LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2128, 21 April 1914, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

the;three light. Sir,—l'.'sco by .•..■the; Wellington letter in tho "Herald" that one sigjiing himself "Mariner" objects io- tho' ottitudo of the Aucklaiidrshipmasters'("longshoremen;") who "aro-opposed: to Mr. Fisher's ~;. wireless, compass ■ arrangement, in'iplacebf-a light oii'-the Three Kings. "Alariho'r," ds probablyia longslioromanjhimself ...' How.abdnfc the light on Stephens Island?f:-Vessels. running into Cook'-Strait from tho Vest can pick up Stephens Island light :whoii Farewell Spit Brothers: aro obscured by fog- ;■."

t have"picked up tho light on San Lorenzo Island, off Callao ;'(a very poor light) when all the lights on the lower levels would bo obscured by the Peruvian dew'.: The light ■on 4he Three Kings is.mostly required' by, vessels making tho land from the westward, and from;a long range—say, 30 to 40 miles—would bo visiblo abovo the ordinary fogs.—l art, etc., tJHAS. H. COTTON, Shipmaster. • Auckland.

HOTEL TARIFFS. Bir,—The awards svstem of regulating wages is on its trial, notwithstanding that in the past tho fixing of wages has always proved abortive, besides being . productive of a false relationship between employer and employee. ' Tho service of.tho public in any sliapo or form is nn occupation that can only be carried out fitly by honourable men, and unduo,and coorcivo interference by the State can only robound to the detriment of tho whole community. Nor will'.any industrial progress bo made by insinuating or contemptuous , newspaper correspondence against employer and employee.

It would appear that an unenviable and inequitable position lias been forced on hotelkeepers, and on tho trado in general by tho agitation of tho last twenty years, making the business more s, huge gamble than an established and honourable calling, and we are by no means.out of tho woods.yet. This may bo tho process through which all.businesses'and professions will require -to pass, tbongli we would fain Jiopo other-, wise,-andi the liquor trade ifiay yet feel honoured ;to have been the first to' receive so much public attention. While a broad and sympathetic review of current questions is always desirable, correspondents would do well to remomber that partisan feeling, censuro, and condemnation only reveal, the existence of a grievance, and. in nowise throvr any lighfon complex' problems.—l am,'etc.. UNBIASED.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS' DEFENCE LEACUE. Sir; , —Will.the leaders.of-the National Schools' Defenco League, who, according to .your report in Monday's issue, arc prepared to "offer no opposition to Biblical or religious instruction as a supplement, to our national .secular systenr," , ' tell us when the'instructionis to be- given. It is worse than useless offering rucilitica before or after school hours. Verj , few, childfon would care to remain.in' school .while the others are playing-garnes or have gono homo. In most .cases it.Vwould resolve 'itself into anOthfit: lesson",versus sport. Again,' in dairying; districts,, the parents genv cralljr"' VequirG their •children to bassist, in milking;'tlib'.''ijo.'ws.h'bth ■before. schobl' in tho niortting,;and,afjterSchool;in the afternoon.-' ' '-i'- ■/>--i ■■•-.- ? . ,/ - ■■• The National Schools' Defence League wculd havo tho sympathy, of a largo number of Christian /•' pe.oplo if they would advocate tho "right of entry "- during school hours -for-tho loaders of any; religious body—Christian, or nonChristian —to instruct their own children. an-.hour-.per week would be- sufficient, for 'the' : purpose* Tho children \vb.o£cA.-p&ront& object to their receiving religious instruction, or whoso minister or- his, representative was not present,'could bo given a readingiMesson Out of tho'ordinary school books' by tho ttachSr;' Tho'."right.,of entry" : during ; school hours ' would .do awiy with the opposition of many 'of tho'iteachers who object, to the supervision of tho text-book advocated by the;:Biblc-in-Schools'League. '"It would be absolutely fair to all religious':bodies, and to those who havo no faith in God; and! itYjSquld.- remove' the, objection of mahy Christian p'eoplo' .who Regard-it 'as an injustico to Tie called upon to support the present national system which only favours the. agnostic .—I tun, etc., ; ;' FAIR PLAY TOR ALL. METHODS. Sir, —On. behalf of the lad who was fined.,,lor;:Tefusing:'.te say "Sir" to..his thanks to/blatant foolishness have had a- lot to ! contend'.'wflh, and no doubt are sore; that; is .human, nature. But surely, with the'business end of a .soldier's life in .TieWji':whCn' : absoluto.'reliance must, be plac'eddn;liihi,tb doJwhat is his duty, a different method of than, despotic in tolerance, backed by, the civic power'also; could be used. In the near iuturdjtho.'.militdry must act tho part of constable, unless a.saner and wider policy prevails with all parties, which, personally, I doubt. For who the gods wish to destroy they turn mad. In closing tho letter, 'asking to be excused tho l(borty I tike, I wish tho Massey Government" success next .election, for it is,at,'least a practical and hone'st Ad-' ministration, and the others aro claptrap;affairs. Also a new brand of salvation is urgently needed or wo shall be caste bound like India was,'a pretty nicklo for a practical and gamer race.— 1 am, etc., ANDRE C. SPASHAM. Palmcrsten North.

