tho subject. He stated that a Hill had boen drafted on tho lines of the report of the committee referred to, and that it would be submitted to Parliament in due oourse. The nature of the opposition which it is anticipated -the Bill will encounter was voiced by IMr Edmund Gosse, who, in a letter to Tltq Times, animadverted oil the fact that the deputation did not include the authors, but was in the main composed of publishers and clergymen. And he asked for a clearer definition of the class of fiction which tho deputation referred to as demoralising and corrupting. The nature of the controversy likely to rage when tho Bill w presented to > Parliament is foreshadowed Tn Mr GosseV letter and also in the fact that Tho Spectator has distinguished itself in denouncing and proscribing a certain class of novel which deals with subjects not generally discussed ill tlio family circle. There is comment also on tlio fact that Mr H. G. Wells,. ono of the novolists who lias especially como under The Spectator's lash, contributes to tho January number of the Atlantic Monthly an article on '• The Contemporary Novel," which concludes in tho following stTain" We are going to write about it all. Wo arc 'going to write about business and finance and politics, and precedence and pretentiousness, and decorum and indeoorum, until a thousand pretences and ten thousand impostures shrivel in tlio cold clear air of our elucidations. Wo sto going to write of wasted opportunities and latent beauties, until a thousand new ways of living open to men and women, We arv going to appeal to the young (virgimbuH pticriwjue!) and the hopeful and the curious, against the established, the dignified, and defensive. Ileforo we havo done we shall have all life within; the scope of tho novel. We proposo to deal with all these things, and it will need very much moro than the disapproval of provincial librarians, the hostility of a few influential people in London, the scurrility of The Spectator, and the doep and obstinate silences of the Westminster Gazette to stop the incoming tide of aggressivo novel writing." There is reason to believe that in the attitude he takes trp Mr Wells is sup. ported bv a considerable number of writers of contemporary fiction, in which case, should the police lie appointed literary censors, they will havo a difficult task to fulfil. Admittedly, thero is a taint about much of modern fiction which, to say the least, Is deplorable, but on the other hand there is much earnest, sincere writing on the part of thoughtful men and women who arc seeking the solution of many of tho pressing social problems of tho time. Until the details of the proposed Bill aro made public it is manifestly impossible to eriticiso or commend; but obviously, if it is not to defeat ita own object, tlio Bill will need to be drafted with great care and administered with even greater tact and caution,

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that tlio Dominion's rovcr.no for fhc 11 months of tho financial year totals £9,692,202—an increase of £703,103 ovor tho rovonuo for tho corresponding months of the previous year. Tho lion. J. A. Millar is expected to icav© Wellington to-daj for Auckland on iuiportnm departmental business. 11© will probably (my a visit to • Dunodin towards the end ot next week. The Hon. Tliomas Mackenzie arrived ra Duncditi last evening by tho eooond express. In answer to a question by a Daily Times reporter, Mr Mackenzie said that ho h(i<f como to Dunodin owing to illnesa in his fatnil). He stated that ho might In) ftbio to go through to ilioiilcnwrch today by tho middiy train and attend a dinner being givon in tho evening to Mr W. D. Mason. If ho made this journey, he would pay a visit of inspection on I Friday to tho plots in tlio Otago Central in which grassing exporknonts aro being carried out, and roach Quoenstowa on Saturday night. His after-movements, said the Minister, woro at tho present timo uncertain. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphed as follows last night" Mr M'Jfab is now iiicntionod as a poffiibio Guocessor to Sir William llall-Jonos as High Commissioner m London. Two of the local noropapora a«> suggesting that Sir Joseph Wa«l will, tnlfo the Imperial Trado Commissionership. Tho Cabinet is said to bo consideriug tho question. of making an appointment Tho Post blames tho Government for keeping tho matter dork and not making on appeinUnont owner. . It adds that Sir Joseph Ward, as Primo Minister, would not be eligible, but ho will bo xcloosod from that oflico in a week or two. With this disqualification removal ho will, by general administration, bo tho best man that <ould possibly bo sdcctod, and in view of this fact, and of tho urgency of a matter which has already been hung up too long, it trusts that tho now Government, frail though its tomao is, will not hesitate to make tho appointment." At tho last meeting of thn Board of Managers of tho Dunodin Technical Sobool <ui oltor was received from Mr J. M'Grogor,. who has been appointed to; tlio position of instructor in wool-classing and lecturer on wool characteristics by tha ! Otago Education Board, stating that he would bo willing to conduct similar aksses in thn evening in tho Technical School, under armngoinont with tin boaul. Although no great pnbEcity has i so faj been given to this offer by Mr M'Grcgor, it is interesting to noto