CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16213, 16 May 1918, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS AND

ENGLISH GIRLS

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE rBESS."

Sir, —I was amused by a letter that appeared in your columns this morning under tlio above heading, and should like to say a few words on the subject. It seems a pity at this time of anxiety, when our Empire is in deadly conflict, that so much should be made of a "storm in a tcacup." Although I have the utmost respect for our worthy Mayor, I feel lie spoke unadvisedly with his lips, in touching on the merits, or rather demerits, of English girls. Comparisons are odious, and at this time it were Jbettcr for all to stand shoulder to shoulder as British—unity is strength. Let as sink all petty differences and have one object, one desire—that is, win the war! May I say before closing tlias if Germany was victorious, both English and New Zealand girls would share the same fate. I only wish this could be more fully realised in New Zealand. —Yours, etc., UNITY. May loth. TO TITE EDITOR OF "THE I'll ESS." Sir, —Your lady readers do not, I am sure, as a whole, agree with the letter signed "N.Z." I and my friends will gladly welcome the 500 wives of our brave men' who are coming to New Zealand, and wc arc proud to think they are willing to come to the other side of the world to a strange land for the sake of those wc love. Only those who -have left the Old Country can realise the heart-breaking it means to leave all the old friends. Hard, too, for the poor mothers who have to spare their girls and for tie poor little French wives who cannot speak our language. What a welcome our boys have had wherever they have been, and is it not up to us to do likewise? As to the English girls trying to ride the high horse over the colonials, it is not at alt likely to happen, but wo think they will be very surprised to see the extravagant way in which many of our girls arc dressing and the money that is wasted when; our country is in such distress. Ono can imagine" the letters that will be sent Home. I would advise "N.Z." not to worry about the votes, for good wives always vote the same way as their husbands.—Yours, etc., ONE WHO TIIUSTS THE BOYS. May 14 th. DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS. TO THK EDlTOfc OF "THE FRESsI." Sir, —Now that the flow of correspondence regarding Second Division, and factory girl wives, is, let us hope, subsiding, I should like to say a few words in support of "A Christian" who wrote a few days ago on the above subject. I have read the eircu'ar from the Educational Institute referred to ill his ' letter, with the appended resolution sent for the consideration ot committees, and probably accepted by them in many instances without dulv considering the import of the first portion,which calls upon them to "resist all attempts to encroach upon the national system of education." The question is: "What would be considered an encroachment?. To a large and steadily increasing number of people the one great blot on our educational system is the absolute ignoring of even the most simple elements of the Christian faith. Hence arises the strong desire tb establish denominational schools wherever possible, and also the wish on the part of many who aro not prepared to support denominational teaching, that recognition of the diety by the recitation of the Lord's Prayer be made statutory.

Dr. Marshall, of the Wanganui College, is reported to have said, when speaking on the increased desire for denominational schools, that the number of people willing to make some sacrifice for the special need of those whose education was dear to them, is largely increasing, and "that the desire. of people to have their children brought up in their own faith and ideals, was very great in this country."

I need hardly refer to the splendid service of prayer held in the Cathedral last Wednesday, with the Bishop's touchins address in conclusion, to prove that faith is not. yet dead and that this war is rousing many hitherto indifferent to a sense of their responsibilities. Surely it will be well for the School Committees to ponder these things, and to aid the Educational Institute. in its splendid work bv advising the use of the Lord's Prayer in all its schools.—Yonrs, etc., I

W. MILES, >>cw Brighton. May 15th.