OUR LONDON LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 23

OUR LONDON LETTER.

("From Ouk Own Cotchespondent.) London, February 12. THE UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS BILL.

In view of the fuss which is being made id certain quarters about " The Undesirable Invalids Bill," as the Government measure for the exclusion of consumptive immigrants is now by universal consent dubbed ia England, a representative of one of the London journals called on a prominent New Zealand cplonisfc now in London last Tuesday to ask for an explanation. It was pointed out that under the proposed measure consumptive persons would be liable to be treated like leper?, and that tuberculosis was a disease very-difficult and doubtful of diagnosis.

The interviewed New Zaalander strongly supported the proposed legislation, and expressed his opinion that the propositions were greatly exaggerated. There was no reason why New Zealand should continue to be the dumping ground for dying consumptives, and he thought it a shameful practice to get rid of hopeless patients by sending them to New Zaaland. In seme cases people startiDg from London bad been landed at Plj mouth to die. Hs did not see why New Zealand should be endangered in this way. The gradual but persistent extinction of such a fine race as the Maoris was in most parb due to phthisis, imported from abroad. The bill would give power to Government to refuse admission to consumptives, while in the case of residents or oE fresh arrivals who developed the disease after landing they should be notified and forced to take proper precautions. There was no question of isolation or of anything like a laper's lot. A captain landing a consumptive patient would be liable to a fine of LlO. He could not say if the measure would become law; public opinion in the colony was somewhat divided. In reference to this snbject the same reDorter interviewed Dr Jagielski, of the Infirmary for Consumptives in Margaret street, who introduced the Koumiss treatment into this country, and who also thought the measure perfectly justifiable in a country like New Zealand, where concumption would not arise naturally. Of course the inhabitants would want to protect themeelves and their country. In England such measures wonld be useless, since the climate and conditions of life often induced consumption. But all legislative measures were merely slight and temporary. What was wanted was prevention — an educating of the people to such a pitch of morality andihumanitarian feeling that consumptives would of themselves take all care nob to give infection. Meantime legislation might do some little good, although it could not affect heredity, whereby consumption ywas far more transmitted than by infection. " The most extraordinary experiments in legislation are always being tried in the colonies," says the Globe, " and New Zealand has been especially distinguishing itself in this fashion." Last year a bill was introduced into the House of Representatives for preventing the landing in" the island of persons affliefced with communicable diseases, but it was withdrawn. Now, however, it is again to be introduced and discussed; and the people against whom it ia especially levelled are those who have pulmonary tuberculosis. Extreme precautions are proposed by this bill, which would enact that no phthisical person' shall be allowed -to enter New Zealand. If it is passed every traveller will have to be armed with a medidal passport to the effect that he is sound in wind and limb, for otherwise he will'run th« risk of being turned back and sent off somewhere el«a where faddists are not so rampant. But not only immigrants are threatened, for residents will not be frea under the bill; and notifications and elaborate modes of dismfectipn will probably be their lot. The outlook for those afflicted seems as bad as for lepers, but the worst of it is that all similar precautions have hitherto proved failures, and New Zaaland cannot expect to be more successful. Eyen the grave and serious Lancet thinks that to forbid phthisical patients to enter the colony is too drastic a proceeding for the conditions with which it proposes to deal, and urgas further sanitary precautions and public tuition in regard to personal conduct, rather than auch cogent action as the bill proposes. Cold-catching will have trebled terrors in Naw Zealand henceforward, and the maker of cough lozeages will be in a fair way of making a fortune."