that already some 10 stodonts have intimated their intention of attending such ovening ' clafsos if they are formed in DuncdUi. In .answer to this demand, it is under--1 ;tcod that a class of instruction in wooldating will bo oemmoncod at tho aamo i time ns tho other cvoning ohuwe, itr M'Grogor is at present paying & visit to the Otago Central, whoro ho is organising classes in the chief ocntres. Thero was no business to bo transected i by the Taicri Licensing Committee yesterday, and tlio oemmittoo did not moot. An inquiry is to bo opened to-morrow by tho Gos Committee of the City Council into tho acoidcnt at tho new retortiiouso on September 4 last, wbon several brick walls were lovollcd with tho ground and an cmployeo narrowly escaped injury. One of tlic Drst questions for consideration : will be os to wliethcr tho inquiry should bo open to tho press. A meeting of the Ditnedin Starr-Bowkotfl Socicty wns lidd lost night in tho regis- ' tercd oflico, Mr G. Dompster prcsttW* 1 In tlio No. 1 group tlio 247 th apptopria* ' tion of £500 was disposed o{ by ballot, > clu6tor No. 130 being drawn, hekl by two f ti-iarcholdcre. Tho 248 th appropriation . was offered, for sole, and tliero being no . buyers, tho amount was boßoted for, r cluster 157 Iwing drawn, lipid by two shareholders. In tho No. 2 group tho 113 th ap- ' propriation of £500 was disposed of by 1 Idiot, cluster No. 302 being drawn, hekl ! by one sharcltolder. . Tlio yarding of sheep at tho Burnaido suics yesterday comprised 2685. Tho cola was very Irtelcsi, bidding being exoop- ' tiorally slack. Freezing buyers woro not ' operating, and oompc&ition was practically , confined to btitchcrs and a few outsido , buyers, eonto fnrmore oporating for wethers that required finishing off. Tho bulk ot I tho yarding consisted of owos, a good number of them boing of very inferior quality. Good wethers wero slightly easier, II but ewes woro fully Is 6d cosier than lato ' rates. Tho highest prioo for wethers wis , 20s sd.' There wero 1495 lambs forward, ■ and freezing bnyere operated keenly for > any lambs fit for export. The quality on , tlio whole showed an improvement on thab " of Into yordings, and ono small lot mitdo up to 16s 9d. Values on tho wholo, how- ' ever, were about equal to lust wook's rates. 3 Ono hundred and seventy cottlo woro i yardod, very few primo bollocks being for- • ward. There was another consignment) r from the nortli, but bidding was so inani- , mate that they wero passed in at auction, though they wero afterwards disposed of at satisfactory prices. Tho lifolcesnoss of tho markot was duo to two reasons—firet, 1 that bulolicrs woro still holing supplies s that tboy had bought at last week's solo, I and secondly that tho Lenten season has s now commenced, wHh a oonsoquent (Hminu< • tion in the consumption of meat. Primo. bullocks made up to £12 7s 6d, oftbough to .. for ai tho quality' was concerned the ynrds ing was much below the average of rooont yarding. Tho yarding of pigs was very ' small indeed, comprising only 37 porkors s and 21 stores, Porkers awl batoncr* mado 8 up to 6d per lb under exooedingiy kocn r competition. _ II . So far as tlio Dunodin liutoliors aro am- • -corned, Anniversary Day (March 23) is not c a holiday under their award, and there id c a movement on foot amongst tho master 0 birtoliors to keep open on that day wid to close on tho 'lliursday night before Easter, and remain olnscd until tlio following Tn«fl- '' day morning. Thoro is ovcry probability • of this arrangonient being oarriod into r ctTect. ® In conversation with a Daily Times re- '' porter yesterday, a leading butcbor ro- • feriyil to the great scarcity of pigs that i. at present exists throughout tlio Dominion, g a-nd advanced an ingenious but doubtless ,| correct explanation of tlio shortage. Last 'year an exceptionally dry season was ox< |ierion«l, lio said, and tho output of milk was much smaller titan usual, with tho 11 rehiilt that dairy farmers and dairy factory n owners who kept pigs found tltenistivcs II short of food, and woro forcod to kill off '■ tlte old pigs and go in less for breeding;' i- hence the sliortagc. n Arrangements iiavo been mado to impait •, a good dcai of variety to tlio meetings ,f tliat are to bo held next week in oonnoolion witJi thi! Women's Christian Tpmporance I'nion Convention, cammoncing on the 13th iait., in tho Art Gallery Hall. e In addition to tho subjects to bo disciuaod at tlic convention, Dr Will has consented if to uive a locturo on " Kugenios," and tha h I '.(in. J. T. Paul yill d<iiver another, deald ing will) '•Women in PolWis"—a subjoot It to which Mr Paul .has dovotnd special *ta tentiim. Sov«ral ]rrominont lady mom bora •iro to (five addresses dealing with tho '' higher asped? of citizenship, 'ITio agenda n jcper also includes a thanksgiving sorvioo, '' parliamentary proc«luro (for tho boneGt of ■' dolegalas) and special religious sortncct on c Sunday. Maroh 17. All tho meotinga will il l>e open to tho public. Though distinctly |<t a tempmtioo organisation, the manbors of j t the union have 46 departments of sodal r work in which to devote thoir talent, including social purity, hygiono, women's j disabilities, domestic economy, fowl refonn, and othor topics of special importuncc, from which it may bo soon that the d convention will havo to deal with nvuiy «uhiecW of soooial intcre* to tho fair sex.

