Letters to The Editor

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21179, 1 June 1934, Page 8

Letters to The Editor

Corrc'Ki.H'iKleuts who do not comply v. ith cur rules set out in the lust column ot! our Lender Taxo will excuse us from noticing their letters. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SPORTS TO THE EDITOr. OF THE PHESS. Sir, —My attention has been drawn to the further letter from Mr F. Milner. of Waitaki Boys' High School, in your issue of May 18, on the above subject. Mr Milner does not bring forward any fresh arguments to support his contention that it is wise to send school boys from New Zealand during term time to take part in international school sports in Melbourne. The only positive addition to his previous letter is his further explanation of what he calls the "imperial aspect" of the proposal. This, he assures us, is what "hits the public imagination and impresses the public consciousness." Apparently the boys are to be used to stir up our Imperial loyalty. I cannot think that Mr Milner would uso Imperial sentiment for the purpose of what is plainly "boost," but that is what it looks like. I for one do not think that either Australia or New Zealand would profit irom methods, which the Sydney "Bulletin" has said are "the introduction of the methods of American ballyhoo into Australia." Mr Milner seems to accuse all the headmasters of the great public schools in New South Waks of a lack of imperial sentiment. The fact is that they do not wish to use the boys to "hit the public imagination" as Mr Milner does.

it has conic to my ;;no\vl3age that Mr Darling, the headmaster of Geelong Grammar School, one of the ler-cl-ing schools of Victoria, is reported io be anxious to give up all inter-school athletic competitions, because the spirit in Melbourne school sport is not what it ought to be. There* seems 110 doubt that the boys would be better employed studying the history and problems of the Empire at their own schools than being used as a means "to stir up the public consciousness." The fact is* that schoolboys are not of an age to bcccme ambassadors of Empire. What I am chiefly concerned about, liowever, is the methods of public controversy which Mr Milner adopts. Surely any question should be debated .without heat and without personalities. To secure such an end, I venture to trouble your readers with this second letter. He calls me a Pharisee and says that I am guilty of "hysterical bunkum." that the resolution of the Registered Secondary Schools Association is a "grandiose" resolution and calls the conference of the non-State schools "exiguous," as though the fact that we are fewer jn number than the State controlled schools has any bearing on the Tightness or wrongness of a moral judgment. Then when our resolution is given to the press without note or comment, he says that the resolution is "trumpeted abroad by the mover as Mosaic finality." What our conference i-id was simply to give our resolution to the press and all his abusive words about our action cloak the facts in a cloud of simple rudeness. Further he has accused me of "unctuous rectitude" and "superior moral rectitude," and, because I ventured to state my convictions in public, I am called a "self-appointed hierarch of athletic purism." Well, 1 am no more and no less self-appointed than Mr Milner in this controversy. We each have our rights of self-expression in the public press, so his methods of mere abuse are beneath contempt and unworthy in a public man. Furthermore, when any cause has to be bolstered up by such methods it makes me more than ever convinced that his cause must have something wrong about it. Abuse of one's opponent in any controversy always ten s to take on the habits of a boomerang. finally, to show that I was not ■wrong in raising this question for the consideration of the citizens of this country, I would like to make it public chat there is in Auckland at present an invitation to the Primary Schools' Association Football Club to send a team of primary school boys to.New South Wales to play primary boys there. Thus the invitation to send boys to Melbourne was not just an isolated matter as was stated when I first raised this whole question. If I have done■ anything to make the public think on this whole question, I am well satisfied. —Yours, etc., ... , „ H. K. ARCHDALL. 1934'" ~' Auc^anc *. May 27,