The Lancet says :—": — " We have frequently drawn attention in our columns to the great endeavours which are now being made to prevent the spread of this malady, but we cannot altogether recommend such extreme precautions as are proposed by this bill. No phthisical person will be allowed to enter New Zealand. This in itself will be very difficult to enforce. Medical testimony would of course have to be forthcoming as to the diagnosis, and mauy early oases of the disease would- probably escape detection, whilst, on the other hand, many cases in a state of quiescence or arrest are perfectly harmless to their fellow creatures, and it would be very hard on them to forbid their landing. Then it is proposed to deal with those residents who are phthisical. What the exact measures to be adopted are we do not know in detail, but presumably they are those which have been so frequently suggested — namely, notification and elaborate modes of disinfection. The question naturally presents two sides — the inconvenience caused to the sufferers and the protection of the healthy. But if the former is carred to the extremes that are intimated, their lives will be almost as bad as those of the lapere, and if every health resort adopted the same plan their lot would be hard indeed. Hitherto, when such a crusade against pulmonary tuberculosis has been adoptee! it has ended in failure, and we doubt whether New Zealand will ba any better off if the bill becomes law. We would rather urge further sanitary precautions and public tuition in regard to personal conduct than such cogent action as the bill proposes. If every medical man would undertake to give each phthisical patient who consults him written or printed directions as to the disposal of expectoration, disinfection of handkerchiefs, fee., similar to those given to the patients $t our

principal cheat hospitals, much might be done in a prophylactic direction. Bat for a colony to forbid phthisical subjects to enter its domains is a proceeding too drastic for the conditions it proposes to deal with."

THE NEW ZEALAND LICENSING POLLS,

" Local Veto in New Zealand is the snbject of acrimonious controversy in tha London daily papers. Mr Frederick Dolman having invited an apology from the Rev. L. M. Isitt "for having made an accusation against a journalist which is shown to be unfounded," Mr Isitt at once rushed on to the battle "field, took up the journalistic glove, and, waving ni3 ink-stained teetotal sword, declared that he would never apologise I

" I ask you in common fairness !,>! ,> allow the point in dispute to be put beiore your readers," he says. "In Mr Dolman's first letter he stated that the Clutha electorate, 1 the one ewe lamb won by the prohibitionists in 1894, had been recaptured by the publicans in 1896.' I said, in reply, and I gay now, that this statement is a sheer invention, and Mr Dolman's quotation from the 1 New Zealand Year Book ' of 1897 doas not help him out of the difficulty. Now for the facts. It needs a three-fifths majority to carry 'No license' in an electorate, but once it is carried it needs three-fifths of *be resorted votes to restore licenses. When 'No license ' was won for the Clutha in 1894 the whole strength of the Liquor party in the South Island was concentrated for its overthrow. Very unfortunately for us, before the election of 1896 the Government altered the boundaries of the Clutha electorate, and included a slice of country populated by a good many non-prohibitionists, and containing one house with 1 an 'accommodation license.' No sooner did this happen than some of the publicans offered to bet 2 to 1 that they recaptured the Clutha, but instead of securing the naeded threefifths on election day, the voting was : 'License, 1618'; 'No license, 1989.' This means that; every liquor bar closed byt.be election of 1894 remains closed, that drink cannot even be sold at the railway refreshment rooms, and that the whole district originally prohibited is to-day still prohibited ; but because our majority was only 371 — 1.c., not a fchrea-fiffchs majority, the accommodation house standing ia the slice of country added by the alteration of the boundary remains. I really think that with these facts before them even those of your readers who do not believe in local option will not deem Mr Dolman entitled to any apology."

Mr Dalman rejoins : "The Ray. L. M. Isitt is incorrigible. I said, iv effect, that at the second poll in 1896 the Local Vetoists did not repeat'the solitary victory they obtained at the first in 1894. This much'is \'erified by an official publication, and, accordingly, is now grudgingly admitted by Mr Isitb. Bat he narrates other circumstances which, at the most, go to show that the phrase * recaptured by the publioana ' was inexact. Nevertheless, sof ar from apologising for it, Mr Isitfc repeats tils assertion that my statement was ' a sheer invention. 1 I can only charitably suppose that he has yet to learn the meaning of the words. Of course this is a small matter in relation to the whole subject. It is only important because, on the strength of a possibly ambiguous sentence, Mr Isitt has endeavoured, with the aid of the AlHaucs News, to fasten on me a charge which would discredit everything else that I said as to the future of local veto in New Zealand or elsewhere "