RE 'BOOKINC ON THE WHARF. Sir, —I tead that Mr. Fletcher suggests that a race should bo erected to prevent /overcrowding' when booking steamer tickets. What a pity ho does rot take a wider view of tho whole thing! Horo is a. suggestion for which he iuay tiiko the whole credit if he likes to make uso of it. Let him approach the Government and the Union Company (also the other shipping offices) and suggest that through booking should bo arranged. If we want to travel from London to Paris it is .not necessary for us to tako a ticket to Dover, then one to Calais, and>another to Paris, wo: get a througli ticket, and why cannot the man who wants to travel from Auckland to Invercargill do the same? It would save tho shipping company having a man on tho wharf and hardly any extra work for the railway. All that is required is tickets in book form. Arrangements could be made to have a mail on duty at seyon o'clock to allot the berths on the ship. This is a wonderful country, but a great deal more advantage of other countries' experience might be taken.— I am, etc., AN ENGLISHMAN ' ■ THE COMING STRIKE. Sir,—l think it was in 1890 that the great maritime strike (engineered by our friend Mr. J. took place. The last groat "sympathetic" strike is still fresh in our memories, and I do not think wo shnll soo 1920 beforo another great strike occurs. Wβ havo now over a million inhabitants in Now Zealand, and does it not seem very absurd that this million of people should sit with folded hands, whilo somo halfdozen reckless agitators are perambulating tho country _ and' stirring up strife? "Prevention ia better than cure," and South Africa has set us a splendid example as to how to deal with e general strike. "Nip it in the bud." A Tot "of nonsense" has beeii talked about

tho deportation of tho South African strike leaders being "illegal, 5, but I should liko to ask if tlio action of the lato strikers in Now Zoaland in rushing tho ships at the wharves was not a great deal more "illegal"? Also, tho "deportation" in South Africa was to preserve the peace and prevent bloodehod, whilo the object of the New Zealand, strikers was to causo a general riot, which they succeeded in ' doing. But I see that tho South African Parliamont has now passed an Act —I think it is called tho "Riotous Assemblies' Act," which,makes "deportation" legal in certain cases.

