Sayings of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 20, 17 November 1909, Page 3

Sayings of the Week.

Nationalising Necessaries. THE farmers were not the only important class in the country. The men who would willingly vote to finance a certain class in its business could not logically refuse to nationalise any of the large industries of the Dominion. He saw no reason why the production of some of the necessaries Of life should not be nationalised. Food should not be allowed to be a medium for speculation. He would urge them to obtain a solid representation in Parliament, and one that would not hang on to the skirts of some other party. If they would only hang together they could do it. He advised his hearers to get up a first-class Labour newspaper that would commend itself to the public as a newspaper. — Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P.

.Wnat Everybody Knows. Auckland, now that the Main Trunk line has been completed, would be specially adapted and suited for the capital city. Its proximity to the Islands, to the Continent of Australia, the fact that it will be the future naval base, its superior climate and ample accommodation for expansion, and also the fact of it being the most suitable and most progressive city in the Dominion make it eminently desirable that this important matter should receive immediate consideration.—Mr. A. E. (Hover, M.P.

The Millenium. His whole hope and heart were in seeing Labour take its right position in the social and political world. He believed from his soul that the unity of Labour was the hope of the world. As he grew older, he gained an increasing hope and belief in the future of Labour. He had seen, in the course of his life, a great growth of the altruistic sentiment, and he believed, in spite of the croakers, that the world was growing better hour by hour. It was a delight to think how the brotherly spirit was growing. Class prejudices, religious prejudices, and national prejudices were breaking down. (There was a spirit in society that would help in the raising up of the poor and the equalising of conditions—the broad spirit of humanity that would one day fill the world with glory and with peace. He looked forward to universal union and brotherhood in New Zealand and all over the world.— Mr E. Tregear.

Liberalism or — 1 Since I came into this House I have learned to have .very grave doubts whether there is any such thing as Liberalism in existence. That is my position now.— Mr D. McLaren.

The Public Will Have to Pay More. If the market remains as it is the public will undoubtedly have to pay more for their tea. The tea trade throughout the world, so far as the growers are concerned, was never more prosperous, but never more disastrous for importers and dealers. In England it is so serious that large firms are spending a great deal of money in trying to convert the people into buying higherpriced teas, and their shop windows are being filled with teas marked at between 3/ and 3/6 per lb. In New Zealand the public have been getting a better article than anywhere else. In fact the latest statistics show that New Zealand heads the list for importing tea. England conies second, Victoria third, and New South Wales fourth.— Mr. H. Nelson, of Nelson, Moate and Co.

Wanted,—A Bottle of Whisky. The relations at present existing between the employers and workers in the furniture-making establishments are most Satisfactory; so much so, indeed, that at a recent conference we had with the employers on the subject of more wages and shorter hours, it only needed a bottle of .whisky to make the conference a social gathering.— Mr D. Moriarity. nt the Furniture Trade Workers’ Conference in (Wellington.

Taxing tbe Necessaries of Life. I thought the flour tax would be repulsive to every Christian community. We pray, or ought to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” and then the Government turns round and says, “Yes, and we are going to tax you for it.” I would ask members, “Were they doing a Christian act when they taxed the workers’ bread; — Mr Hogg.

The “ Bookies’ ” Troubles. Bookmakers and their followers have seriously increased, the majority of them being totally unfit both pecuniarily and otherwise to hold licenses. If bookmakers are to be licensed to bet at race meetings (a provision which from a long and varied experience of racing I could not support) the law should provide that none but those holding a certificate of fitness

from a magistrate (on the report of the police) or chief of police of the district concerned should be licensed. Nor should anyone be permitted to act as a bookmaker at any race meeting whatsoever unless he holds such certificate.—Commissioner Dinnie.

Rough on Australia . The English spoken in New Zealand is very far ahead of the English spoken in Australia. I have seen it stated in various Australian prints that there is no Australian accent. The statement is absurd. The Australian accent is everywhere on that side, and everywhere appalling and disfiguring. But I do not think that there is any New Zealand accent. ... I found better English spoken generally in America than I have been able to discover in Australia. Australian “English ” in 1909 is truly awful. In so far as it is concerned with spoken English, the Australian education system has failed, and failed dismally.— Mr C. N. Baeyertz.

Our Apple Industry. New Zealand could develop a very profitable trade in apples and pears with California during the off season in that country, as was now done with onions. They could produce in New Zealand an

apple equal in quality, if not superior to, the apple of California. He was quite certain from his experience of both countries that they could develop a very profitable trade with San Francisco and California. At the present time the steamers running did not have cool storage, consequently they could not send stone fruits as well.— Mr W. A. 80-ucher, Government pomologist.

Contradictory. I believe I am the most bashful member in the House in regard to votes for public works. I advise members to place their trust in the Public Works Department. — Mr Hogg.

If the Mortgage Tax Was Removed. The same man who pays the graduated tax is the man who pays the mortgage tax in three cases out of five. If the mortgage tax was removed all the large landowner had to do was to get a mortgage on his land, and he would escape the graduated taxation altogether. If they removed the mortgage tax they would put it on in some other form, and

attach it to land. It was estimated that the extra 25 per cent would produce an increase of revenue of £25,000 per annum. — The Prime Minister.

The Fruit Trade. He urged the importance of arrangements for so marketing fruit as to avoid a glut. He thought growers should organise for the appointment of a central agent in each centre, and the establishment in those places of fruit chambers.

Experiments now being conducted in Auckland showed that very few varieties of apples and pears were unsuitable for cool storage. There was an unlimited demand for cooking apples on the west coast of England.— Mr Boucher, Government I’omologist.

Hearken, ye Railway Leagues 7 No less than 46 lines of railways had been asked for in different parts of the country. These would run to a length of 1100 or 1200 miles, and cost 12 millions. If those advocating these lines could show the Government the way of raising three millions they would be in a position to render some assistance. The Government at present was going to concentrate its efforts on pushing on the North Auckland and East Coast lines. — Hon. R. McKenzie.

Fighting Disease. In the war against this disease the Dominion is slowly but surely being provided with sanatoria, open-air shelters, etc., wherein the poor consumptives can be cared for. The Waikato Sanatorium

still continued its beneficent work. Th* expenditure at Karerc had been most successful ; the only fault was that the encampment was toe small. The patients engaged in tree-planting got what they earned, and out of the earnings paid for their food and share of the cost of running the camp. It pays to look after our sick. Several who have “hardened off” at Karere have gone back to their ordinary work, quite recovered.—Dr, M ason.