IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 62, 14 March 1930, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

"AUSTRALASIA." LOCAL CONTROL FROM AUSTRALIA. ■' (To the Editor.) , I am in entire agreement with the protest nude by a member at yesterday's meeting of th 6 Chamber of Commerce, but a protest on the lines suggested by Mr. Johns is of little value. What we need to do is to discourage in the most forcible way possible the appointment of Australian agents with control of New Zealand. It should be made clear to exporter! and others overseas that their busi- ' ness in jfew Zealand will suffer unless they establish direct connections with New Zealand It is extraordinary that Xcw Zealanders have been content so long to be treated as a sort of sub-agent of Australia. The national spirit is not yet very strong in us, otherwise w t > would long ajo have shaken off the indignity placed upon us by the use of the term ''Australasia," and the subordinate position we have been forced to accept. Insurance companies, I think, arc notable examples of this as even now many of them continue to place tho control of their New Zealand business in the hands of eonie officer stationed at Sydney or Melbourne. The oil companies are similar offenders, and of course there arc numerous others. A leaflet as suggested by Mr. Johns, if drawn up on the-right lines, would have quite a good effect. Hie High Commissioner's assistance might also be secured. Mr. Wilford, I know, is personally keen on the abolition of the objectionable word referred to. A SOUTHERN VISITOR. MILITARY TRAINING. I welcome "Cadet N.C.O.'s" spirited attack, insomuch as I have at least aroused a debatable interest on tie subject. He attempts to give me an "idea," as he puts it, of what goes on in the drill hall, but as I am quite conversant with the procedure, it was unnecessary. Having devoted twenty years to the interests of youth, I can claim a little knowledge on the subject. I have not in any way condemned the drills as a whole, but I know of specific cases where the example and demeanour of the instructors has been demoralising. It is, .however, the principle of compulsory military training whip I, like so many others, boys, parents and employers, object to.- Is '"N.C.0." aware that one of the articles of the Peace Treaty forbids Germany establishing a system of compulsory military training? If, then, we have forlridden this to Germany, in order to crush the spirit of bellicose aggressiveness, why should the people of Nev Zealand have it inflicted upon them, anl be taxed accordingly? Only yesterday a lad asked me: "What is the use of the League of Sations when we -waste time and money training for war?" We are a nation of hypocrites if we preach peace and train our youth for war. "N.C.0." is a poor psychologist if he considers the stereotyped lectures supplied by the Defence Department will inculcate morality in youth. This can only be inculcated through service and good influence, voluntarily given by men whose sole aim is the uplifting of the ideals of youth. By all means let us encourage physical training, which will promote healthy and vigorous manhood, but let us abolish the trappings of uniform and rifle, and so endeavour to teach men the spirit of brotherhood. If we are. to be a free people, let the parents and boys themselves have a freedom of choice, and not be dominated by the spirit of militarism. Finally, I would ask "N.C'O." how it is that in this country, where compulsory .military training is enforced, and iii spite of the moral lectures administered iii the drill room, there is such a preponderance of disrespect to elders, drunkenness and licentiousness among youth of to-day. AN ENGLISHMAN.

RELIGION IN RUSSIA. [ ; I am not a Russian, and have no other sources of information than those open to all, yet I feel that Russia is at present being badly misrepresented. Ever since the Russians repudiated the debts incurred by the monarchy, Western Europe has had no good to* say of them. It seems that the worst we can say is not bad enough for the nation that refuses to pay its debts, no matter what the excuse. If the Russians find it to their interests to change their minds and agree to pay up, with interest, I think we would soon see a change, and, instead of being credited with all the vices of the devil, we would find him quite a decent fellow, though a bit primitive in his ways. The Russian argument seems to be that as a people they had no say in the contracting of the debt, and derived no benefit from it; it is like expecting an .emancipated slave to pay for tho whips his master bought to scourge him. Would Englishmen do it? As-to his Godless ways and religious persecution, sv*u hear so much about, the reports are very conflicting, for the Western Churches established there seem to have no cause for complaint. This appears to me to supply the key to the puzzle. The Greek Church, whicl was the State Church of Russia, is very different front , our Western Churches. It was part of the monarchical system that for centuries enslaved the people, body and soul. When the people, goaded to revolt by tyranny and oppression, threw off their autocratic rulers, ihe Church went with them, for it was part cf the system. Now that both Monarchists and Church are conspiring to regain their lost powers and prestige, the" Soviet" Government puts them down with a firm and none too gentle hand, for they have had enough of both. As to the reported destruction of churches, ikons and images, even if true, the same could be said of Cromwell's soldiers. Could we but see ourselves through Russian glasses, I think we would feel a bit ashamed of ourselves in our readiness to believe evil, for the British, with all their faults, have a strong sense of justice and fair play. WAND3<;RING KIWI. TIMBER TROUBLES. I want every sawmill worker and employer to enlist public sympathy in a very deserving case, that is, the blocking of foreign timber importation. If the Government will act hefore all the millers arc faced with extreme loss and sawmill workers are deprived of their bread and butter, the position can he, saved to some extent by stopping timber importation for a year or two to enable our own mills to regain lost ground. If prompt action is not resorted to now, before the mills close and throw out of work thousands of workers, the Government deserves all it gets for not helping. A NEW ZEALANDER AND SAWMILL WORKER, COATES AND ARAPUNI. I was surprised on reading your report in last Thursday's "Star" of the 'celebrations in connection with the turning on of power from the Arapuni works to the Auckland Power Board's plant, to find no mention of the name of the' Right Hon. J. G. Coates. To.that gentleman more than to any other the country owes this great achievement. He had the vision to foresee the great advantages that would result from this great work, and also the patient determination and tact to cany the scheme through against great and influential opposition. Your report, no doubt quite inadvertently, gives the impression *h at one man has sown the seed and bornethe labour and heat of the day, another has been allowed" to reap the harvest. T. J. FLEMING.