BETTER THAN WAR TO TUB EDITOR OP TUB PRESS. ; ,- Sir.- Your correspondent "Vates" makes reference to a little book entitled "Ordeal by Banking," issued by W. Allen Young, as a memorandum ] lor private circulation among English Conservatives, who, the writer says, in a misguided financial policy because they fear to be charged with socialistic principles. Mr Young has a constructive policy to offer: (a) To grant to the individual greater purchasing power than he has at present; and (b) to render him increasingly independent of employment for his claim to it. According to your correspondent the remedy offered is a national dividend which, to be successful, must be extended to the whole of the wage earning and salaried classes, based apparently on a constructive development of industrial caoitalism. When my eye caught this 1 read on In the hope that your correspondent would explain from what source the dividend was to be derived, but I was doomed to disappointment for, beyond saying that the dividend is a sum which is paid irrespective of whether the recipient is at work or not, there was little light thrown on the subject. • I feel sure that any scheme that •will give everybody a dividend, whether they are at work or not, will be welcomed with unbounded enthusiasm by millions of the earth's inhabitants. Why, therefore, should it be reserved for the consumption of English Conservatives? As your correspondent says, those who would condemn a system which makes a dividend possible for every member of the public will be ridiculed as foolish reactionaries. Without encroaching too much on your space, would it be possible for him to give your readers some general idea of the constructive policy that Mr Young offers?— Yours, etc., THE VILLAGE IDIOT. May 31, 1934. OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM TO THE EDITOR Off THE PRESS Sir, —Your correspondent "Pshaw" , is apparently unable to give satisfac- j tofy answers to my 14 questions, so; resorts, as usual, to misrepresentation and bluff. He states in his latest that he was so delighted at catching me out 5n so many blunders, etc. If this is not sheer mendacity, his imagination must be running riot. No doubt the wish was father to the thought. In a previous letter he stated that ortthe strength of buying £IOOO worth of gold a bank would lend credit to the-extent of £SOOO, and on my pointing out that the bank would be making 30 to 35 per cent, on that transaction, he now deliberately misrepresents me by stating that "perhaps the most glaring of his fresh blunders is his statement that the banks, by charging && r 7 Per cent, on overdrafts, would *»ake profits equal to 30 or 35 per '+™*u . I J nade no general statement to that effect, as he knows; and it shows how hard pressed he is when trlrW,, tt \J esort t0 such dishonest hlthl y h^ or %°^ T ' the dividend paid sXttt£» , EV f New South Wales has atksni what A ever to do with the point t* Any bank can make very fern k *rtu«L r r ead wi * l kn <w how much L Wilanco to place oa his unfounded as-

sertions about the thousands who have laid the foundations of fortunes during the last two years. They will alsj remember that my explanation of the Japanese ability to undersell competitors stiil holds the field, and that it was "Pshaw" that blundered, not I. He quoted Professor Soddy with approval, but when I quoted the professor's condemnation of the statements made by "Pshaw" (and other r-. fessionai apologists), he confesses "he threw me the bait" that landed him (not me) in the net. His reference to orthodox economists as scientists is too funny in view of the fact that they advocated economy measures (i.e., a reduction of purchasing power in order to increase the volume of sales) as a cure for the slump, and though it was soon obvious that this only made matters worse, they have not ye' evolved a plan to enable the world to utilise 'he vast resources made available by the labours of real scientists and inventors. How absurd of them still ' pose as experts in these c'rcumstances. In conclusion, I submit that "Pshaw" has made no serious attempt to answer my questions, a: ' that the solution of the problem, being a vital matter to many millions of fellow creatures is worthy of something better than the callow tricks of a dishonest debater Yours, etc., „ , » G - VV. ATMORE. Nelson, May 28, 1934.

"FUEL'" COOTS FOR UNEMPLOYED TO THE EDITOR OF THE i'-RSS. Sir,—There is an item in Tuesday's issue concerning free boots for the unemployed, which I cannot understand. If a man has to work one extra day to be eligible for a pair of boots, I fail to see how they can be free boots—admittedly cheap boots, but not free. The Minister said: "A second and more important advantage would be the stimulus to the boot industry arising from the manufacture of boots for which no demand originally existed." But hang it all, the demand must be there all right, else why call for tenders to supply boots? The people have no spending money. With your permission I should like to ask some of your readers if General Baden Powell did not order an issue of paper money, when goods, etc., could not be exchanged owing to the ducats all having accumulated in a few hands—seige of Mafeking I think it was. What authority would he have? I believe there was a rumpus because his head was printed on instead of Queen Victoria's. What is selling short?— Yours, etc., BOOTS. Westport, May 30. 1934. AN APPEAL FOB BLANKETS TO THE EDITOR OP THE rKIISS. Sir,—lt is just two years since I made an appeal for blankets through your columns. I had hoped that this winter would have seen a great improvement in the condition of our exservice men. but the experience of the Red Cross during the last few weeks has shown a very sad state of things. Our Red Cross visitors report poverty and want, and a great need of bedding and blankets in many homes. Last Wednesday we gave clothing to 67 families, but we could not help them to keep warm at night. Some of the women were in despair, for their children were cold, nothing in many cases but old sacks or threadbare blankets to cover them. We had hoped to raise a good sum by the street collection, but it was a failure. Last year it realised nearly £SOO. This year our share came to only a little more than £IOO, which means we cannot spend anything on blankets. We have many more families on our books than we had two years ago, and it is increasingly difficult to help them at all adequately. I know it is a bad time to ask, but if we could get only a few pairs, old or new. it would help to tide over the next two months. Winter

