LAW AND ORDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 7

LAW AND ORDER.

freedom of speech. CORRESPONDENCE IN NEWSPAPERS “AGIN THE GOVERNMENT.” (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Thursday. Whatever grievances the •malcontents of various species besetting We lington at the present time may Imagine they have against the Government they certainly should be nar bouring no malice against the local daily papers. Both the morning and the ' evening publications have opened their correspondence columns quite generously to the grumblers and growlers and even to the threatener. and the strikers. Only last evening one of these gentlemen was allowed to-tell'the public through one of these mediums that if the Communists "were out of this country New Zealanders would be working far below the miserable standard'we are working under to-day for the simple reaf son they have not got the backbone to stand for their rights to live, and will take any miserable conditions the •Government likes to offer." This particular authority apparently hails from Australia and quite likely foresaw changes in the affairs of the Commonwealth that impelled him to seek refuge in this country. The Communist at'Large. It is rather his fruitful imagination than his ignorance of affairs that tempts one to quote further from the breezy concoctions of this refugee from the troubles of his own country. “It is the nature of the majority of ' New Zealanders,” he tells us, "to wait for someone else to tight for their conditions. They may oondemn the Communists, hut they are always ready to accept the concessions that are forced out of the Government by the fear of the Red .Flag. The only thing the majority of New 'Zealanders are first in is in joining up with the ‘scab police’ that are patrolling the streets at the present time with hats of the same material as their heads tin. "As regards- deporting the Communists. ... I wilj take at least 100 men with me from' Wellington alone, who will be only too pleased to leave this scabby country, and its people to the mercy -of the present Government.” And so on and so on. Well Known Maloontent. Another correspondent, who is not •Bhamed to attach his name to a letter 1 denouncing the Government in general and the most punctilious ■Minister of Justice.in particular, epitomises his grievance in a single sentence. "I have" been used to Jiving decently,” he tells the world at large, “and have taste for some of the finer cultures of life, and then one is forced to exist on approximately 13s per week, which the single men have had to, and to still make matters worse, I was refused both work and sustenance some ten weeks ago I refused to isolate myself in a slave oamp." This sufferer has taken upon himself "a light on behalf of his fellow men,” holding that "it is the birthright of the people to have enough food, clothing and shelter,” hut he refuses to accept what the Government, by the means of heavy taxation, can provide in this direction. His dreams may he admirable. Unfortunately their application Is impracticable. Quito Oomfortabl*. After reading complaints of the provision made for the unemployed In some other places—most of them unafflrmed —it Is refreshing to learn that the camp for single men at Te Horo (near Otaki) Is meeting with very general satisfaction from the workers themselves. “There were about a dozen bound for here the day I oame," one cf the workers writes. “A lorry was wailing for us at the ■ station, and as soon as we had our gear In the tents we were called to the cookhouse where we had great enamel plates full of steaming hot ourry, and plenty of bread, butter, cheese, jam and hot tea.”’- The whole accommodation of the workers, according to this authority, was far In advance of that available to the early settlers in the Dominion, and the possibilities before them far less, remote than those that confronted the pioneers of eighty and ninety years ago. | " ■ . N.S.W. STATE LOTTERIES. ——r OVER A MILLION IN PRIZES. Aooording to the figures supplied by the Director of Lotteries In New South Wales (Mr Whiddon), £1,750,000 has been paid into the State Lottery Office by subscribers to 54 lotteries. Of these there were three Bridge lotteries, the first prize in eaoh / being £20,000, and one a Christmas lottery with a first prize of £7500. Though Mr Whiddon would not divulge the exact amount paid in prizes since the first lottery on August 18 last, it is known that about £1,043,200 has been paid out In lottery prizes. In the eight months during which the lottery has operated the Hospitals Commission has paid to the various institutions in -New South Wales £381,103 10s 6d.‘ Of this amount the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital has received" about £40,000, Sydney Hospital about £32,000, Royal North Shore Hospital about £20,500, the Royal Hospital for Women (Paddington) £13,400,, Balmain District Hospital £BBOO, the Crown Street Women’s Hospital £BOOO, and the Manly District Hospital £5220. Other metropolitan hospitals received lesser amounts. The Hospitals Commission revealed that of the total subsidies given since August fully £150,000 had been granted to metropolitan hospitals, the remainder being divided among the country institutions. While some hospitals have received more than in previous years, others have been given less —H ail depends on the urgency ot the demand for cash. Lottery moneys are paid Into Consolidated Revenue. The payment to hospitals of £381,103 10s Oil, and of £i\043,200 in prizes, would leave £323,G0G for wages and" any other expenses.