Now, it has been frequently stated by those, who ought to know, that the last ! 6triko cost this country £400,000, but wo will call it £400,000, to bo on the safe side. Of this sum the employers lost in capital, say, £200,000, and the labourers lost in wages, say, a liko amount. But the labourers have really lost a great deal more, because for every £1 lost to capital, the "wages fund" loses the same amount. Tho last strike was handled in ' a very timid manner. We have the authority of the' Chief Justice for saying that the Riot Act should havo been rend at once— (they did this, in South Africa). But our Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, says no! He savs that when once the Riot Act is read- all fire insurances "go by tho board"! But a friend of mine, who is a good business nian, says that this statement is all nonsense, and that for a small increase of premium, any fire :risk may be-protected, notwithstanding tho reading of the Riot Act; and even supposing that the firo premiums would require to bo doubled, what is' that but a drop in the ocean, compared with the cost of the last strike? After a great deal of hesitation and delay, somo half dozen of tho ring-lead-ors were arrested and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, to the great satisfaction of tho vast majority of the strikers, who wore beginning to see what an awful mess their ringleaders had got them into 1 Now, had these men been arrested and put in prison at the beginning of the disturbance, we should have had no riots. But some ono will say: "That would have been illegal." ' Well, we will grant this; and wo will grant also, that we might have been liable afterwards to grant them compensation for. false imprisonment. But if this contingency occurred, it would have been.merely another,drop in tho ocean, -in comparison with what the strike actually coet us. So, as a mero business transaction, prevention in this case would have been much less costly than cure. If We wish for peace and quietness, and,to avoid a strike in the near future, we shall have to break up a few conspiracies, and "deport" a few undesirables. We shall have to follow tho example of South Africa, and amend our industrial laws, by making provision for the deportation of undesirables. Our late High Commissioner, the Hon. W. P. Reeves, when a member of our brought in a Bill (I think' it was called'tho Undesirable Immigrants' Bill) for preventing the admission of undesirables into Isew Zealand. It was the subject of a good deal of adverse criticism at the time, but it was .really a very scnsiblo measuro; and if it is a good thing to'prevent the intro-. duction of undesirables to Now Zealand it logically follows that whenever discovered within our Dominion, they should be at once deported. This / includes all tho Red Feds, and the members of the I.W-.W., which letters I understand signify the Industrial Workere of tho World, but "1.5. W." would bo much more appropriate (Idle Strikers of. the World)., , ■ "Preference to Unionists," introduced by the late "Dick" Seddon, should bo repealed, as.it is quite out of place in a free country.:• •. .. Our laws for the preservation «.* of peace shouldr'be'.'made' more strict. The word "scab" should bo an interdicted word, as tending to provoke a broach of the peaco, when applied to labourers in an offensive sense,-either in writing [or speaking; and should be punishable ;by fine or imprisonment. Picketing 'and other methods of annoying peaceable citizens should also bo prohibited. I know it has been stated that JeßUs Christ was .a' Socialist. 'I admit this, but His leading principle was the golden rule "Love thy neighbour as thyself," while the strikers' motto is:("Do him rail tho harm you can." 1 will wind up this rather discursive letter with a littla fhyming jinglo, which will servo to keep the main points before your readers; and they must also keep in mind that O stands, for Christian and Conciliation, and S stands for Striker and ! Socialist. •

C . . . "Love thy neighbour as thyself." . - S , . . "Strip him of his worldly pelf." C . . . "Do what's right 'twist man and man." S . . . "Do him all tho harm'you can." •Finally, I think that every impartial reader will'admit that during the late insurrection of "Organised Labour" Mr. Massey acted throughout on the "C" lines, while the strikers stuck to tho "S" lines.—l am, etc., CAVE CANEM. LOCAL INDUSTRY & EFFICIENCY. Sir, —I have read with interest tho report on the proceedings of tho New Zealand Industry Conference appearing in tno columns of to-day's Dominion. In my humblo opinion tho whole question is summed up in one seutenco appearing in tho report: "The employers and the workmen both recoguiso that tho public has- a right to expect tho best." Now in regard to tho majority of Now Zealand manufactures, does tho public get it? I am not a New Zonlnndcr born, but while I continue to reside in this country I should like to endeavour to support its industries whenever possiblo. With this aim in view I havo on soveral occasions bought boots made in tho factories of Now Zealand and also made to measure, in each ease I have lived to regret it. It may bo my misfortune, but neither in quality of material nor in workmanship did they compare wtih that of the British-made article. After thoso disappointing and costly experiences (for the boots purchased wero of the highest price), 1 How prefer to buy imported boots, or order them made to measure in England, and pay freight and heavy duty rather than run the risk of wearing Now Zealand-manufactured footwear. Then again, in the matter of repairs, it is tho exception to find neatness and thoroughness in workmanship. Boots and shoos como back from the repairer very ofton with the linings cut or stripped in a shameful manner, with tho result, in consequence, o* worn-out socks a-nd soro heels. It is truo that recently I had a pair of boots quite neatly soled and hcoled, although tho inner half lining was not properly laid, but for these repairs I had to pay 11s. 6d.l