has set in early and there will be much suffering for the wives and children of our ex-service men if the Red Cross fails them. Please help us. —Yours, etc., AGNES V. WIGRAM, Chairman Women's Executive Red Cross. May 31. 1934. THE LIFE OF PARLIAMENT TO TUE EDITOR OS" THE TRESS. Sir,—lt may be legal to extend the life of Parliament (according to Professor Dicey, it was in the seventeenth century), but as a New Zealander with an independent mind, I strongly object to being ruled by a body of incompetents for a longer period than that for which they were elected. Several business associates, in addition to myself, are pledged not to pay taxes to the present Government if in power after November next, as in our opinion it is not entitled to collect them. If we elected the members of Parliament for three years, and if it is constitutional for them to grant themselves another year in ottice, it must be so if continued indefinitely, and we simply will not stand for it. It is quite apparent that the present Government does not represent more than a very small proportion of present day opinion, and Us term of office in undoubtedly too long, but as it was elected for three years we shall simply have to put up with its stupid legislation until its time is up. It is quite time we New Zealanders showed a little of the spirit which won us fame at Gallipoli, instead of being almost starved to death in the midst of plenty.—Yours, etc., MANUFACTURER. May 31, 1934.

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF TAX TO TJIK EDITOR OF THE rKE33. Sir, —Could you kindly inform me through the medium of your paper if the amount paid in unemployment relief tax (the 5 per cent, and the 5s per quarter) can be deducted from income for taxation purposes. Unemployment relief tax appears in the income return papers under the heading of special exemptions, but I am informed that it is not permissible.— Yours, etc., W.H.D. [An officer of the land and income tax department explained yesterday that for taxation purposes the total income must be stated. A special exemption is allowed for unemployment relief tax, the amount of which must be entered in the space provided under the heading "special exemptions." In filling in the form this amount must not be deducted from the total income.] THE ROTARY CLUB'S APPEAL TO TUB EDITOH, OF TUE I'fiESS. Sir, —I am sure that there are many who would wish to respond to the Rotary Club's appeal, but who have not the means available to do so, for money justly owing to them is withheld. It is, I fear, true that many farmers' accounts are in debit, but surely this season's prices for wool and stock should allow for the payment of interest by the firms and stock agents, who have profited upon larger commissions and are now paying dividends to their shareholders.—Yours, etc A WELL-WISHER, May 31. 1934.