GENERAL,

From the report of the directors of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of Now Zealand which is to be presented at the twenty-second general meeting, to be held in London on the 16th inst., I learn -that, after paying all Home and colonial expenses^also interest on debentures, &c, making provision for bad and doubtful debts, and writing off depreciation on plant and offise furniture, the net profits amount to L 1.0,293, which, together with L 1686 brought forward, leaves a balance of L 11.979 to dispose of. From this an interim dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum has already been paid, and it is proposed now to pay a further dividend at the same rate (free of inooina tax) ; carrying forward L2G4.7 to next account. The company's business has been somewhat affected by the low prices ruling for colonial produce in this country, but trade in the colony appears to be in a sound condition, and the recent rise in wool gives good hope for the current year. The directors state that they have every reason to be satisfied with the resnlt of their connection with Levin and Co. (Wellington), mentioned in the last report. y /

On the 3 1st ult. tha half-yesrly meeting of the Union Bank of Australia took place, Mr Artkur Flower presiding. No reference whatever was made to New Zealand during the course of the proceedings.

It is remarked by the Echo that many Eaglisb firms will very gladly welcome -the slight step in the direction of the commercial unity of the Empire which has been taken by New Zealand in abolishing the objectionable tax of LSO upon commercial travellers.

"By the a.s. Rimutaka the Agent-general has forwarded to New Zealand six cases of salmon ova, obtained from the Scotch rivers Teith and Spey. The boxes contain. 90,000 ova. A second shipment of ova will be despatched by the s.s. R'vngatira next week. This lot will contain 70,000 of the ova.

Several of the London papers notice at some length the recent death of the famous Maori fighting chief, Wahanui. In this connection a story is reproduced of one of the early Anglo-Maori war 3. The general in command was conferring through an interpreter with a distinguished Maori chief whose friendly influence hs was very anxious to secure. Suddenly the chief made a brief remark, threw his rug over his shoulders, grasped his spear, and marched away. The English general asked the interpreter what he had said. " Oh, nothing particular," said the interpreter, " only nonsense." " I insist upon knowing what he said," retorted the general angrily ; "it may be of great importance." " I assure you, sir," said tha interpreter, "it was really nothing. In fact, he spoke so indistinctly that I could hardly catch what he said." "Sir," replied the general furiously, "as a sworn interpreter

& DOCTOR STATES, for dinner take 40 minutes. We venture to inquire if it is dangerous to add meat and vegables. and ajter.war.ds to smoke DfiRPY tobacco.

attached to her Majesty's forces, yon ar« amenable to the articles of war, and unless you do your duty you will be liable to most; serious consequences. I say that the chief spoke most distinctly, and I insist upon knowing what he said. My secretary will take down your exact words so that they may be.faithf ully recorded on the minutes of this meeting." " Very well, sir," answered the interpreter resignedly, "if you will have it the chief said ' You are an old fool.'"

Specimens of the last batch of the new postage stamps for New Zealand have jaßt been recsivsd by the Agent-general. They certainly are as a rule remarkably artistic, and I thiok will be recognised as greatly superior to almost any other postage stamps that the Philatelic Society can show. Perhaps the handsomest of all is the 5s stamp, which shows a splendid view of Mount Cook, the foreground and all the details being; woiked out with a delicacy and effectiveness quite surprising in view of the necessarily minute proportions of the pic'.ure. Strongly contrasting with this in style, but equally excellent in its way, is the Is stamp, which displays an admirably spirited representation of two kakas, and on the 9d stamp is the telling picture of the Kotomahana Terraces to which I have referred on a previous occasion. The 8d stamp _is, in my judgment, the least successful of all, although unquestionably ingenious. It displays a huge figure 8, the upper loop enclosing- a crown, the lower one a sailing canoe, while the large Arabic numeral is flanked by New Zealand trees. The 3d stamp shows the two huias as to which,' it may be remembered, Messrs Waterlow's engraver was able to correct a mistake of the New Zealand authorities who had sent Home a sketch of two hen birds, while at present one of each sex is shown. But next to the 5s stamp the most striking one is, I think, that for Id, upon which is displayed a capital view of Lake Taupo, with a beautifully depicted cabbage palm in the foreground, and Tongariro and Ruapehu in the background. The colourings adopted are in all cases of a somewhat neutral tone.

