LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16361, 19 April 1915, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE PROPOSED BRANCH LIBRARY AT CAVERSHAM. Sik, —With regard to the letter appearing in this morning's paper in which the writer " Against the Proposal" requests that the council be given the opportunity of deciding definitely whether or not the Carnegie 'lrustecs be approached for a grant to cover the cost of the building, I have to inform him that the Library Committee at its meeting on Thursday last passed the following resolution:—'"lhat the council be recommended to make application to the Carnegie Trustees for a grant towards the cost of the construction of a branch library building on the Caversharn site.." The matter will, therefore, come up for discussion at the next meeting of tho council.—l am, etc., J. S. Sinclair, Chairman of tho Library Committee. Dunedm, April 17.

THE PRESBYTERY AND PRO- I HIBITION. SlB, —Your correspondent, "An Old Elder'' seems amazed at feeing uiat the I'resbytury takes tlirec meetings to discuss the question of .National i'ruhibition, and so are many more of your readers. In the interests of humanity, and under tlie circumstances described by your correspondent, one would reasonably expect that the Rev. Mr Sutherland smotion would have been passed without a dissentient voice. The members o£ the Presbytery, however, were so pugnacious that it wilt take at least three meetings to settle the matter. Considering the terrible consequences resulting irom the use and abuse of strong clrmK:, one would expect that a sapient body like the Presbytery would decide the matter in a' few minutes. liow long would it take those /'wretched women-legions, whose ' lives are embittered,'too often intolerably,.' by the discomlorts and wretchedness ot a drunkard's home, whose bodies are bruised and blackened by the brutal blows of infuriated drunken husbands—once, perhaps, in many instances, kind considerate, and affectionate husbands, but transformed by alcohol into savage and cruel monsters—to consider the propriety- of national prohibition. In many instances, too, men suffer very much through the drinking habits of their wives, causing them to neglect their families and household duties, and throwing their children, too often, a burden on the State. How long would it take children, half starved, ragged, and terror-stricken, unacquainted with, the cheer and comfort and happiness of a well-ordered home, to consider the question of prohibition? How long would it take the woebegone, wretched man, whose cred't, character, hopss and aspirations, and means are gone whose reason is tottering, and who is on the verge of a suicide's grave or the confines of an asylum, to consider the question of suppressing the horrible curse of strong drink —the curse under which the world is actually groaning? Only those who have heard the pitiful tale of the poor, helpless drunkard can have any adequate idea of the terrible struggle and conflict he has in trying to pass the publics house. Apparently, however, many of the members of . the Dunedin . Presbytery can contemplate this matter with sublime complacency.- They seem to. consider that the subject of holding up the so-called dignity of the pulpit is of more importance. I, for one, do not believe that any resolution that emanated from the Presbytery, asking the Government to adopt national prohibition during the currency of the wax. would have any effect, but it would show, at' least, that the ministers were anxious to discharge their duty.—l am, etc., A Laymax.

THE CLUTHA HORSE FLESH PROPOSAL.

Sib,—l think your correspondent, Alrjbhn Christie, has done enough to advertise himself and the Clutha farmers on the above subject, and it is about time he was stopped. Altn'ough it no doubt is true that horse iiesh is used as food in Belgium, it ill becomes us, who are not undergoing any hardship through the war, to offer to the suffering Belgians what we do not want ourselves. I make bold to say it is not for want of the power to help, but the want of will. Although our meat has been commandeered,' we are receiving good prices for it, and the money received for it would do equally well to help that heroic people.—l am, etc., One Of Clutha Farmebs'.

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY.

, Sib, —Is it not about time that the New Zealand Government gave the public a satisfactory explanation regarding its action in carrying on " business as usual " on account of the Continental Tyre Company, a purely German firm established in our midst? After the outbreak of wa'r the Government appointed the Public Trustee as receiver, and. naturally the public expected that the operations of this German concern would bo immediately terminated and the warehouse closed until the conclusion of hostilities. With the usual German foresight, the Continental Tyre Company, previous to the war, aecummulated a vast stock of motor and cycle tyres. The war has been going on for eignt months, and the stocks of the Continental Company are still very large. The Government, through the Trustee, has taken control of the company, but 'instead of the company's operations being brought to a close they are going full swing, and its German tyres arp being sold in competition with those of English manufacturers. Government officials, the press, and the public are loudly proclaiming the desirability of crushing German trade and _ substituting British trade in the dominion. This being so, then why is our Government pushing the sale of German goods,- knowing full well that each article sold is so much out of the pocket of the British manufacturer?

Recently the Government put the police in possession of a Wellington firm, whom they suspected of trading with the enemy, clearly demonstrating, that in accordance with the law of the land trading with the enemy is a crime. What is the difference in " trading with the enemy" and "trading for the enemy?" ' .. It is a well-known fact that the stock of the Continental Tyre Company is owned by the parent company in Germany, and it appears that there is no lawyer who would care to state that our Government has any legal right_ to hold after the war the proceeds realised from the Continental Tyre Company's stock. On this account, many of tho Continental Tyre Company's old clients in New Zealand refuse to pay the accounts against them until they are assured of the ultimate destination of their payments. I am given to understand by several of these clients that they have received notices from the Public Trustee advising them that, if these amounts are not paid, they will be sued; In other words, the law does not allow Germans at tho present time to sue in New Zealand, but in this instance it appears the Government undertakes to sue for them. .It is no doubt well known that at the present time there is a great shortage of motorcar tyres in New Zealand. To take advantage of this shortage the Continental Tyre Company has cut down its discount to the motor trade —in other words, has raised its prices For whose benefit? Why is the Government keeping the goodwill of the Continental Tyre Company fresh and green in New Zealand, so that at the cessation of hostilities the Germans can step back into a husiness which lias been conducted without a break? Is this crushing German trade for the benefit of British manufacturers?

There are persistent rumours in Australia that a company is being formed to take over the whole of the Continental Tyre Company's business as soon as tho war is over, which means that probably a more powerful German company than the'present will be operating in cur midst after peace is declared. Why in this company not wound up and why arc the warehouse doors, not locked until peace is declared? There is a great feeling of resentment among the motor and cycle trades due to the Government's action in connection with the Continental Tyre Company, and I think it is about time that the Government made known its reasons for acting as it is.—l am, etc. L. Asucboft Edwabds. Wellington, April 15.

To a Lyttelton Times representative on Thursday two young mon told a tale of an octopus of extraordinary size. • unparalleled ferocity, and of unheard audacity. A few days ago, they said, while bathing at Taylor's Mistake, they noticed, just ahead of them, a large creature, whoso intentions, it its unattractive countenance and numerous tentacles wero any guide, did not indicate peace and goodwill. However, their valour was considerably greater than their knowledge of ootopi, and, being seekers after truth, they decided to keep a watchful eye upon it, and, if possible, to lure it ashore. This laudable object met with uncompromising hostility from the octopus, which, with outsproad tentacles and blood-red eyes, mad& savagely in the direction of the intrepid swimmers. It suddenly dawned upon tho young men that the octopus was really making for them, and they scrambled out of the water in haste. They returned with a number of friends, well armed with stioks and fishing lines, but by that time their prey had sought safer quarters.