Sayings of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 22, 1 December 1909, Page 3

Sayings of the Week.

More Unemployment HAT real justification was there /fl for the expense of the upkeep of the Legislative Council? A few of them wander round the lobbies day after day, looking very unhappy, and as to the rest of itheni, goodness knows where they are.— Mr. T. E. Taylor. * * * * Noble Humanity. Owing to the practice adopted by a considerable section of railway travellers of going into the dining cars when morning and afternoon tea was served (for iwhich the charge is only 6d), and on such Occasions making a full meal, and so avoiding the necessity of partaking of lunch and tea in the cars at the higher Tates, it was found necessary to restrict the articles of diet provided for morning and afternoon tea. The dining cars are not under ordinary circumstances remunerative to the department.— Hon. J. 'A. Millar. ♦ » * * Aucklanders Please Note. The development of the tramway system in the capital city has been nothing short of wonderful. Experience has undoubtedly proved that where trainways Tun into the suburban areas population quickly follows, and traffic is built up. I regard tramways as necessary an adjunct- to municipal life as the water for your showerbath. Quick traction for the people is essential to progress and prosperity. We are all striving to save time, and time saved means money saved.—'Mr. G. Simeon, Chief Traffic Inspector. 9 * * • Penny-in-tlie-Slot. The present native land law was admirable, but it was like the penny-in-the-Blot business; it would not work unless the machine was wound up. and the trouble was that as it was never wound up it was impossible to work it. There were traces of a more sane policy in the proposed measure relating to native lands.— Ufr. Berries. * * * * Got 'em on the List. The concession of free carriage granted to racehorses and polo ponies involves the performance of a service for which the Railway Department obtains no returns. The question is. however, one that lias already been noted for consideration when the general tariff is being revised.— The Minister for Railicays. * * * * The Wail of the Hyper-civilised. As for the sleeping cars of the train bn the Main Trunk line, the berths are apparently as uncomfortable as possible, and the arrangements absolutely discreditable. The bunks are as hard as boards, and the bed clothing supplied inadequate. The ventilation is bad, and, if the door is opened, everybody who passes up and down the train may see in. If the window is opened the compartment is covered with dust.-— Dr. Thacker. • * * * Now is the Time. Now is the most opportune time for getting a loan. The Premier has got the money, but he has pointed out that every month might make a difference, not only to the rate of interest, but as to the amount available. We have his assurance that if the money is applied for within a reasonable time undoubtedly it Will be available.— Mr. J. R. Kirk. •• • • No Palliation of Crime. So far as a jury is concerned drunkenness is no palliation for crime. If it were ■New Zealand would be a pretty sorry place to live in. Anyone who has had much to do with courts must know that drunkenness is the cause of pretty well 75 per eent of the crime which has to be investigated in our country.— Mr. Myers, Crown Prosecutor of Wellington. • • • • Profit Snaring (?) His belief was that the only way to arrive at industrial peace was by a system of profit-sharing. He had studied the question, and was convinced that the principle was sound. He hoped that faith «i it would spread more and more among employers.— Dr. Newman.

Wake Up, Christchurch. In Wellington I found that I could buy, for 11/, an article that I could not buy in Christchurch for less than 18/. The tradespeople in Wellington are far ahead of the tradespeople in Christchurch. Articles are not sold in Christchurch until a fortnight after they have- been in the shops in Wellington. Both Wellington and Auckland are leading away from Christchurch, and, unless we have the tunnel dynamited, or get the canal at once, we shall be left in the lurch. —• Dr. Thacker. «*« • - Reckoned in Bibles. People talk glibly about China’s 400,000,000 of population. They never

for a single moment realise what that means. It would take 114 Bibles, and every letter in each representing a Chinaman, before that gigantic total was reached. In the event of war China could afford to lose equal to the entire population of the United Kingdom in point of numbers, and hardly know that she had lost them.— Rev. G. J. Williams. * ♦ ♦ * We are Patriots. All classes of the community appear to be animated by a strong spirit of loyally to the Crown and race. Everything I found so thoroughly British with the expression of a strong feeling of kinship of race. This was so marked. The pride of British citizenship displayed at the Empire Day celebrations I attended showed that it was a really living thing. —Sir Charles Lucas. Who’s to Blame? In point of quality New Zealand mutton exhibits a marked downward tendency, this being most noticeable in that exported from the South Island. It is a matter for regret that such poor quality carcases should be sent Home to bring discredit on the export trade of the Dominion. Apart from those condemned, others which escaped this fate furnished an exceedingly bad advertisement for New Zealand lamb while hanging in the market. — Mr. C. J. Brakes, London. * * * * Beresford on the Boom. I urge every class of society to join together and put nn end to the miserable policy of weakness, vacillation, uud

compromise which is jeopardising our supremacy at sea, and therefore our life as an Empire.— Lord Charles Beresford. * * • * Plain Speaking. Before any more of the publicly-owned land is sold, all the people of the Dominion should have an opportunity of say- ■ ing, by means of a referendum vote, whether they are willing that the proposals now before Parliament shall become law, or whether all existing Crown land shall remain the property of the people, and be dealt with under the leasehold system, so that future increases in rental'value shall be available for reduction of burdens of taxation. — Mr. D. McLaren, M.P. « « • • Impossible. Far be it from me to say anything against the luminaries of the law’; they are all honourable men, but there are blaek sheep in every flock. I believe there are even one. or two of a browny colour following the Leader of the Opposition! — Mr. Laarenson.