DANGER IN THE PACIFIC

TO THJ£ EDITOR, OF THE PKESS. Sir, —The press report that Japan is negotiating with Portugal for the purchase of that Government's section of the island of Timor in the East Indies, and about a day's distance by steam from Port Darwin in the northern territory of Australia, brings vividly home to us the approaching danger. Timor, an island some 300 miles in length, with a native population of some 500,000, lies right in the track of a British fleet sailing from its base at Singapore to the defence of Australia or New Zealand from a possible attack. The purchase o£ it by Japan can therefore have but one meaning, and is a direct challenge to Singapore and British naval supremacy in the Pacific. It may be asked whence arises this feverish impulse on the part of Japan for aggressive domination and expansion, so evident now and for years past? Fully to reply to this would occupy too much space, but briefly it may be stated that it is the natural result of conditions in that country. Just as in France, before the revolution. the peasantry were ground down by taxes to the point of starvation, imposed by the ruling class—the nobles—and were practically in a condition of serfdom: so, in Japan, the mass of the people on the land, whether farmers, or peasant, is exploited by the feudal nobles who own the land, and who, while returning no social service to the state, allow the barest sustenance to these tillers of the soil. As might be expected, discontent is rampant and the ethics of communism equally widespread. The imperial military and naval autocracy in Japan, which dictates its policy, is supreme over parliament, which is merely a registering machine for their purposes. This autocracy is ide itical wlih th" 1 land owners mentioned, for they are the same privileged class. If Japan were to adopt communism, there would be amply .'•utlicient from Iter own soil, to maintain even her present population for years to come. So, when in my last letter I spoke of the surplus of Japan's population, I should have modified it with the words "under present conditions." But with an up-to-date method of farming in place of the present archaic and obsolete system - and with the freeing of the soil from its parasitic burdens, a new era would set in, allowing sufliciency fur all save the idlers. This the dominant rulers are determined to prevent. Hence we see the communists ruthlessly repressed in every quarter, and an Imperial policy, dictated entirely by the exploiting class, directed towards creating a manufacturing system of cheap goods of every variety, and so employing in factories and warehouses, built from the money wrung from the peasants, part of that surplus population, created by its own exploitation, of the wealth produced from the soil. To complete the ideals of the exploiting class, markets must be found ' where these manufactures can be sold. And further, to allow of raw materials being produced in sufficient quantities and cheaply for manufacture, such as Japan's climatic conditions will not permit to be grown, and at the same time allow room for the disposal of the surplus population still left, new countries must be found and annexed. Ilence all this activity. Given the right of the autocracy to rule and exploit the great .mass of the people in Japan, and to carry that system into every country conquered and dominated, and the rest automatically fellows; and we ought, as a "pacifist" told me to-day, to grant her all her claims, whether to free access for her people into Australia, or for her sweated manufactures into these Dominions. But to those who are aware what this implies, and who know what is really happening bsnealh the surface in Japan, and to what extent the smiling face conceals the cruel heart, it would seem the wiser and more sane course to defend our hearths and homes from such a fate, and in so doing help not merely ourselves, but the exploited and crushed mass o£ the Japanese people as well.—Yours, etc.. SI VIS PACEM, BELLUM PARA. Ngaio, May 30, 1934.

THE SMALL FARMS SCHEME TO TUB tDITOB OF THE CUZ3S Sir, —Mr George Lee appears to have a blind faith in the Government, unci tries to whitewash it in regard to the high prices paid for soldier settlements. Many of the returned men were young and had little idea of the values of land or the work and outlay to make it payable, and wishing for some freedom after the irksome duties of a soldier's life were willing to take on any outdoor life. They were also promised and assured that they would have a square deal. Did the Government keep those promises? No. It bought land at any old price, some at double its value and some at a great deal more. Of course, the sellers were to blame, but the Government more so. It had its experts, and many members were themselves farmers and should have understood the value of land. If a private person makes a bad deal it is his own look-out, but a Government deals with the money and credit of the whole country. Mr Lee goes back 52 years. It must be about that time the last slump started—there appears to be no record of the date—but older men tell me it was nearly 50 years ago. One retired farmer informed me it continued till nearly 1900, or about 20 years. Of course, there would be a few lucky people who never knew there was a slump. Perhaps Mr George Lee and "Pshaw" were two of them. Perhaps it is all posh, anyhow, and we are all millionaires without knowing it. We are all so accustomed to a faulty financial system, that many think there is none better, and we have literally to go to school, and learn over again, and forget what we have found in the past to be useless. This is a slow process, and with some, nearly impossible. If the leader in a mob of sheep makes a jump, the others do likewise and mankind does much the same, so that anyone breaking away from the conventions is looked on with disfavour. But it is better to ride than walk, and a motor-car is better than a horse with a few exceptions. Our financial system was evolved in the time of slow travelling, and even then it was faulty, or why did the early immigrants look for new lands in the hope of some day being better off. The time factor upsets exports and economists alike. Trade overtakes a slow out-of-date method of finance and bewilderment follows hard on its trail. Inventors and engineers are constantly making improvements to machinery, doctors add to their knowledge of fighting disease, and prolonging life; yet our finance lags behind unless there is a war; then it is to the fore. Why should it be so? America demands payment for war debts, but what country can pay? Would America be any richer if the debts were paid? What is the truth? Who can tell?— Yours, etc., A. BARRETT. Leeston, May 30, 1934. HOW MANY (JODS? TO THE EMTOit Ol' THE PIURSS. Sir,—ln answer to "Student." why should there not be two gods? If there had been merely a man made in the image and likeness of God, no more need be .said; but then there was Eve. What likeness had she in the Godhead unless there was someone to represent her thcr>:? Is she merely an appendage to man-made from a rib, the "supernumerarie to hi 3 just number found," according to Milton. We are at the beginning of a new age with the sun in the constellation of Aquarius, and this age will show, I believe, that God may also be represented by a woman. What wrong was there anyway in Eve taking the fruit? It was a tree