Tho Firo flrigado received » call at 2.25 this morning to a. firo in Cumhprland ttroct, near St. David street, ami was ' promptly on the socne, where it was found that tho flames were premise? owned by Mr Forsyth, of flrango street, and occupied by Mrs Robinaw. 11»o to which tho flames v.oto confined, was totally -destroyed, no other rfaniago tx-ing done. Included in the lnisiness which came b.?foro the Wcsiland Licensing Committee this week was mi objection by Uk' jtolicv) to a licensee being ft partner of a film of auctioneers, mxf at tho same time holding a liolel license. Tho chairman (Mr Hewitt) j said tho raising of tho fpwslion at issue was prematura. The act <liil not preclude liccnsew from being counted wiih auctioneering firms between such time as tho lioonso was granted and when i'. was desired by tho liaetuoo to trunsfer or renew tho raid lioonso. Tim chairman held tliat tho committeo had no jurisdi'iion in tho matter, and said tho qurstion could not bo settled until tlio lici-ns>o applied for a rcnowal of his license at tlw next sitting ot tho committeo. Tim Bench (focidcd to toko no action in the :n«anlitne. A pociili.tr case which no doubt will form a precedent-in Now Zealand law is to bo brought boforo tho ma.gistnit« at Murchiton («ys our Greymouth correspondent). A man will l>o eliarged by the jxdice with procuring a I initio of 1/eer, proceeding to tho local lock-tip, forcing bis way into tlio premises, and, transferring the liquor into a long-ncckcd vinegar bottle, administering tho Bquid through tho bars of tho cell to a prisoner wiio had liccii locked up for drunkenness. A painful instance of tho brutality into which tho thoughtfaiKneM of untrained children may soinotuma lead tiiem occurred recently in one of the large suburban schools hem Tito victim is a delicate littlo girl, oijfht yocn of «gv, whose remarkublo acuteness in her lessons lffld won special and iterhtips injudicious attention from lier teacliors. 'I'lio suggestion of favouritism moiiis to Iwvo aroused tlio tmiiwwity of a ncotion of iter schoolfellows, and a number of them set on her one night Oil >ho km going home from seltool. Four Fourth Standard girls took part in Ixv labouring tho child over the head with their bags of books, whilo children front hor own class woro content to hit at her with their rulers. 'Itio ellVctti of suoh treatment on Iho tturilinat of children might easily 1m serious, but. in this case duigerous illness was tho inevitable result. It was some time boforo tlx? docior, wlio liaa. been in constant aiteinlaiicc, could Fay that tho litnin had! os»iiti>l injury, and oven now, after about three weeks, the / little sutTerer lias not sufficiently recorcrul to U> pennitte<l to sis: visitors, though it it) felt $ho is now out of danger. It U obvious WiaA slo|« of some unusual nat-uro are called for to impress indelibly U)ion the culprits a sens? of the very sorioim ami shameful imturo of their conduct. ' A silo of work, under tho uuspines of tho Cirll High Scltool Christian Union was held in the gymnasium ycwlerday afterneon. Tho Hov. Air Dnvicti mis n.«ked by Miss Allan (Uuly Prmoipnl) to ilcclaro Mm Milu opon, which ho di<t in a few wellcliosen words. 'Jlio ]>ronioters liave every eauso to bo satiitied, as tlu'y netted 1 nearly £15 as tho result of their eflbrlti. At a Bitting of tho Juvonilu Court yeslor<l«y morning, boforo Mr 11. Y. Widdow. 