During the current week Mr John Holmes has paid flying visits to Beading and Witham respectively, to meet people who wished to confer with him regarding New Zealand produce generally, on which subject he was, of course, a,ble to afford much valuable information. Also, he was able to pick up several useful hints. For .instance, he finde that Canada is able to compete effectively with New Zealand in respect of various agricultural items, such as peas. His informants told him that, fche New Zealand peas, &0., were of excellent quality, but wera not nearly so well " got up " as the Canadian iv respect of sorting and classification.

Several retail purchases by friends of mine of butter professing to be the choicest New Zealand had, they tell me, an unmistakably fishy taste. I have been trying to trace oufe the history of this butter — that is to say," to discover whether it really came from New Zealand afe all, and if so, f romwhat locality ; but so far I have been unsuccessful. Me H. O. Cameron, the New Zealand Government expert, thinks the occurrence ' purely 3poradio. • .

Still the New Zealand Midland Railway ! The case of Lubbock and others versus Salt: has been psnding in the Chancery Court for some wec-ks. It is practically the same action as that tried under the name of Parker and others versus Salt at the beginning of October last at Christchurch betore Mr Jaatica Dennisfcon, judgment in which latter case has only just been delivered in favour of the defendant. The object of both actions, which are brought by some of the debenture-holders of the New Zealand Midland Kailway, is to set aside a mortgage given by the company7and registered under the Transfer Act, at Nelson to secure advances made by Mr Salt to meet the costs of the arbitration with the Government of New Zealand. To an outsider, it would appear that Mr Salt ia being, very shabbily treated in. this matter by the debenture-holders after advancing so large a sum out of his own. pocket in their interests, and at this end at any rate public sympathy certainly goes with him. I understand that a good deal of expert evidence is being taken as to tha law of New Zealand so far as it bears upon the question.

Complaints are rife on all sides as to the otter want of consideration shown for the Anglo-colonial public in general by the Im> perial postal authorities in giving no adequate notice of the important charge just made with regard to the departure of the San Francisco mail. It was not until Thursday that any notification at all appeared in the London papers that this month's San Francisco mail would leave a, -week earlier than usual, and I believe I could, if I chose, explain how even that belated notification came to appear at all. Certainly it did nob emanate from the postal authorities. I have made it my business to inform some dozens of New Zealandera resident in England, and other persons interested in the matter, of the change in the maibtime-table, and in not one single instance was ihe recipient of my communication aware of the change before he or she received my letter.

On the 2nd inst. a largely-attended meeting of shipowners, and meat salesmen and others interested in the handling of frozen, meat was held at the Bank of New South Wales to consider the report of the Australasian Association regarding the proposal that the shipowners should appoiq* a competent engineer to work with the underwriters in the inspection of ships' meat. Mr E. T Doxat presided. In the assessment of damages it was suggested that the claimants as well as the ship 3 should be classified. It was resolved that a committee should draw up the conditions of such an inspection as the shipping companies would agree to. Mr T. Mackenzie suggested that the association should invite the underwriters to discuss the subject of more efficient examination of, meat and better assessment at this end. It was agreed that this should be the next business dealt with.

OTAGO DAILY TIMES AND WITNESS Chronological Record and Supplement !' tary Jubilee Number now on sale. Contains an I account of the Jubilee Doings ; Old Identiana, befog numerous anecdotes of the early days, as told by old settlers , the Skits of the Sixties ; 450 addibionrl biographical notes ; a completa Chronological Record from 1840 to 1898. Price,