(o be desired to make one wise. It was only after she had partaken ol' the fruit that she felt she had done wrong. It is only after any deed is accomplished we can look back and view it in the light cf reason. It is only by falling we can rise, only by doing wrong can we possibly know to do right. I£ Eve had not taken the think it must have been a peach—then we would even now be in the blissful and innocent state of the animal kingdom. The muscles of a swimmer are made strong by contending with the tide, not by going with it. The next tide has again turned, when, instead of fleeing the evil as has been clone down the ages, we now fr.ee it, and know it for what it is worth—it was the chiselling knife of the sculptor. In passing, the Hebrew word for God, Elohim. is plural, and Jehovah is more feminine than masculine. It is made of four letters, yod, masculine, he, feminine, van, common, and he, again feminine. In some cases it is combined as Jehovah-Elohim, ana then we read the Lord God. My Bible turns to one very interesting verse in Jeremiah: "In those days shall Juoah be saved, and Jeiusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, the Lord Our Righteousness. Referring to the definition of Adam by "Leonis," I think a much better one is found in the G. damas, to subdue or to tame, not so much the subjugation of the animals as the passions of his own body.-—Yours, etc., May 31. 1934.

to tub KUiTCiit or tub vnr.su. Sir,—There need be no difliculty as to f answer in reference to the above question if we will but accept the plain and simple testimony of the Bible, which is the Word of God "that liveth and abideth forever" (1, Peter, 1-23) The fact of the godhead has already been proved from Scripture by your correspondent, J. Brighton. Ii Genesis, chapters 1 and 2, He is revealed as the "God of creation," in the glory of the heavens, in the boundless ocean, in the grandeur of the mountains; yea, in the whole realm of nature we trace the hand of our Creator, God! He is also seen as a "God of Holiness," as evidenced in the experience of the nation of Israel. When we arrive at the Gospel He is revealed as a "God of love." expressed in the gift of His beloved Son, the Lrd Jesus Christ (John, o-K>>, who demonstrated that love at the place called Calvary (Luke, 23-33). And in V coming day He will be revealed as a "God of righteous judgment" (Acts 17-31); and who will be the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (1, Timothy. 6-15). And yet in the Scriptures of truth we read of "another god"! If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. In whom the "God of this world" (or age) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2, Corinth, 4:

3, 4). Satan is the "god of this world" and "I he Prince of the Power of the Air " (Ephesians, 2-2), and according to the above verses lie is blinding humanity as to their need of the Gospel, and is the supreme ruler of a Godless age!— Yours, etc., H.G.M. May 31, l!Wi. [Subject to the right of reply of "Student" this correspondence is now closed.—Ed. "The Press."! CANTEKWRY V. WKST COAST TO Tlir. lIMTOU OK TUB MIKSH. Sir,—-I was surprised and disappointed to find the Railway Department was not putting on a special train to the West Coast for the King's Birthday week-end. Beit:;; a Rugby enthusiast, I had made up my mind to go over and help to cheer our boys to victorv, as the sporting West Coasters did their best to do over hero. Hoping the Railway Department will see its way to grant a much-needed request.—Yours, etc., GOOD LUCK CANTERBURY. May 30, 1934. j