6oii, S.M., a lad waa admunished and discharged for riding u bicj'clo at night witliout a light. At tho monthly ineeling oi the eoniinittco of tho Duuedin City .Mission on IXies(i«iy (Mr I*. U Chrk, vioe-pivjiident, iir tho chair) it win unanimously agreed tJuit thu urgent invitation of the Sydney City Misjion to wnd <Heg;itos from Duuedm to tho jtlbileo of this exeolloiU. institution, to bo lieKl til May next, should be by Mr Uiiikwi Wright, <uid loavo was grantrtl aooonh'ngly. .Mr .Inlm limnn was appoinlcii .1 if ]i;s hnniness arrttngonents will allow him to undertake till) plowut duty of also representing tJio Duiiediii City Mission. Tim ht;d[ of tho Sydwy City Mitcon consists of 1? missionuries, and the ni.iirjgciiH<nt is in Hto hunds of ft Council and a ladies' Committeo, clioscii annually at a ixiblic meeting of tho siiliswilierii. 'Lite mission is incorporated by Act of Parliament, Dole, gateo are ex|*et«l from alt the States, and ill conference questions common to all city mission* wiH l» fidly disouswl. Very wrdial hosjHtality is offered to nil delexatns. inoiuding inissioiiarios and tJhMr win>s, and elnboratti preparations arc now well in ha ml. Natives of lViisley and neiglrbourhood will 1)0 pleased In know ihat t It., historic abliey is aliout to lie completely lestored. llio family of tile late .Mr Stewart Clark h&ve donaltHl £30,000 to the fuinf ;is a memorial to tlieir late father, whilst Mr Allien, a nwmluint in tho town, has -given iMOO, ami Mr A. F. t.'-niiir £200 a Thero is a movement in Paisley now to restoro tho Iniildings and grounds to tJieir original eendition. In addition to tho new of Mowre Hallciiiloin liros. and tho 1 iatio toinpimy, still further improvement is to lie mado in tho Princes strwt block lictwoen Moray placo (sou-Ji) amf the Octagon. A lanßo fourstnrey tmilding is atx>ut to bo erivU-d thore for Mcssrj Scurr and l!o,, niictionocrs. Tho plans and siieoilicai tioi* indtcato tJiat i|. will lie a very lino ftructure. .Messrs Salmond and \ r anci are Iho architect. No rule of thumb or hnpUwird mctbod of acquiring information i« that of tho Uruguayan AKrononiio (\)i:iinissi, m (s.-> }s tho Wellington I\»l). All ,m< younp men, all aro nviKiin, all n r e nvstenatio ip tho way L]h\y go nlmtt. their work. Penor •Montero IlusUuiKinte. Consul for Vnißuav ' in Australasin, aee«miKini(\| tho party to 1 Woranw on Saturday, where they were the 1 guests of tlu> Agricultural IK'jkirvinen t at ' tho State Farm. I'inli studejil-couunis- ! liionor took up some braivh of tlw farmiiiß or ixvnnral industry ami confined him-. 1 solf U» that. Innumerable and sensibly' ' framod questions were (u-ked, , Im | t |j o 1 niuswers by ev\H«r;s (including .Mr T. \V, ' Kirk and Mr I)uno:in) can-fully taken ' down. Tho live stock, orchards, dairying. 1 crops, and otiior features of the farm wvre 1 ia«pwtod, and all information aliout them 1 wn« duly noted. Wlun impressed those present iwst was the earm-slncßs of tho young iwimiissioners in informing thejiiwives of New Zealand nietbods as adopted , on a typical (lovernment farm. . Our Xaseby corri-fixmden; informs us 1 U»t tllo only buM:i<** before tho \ (,'onimitteo for tlio Olagw I'entraJ dijirici. I held at Xatoby tin Ttwsdiiy (Mr W. 1! f llaselden, S.M.. priv-iding), «a, tim OTn . fi.lemtkin of the lire reports, which, with i «.nc ot two .'Xeeptious, were satisfarton-. c The :: nx'Otil aequis-ilioiis" case ,u the t Canterbury Museum at presold contains i n interesting collection of articles from Nairobi, in Hritialt l'.vst Afrksi. Ttiesi' (wys the Press) have lieen by Dr P. 11. ]!o.«, an old Chrislchureh boy, ( who :< Government baot» rioloeist at Nairobi. Tho aitick-s aro all of native ] nuii'.ufacture. and imdiide pourds, neeklnoes, ear onuunents. hracvlou mid waistl<elii', the materials utilisol U>ing K\uls. cop|wr wire, bniss wire, leather, and kmc. I.lh* c.w aUi contains a fungus eoraJ frwn Fiji. pr<*ont«l tn- Mr K. F. lX>mbrain. In tlic kiwer v,xtibule at tho Museum thero is on view, an oil jiorirait of Sir „ J- 1". 