REPRESSING USURY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 306, 25 June 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

REPRESSING USURY.

The demand for legislation to suppress the evils of usury becomes stronger with each successive sitting of the Select Committee (remarks London Truth). It is true that the remedies suggested by the witnesses differ in details, but all are agreed that a change in the law is required, and the general opinion seems to, be that it should take the direction of registering (and possibly licensing) money-lenders, and empowering the judiciary to revise extortionate bargains. Mr Justice Matthew in some respects goes beyond the proposals of previous witnesses. In the case of unsecured loans he would make 10 per cent, the maximum rate of interest which could be recovered in a court of law, while in the case of money lent on bills of sale he would limit the interest to 5 per cent. This would at once wipe out of existence the blood-suckers who are now flourishing. One of this class wrote the following to a tradesman at Northwich, who had borrowed £129 and paid back £154. The usurer sued him for an additional £56, and when £3O was offered, answered : I beg to say that the writ remains strictly iu full force, and I mean to put the bailiffs in and also make you bankrupt if necessary. Yon can consider yourself pretty fortunate that I was not in when you had the impudence and audacity to call here yesterday, as I can assure you yqu would have had a very warm reception had I been in, as I would have promptly sent for a policeman to have you ejected, as people of your sort should be treated just like dogs, which is also too good for them. ... I would not lend you one more copper at present, not even to save your miserable life, even if you kept on writing me till you got black in the face. A San FrancLco paper gives the followiug particulars of the death of Edouard Remenyi, whose tragic end whilst performing at the Orphean Theatre in that city was briefly mentioned in our cables :—lt was a few minutes after 3 o'clock when Remenyi went on the stage. Just before going on he turned to Manager Morrisy, with whom he had been chatting, and said, as he patted his costly violiu, affectionately —" This is the only frieud I have." The audience gave the famous musician a cordial welcome, and he smilingly bowed his acknowledgment. He first played a selection from "The Huguenots," and his rendition was superb. The audience sat in breathless rapture, and when he had finished the applause was deafening. In response to the thunderous encore that marked the appreciation of his auditors the master of the violin played a liberty hymn, a musical gem of his own composition. His performance was electrical, and as he left the stage the vast crowd clapped, cheered, and stamped for his return. With steady step, and apparently pleased at the marked favour with which his initial appearance in this city was received, the old gentleman walked towards the footlights and began the pizzicato from " Sylvia " Suddenly his hand was seen to tremble, aud at the same instant he fell where he was standing. He never spoke or breathed a word from the moment he was stricken down. The audience was informed that he had fainted, the performance was continued, and it was not until after the show that the people learned that the most famous Huugarian violinist of this age was no more. Warning—Notice is hereby given that I intend making it warm for all persons taking Woods 1 Great Peppermint Cure this winter —30 warm that it will not allow any cold to come in, and if a cold is there it will soon drive it out. Coughs and colds will soon be a thing of the past if people keep a bottle of Woods' Great Peppermint Cure in the house. 11 The national hymns of Cnina are of such extraordinary length that it is stated that half a day would be required to sing them through.