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Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3823, 23 October 1877, Page 3

TO THE KDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sib, —Would you be kind enoughs to allow • mc to cay a few words in reply to " Con- ' sistency," that appeared in this morning's - Peeßs, condemning the means adopted to re- " lieve the famine. These carrying out these ' means have as much right to their opinion as •'Consistency" hae to hie. Were nothing done but what he approved of, small indeed would be the relief to the poor famished ' natives of India. There can be no objection ' to " Consistency" and others who believe in " the efficacy of prayer endeavouring to carry 1 out their system. But as lam utilitarian in > practice, any reasonable means adopted may 9 be commended. Earthquakes, volcanic erup--5 tions, and famines we the result of natural 1 laws; they are stern and inexorable, descend--3 ing alike 6n the just and unjust. 3 One writer in the "Lyttelton Times" sug--5 gests contributions in food, recommending Preserved meats, and believes that starving ndians would eat it, although their caste would be against it. For the information of that gentleman such a contribution would be ! utterly valueless, as the majority of the natives f would not eat meat, although starving. In 5 my humble way I would make a suggestion, fc that regarding futnre famines, means should J be adopted to erect large granaries, and, ux " years of plenty, grain should be stored, and, 5 when the crops failed, food should be distributed to those in want, and employ them . on pnblic works, as a return for the food given. ' I, for one, mean to go to the sports, hoping 5 that numbers will be there, although we may 1 be very foolish, and, shall I say, wicked, in the y •pinion of " Coneietency." Yours, 4c., t Ex Abttllebt Mas.