'lulujs -\on Il.iast, the firs; pivskiojit i of the Phi)<-«inhicat liasrituto of Canter- * bury, and tho first curator of tiie Museum, !' whitili has U-en lont by tlie Instit<it<v The t , wyoe of iJio pietuiw in tho upper vesli- e hulo have Kv.m vx.\uu-d and reliving, and » the result is to fi Imv.w coiws(ierab!y the " iittraotivf nppear.imv of || K . u.llectkin.. jj A cablflgram from Fri-jnanlle stale# that '•! tho Chaimn-Ale.under misioi, jvutv ar- !' rtvo.l tlicro by th o Otraisto, on roulo for j X\ow Zealand.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the labour Department ban oommonccd prooee<fings agwnst the memlxys of tlw ■Wellington 'i'rasmvays t.r.ioti as a lxidy for ail alleged breach of tho Arbitration Act in going out on strike recuitly. A Press Association message from Wellington Males that Mr Thomas has a<ldresse«l an amuvorsary letter to his lwys in New ZcaLmd, congratulating them en havicß mull his scheme a success, lie has informed thorn that 500 morn boys aro n-ady lo start for tho Dominion, and that I lie lias iKvirly sutsdent money in hand for sending Mil. 1.im.1 Kimibcr. At tho sale of the sections in tho new siilwiivision at Messm Alex. Harris and Co.'s rcoms last night, after several lots lukl l>oeii passe<l in, munnurs of (Vitsalisfaction ivero heard from several parts of tho room. Au individual held that the fi'.'in sliould have state<l sjirciiically in the (idvortisoincnta that l.liere. would i» a restrve, but tlm auctioneer explained that such wm not it* custom. In order to compensate the number of jicoplo present for the-ir trouble, tho vendor offered to allow six sections lo be put up without reserve, at the samo timo remarking to tlio auctioneer, "If you only got a bob each for them take it." Two sections which had previously boon pawed in were among those offero!?, and tJiougli they Lad previously run to £35 apicco, Ihov now feichc»l only £27 10s. Tho Studebakcr Corporation turning out Flanders "20" and K.M.F. "30" is tho largest organisation of il« kind in tho world, liuiintity i>roduction rcduccs cost 50 to 90 tier cent—l'articulars from Stcdman and nilson, Cumwrland street, Dunodin — Advt. \Ve .ve now opening our now autumn Md winter good! in al! departments. Special Sboiv <l.iys will bp nnnouiml at an early date.—Mollisons Limited.—Advt. The royal roml to information about proemus stcncs is tho road to Williamson,' the practical gem-setters, Princes stroet-Advt. A clearing «ijo of high-class picture now on at {"hiaroni s Art. Depot. Must, mako room for tho coming exhibition.-Advt. Tho ljest remedy against obesity or stoutness is Dr Catholl's Tablets. Sold by Wilkinson and Son at 3? 6d ]>cr box. Thoy aro lmnnloss, but effective.—Advt. \ou cannot do better than make our establishment your bujine centre when you requiro a wcddinß or birthrtay gift. Reliability in jewellery and silverware is always associated with our namo.—G. and T Young (Limited), 88 Princes stroct.-Advt. Yes I When your stomach is disordorcd. liver and kidneys sluggish and inactive, the mind soon bcoomei doipondont and th» body weak. "Wahoo" is # complete ouro, <AKon m time. 2$ 6d, chomißts nod storo* keepers.—Advt A. K. J. niakelev, dentist, Bonk of Australasia. corncr of Boml and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Te|ephono 1859.— Advt. Who is Petoi Dick?—Tho most reliable . , \> atclunaker,. Jeweller, and Optioian, opposite Palaco Hotel, Moray placo, Dunodin. Charges strictly moderate.— Advt.