Those remarks might bo extended to practically all the manufacturing industries of this country. So long as inefficiency remains tho order of the day, and high wages and loss work the ideal and gospel of the- workers, what else can we expect? It would bo far better to honestly face the present position and acknowledge that Now Zealand must continue to rely upon the agricultural and pastoral industries and give these every support rather than attempt to bolster up. our manufactures by high tariff and other impositions which cannot succeed in producing even an artificial prosperity in tho face of the spirit which is constantly being engendered in tho minds of the workers.—l am, otc, H.A.R. April 17, 1914. AN ARBITRATIONIST TO ARBITRATIONISTS. Sir,—Last January you were good enough to publish in your valuable paper n letter from me exposing tho tactics and future intentions of the Red

Foderationists towards tho Arbitrationiat unions, and warning them (tho Aγbitrationists). to be extremely careful how they admitted any of tho old lot into their fraternity, as it had como to my knowledge that their solo object in gaining admittance to the new union was to endeavour to burst it up. Recent events which have transpired sinco you published that, letter provo conclusively that my statements .were in every caso absolutely correct. My object in referring to that letter now is to convince the new Arbitrationists that what I am going to tell them is just as truo, and that they can place absolute reliance upon what I again say. I have spoilt tho last two months in Auckland; and have whilo thoro been brought into close communication with a number of the leading Oppositionists in that city. That they have formed an alliance with the Red Feds, is certain: they have repeatedly told me so, and they have also assured mo that it is arranged that . should they get back into power through the help of tho Federationists their first act will be the repeal of the preference clause, and then the greater portion of the new men will get their dismissal. I know for a fact that a number of the personn now holding positions on tho harbour boards and city councils are pledged to that effect, and do not care ono jot how they sacrifice the men who came to the assistanco of tho country in its time of need, so long as they retain their positions and in somo cases go a step or two higher in the Tammany ring they aro endeavouring to creato. So all you new Arbitrationists who prize honour and straight dealing between employer and workman, and wish to retain your present positions in tho Harbour Board employ And other public bodies, you can take it from me that as surely as you help by your votes or influence at tho coming elections to put the Reform Government out of offico, so surely will you put yourselves out of office, and change places with the old out-of-work exstrikers,' and lose all chance of reaping tho reward which you aro justly entitled to look forward to, and which you know you aro certain of under the present Government.—l am, etc., ■ VIGILANT.

A LIQUOR TRAFFIC SCHEME. Sir, —'i'ho present system is ono scheme, and it is not satisfactory.. Prohibition is another scheme, and it is a tyranny. Here is a third scheme largely based on tho public-houso trust eysteni working in many placcß in England. I.'Divide by law, with very heavy money penalties for any infringement, tho wholesale and retail liquor trades, so that if any one has any'money invested in the, wholesale or manufacture of any alcoholic liquor he must not have a penny in the retail, and vice versa, of course.

'2. After a certain date, fixed some few years ahead, no spirit to bo sold till it has lain at least live years in bond, in wood, or under other approved conditions. Wine to be subject to a similar rule, only with shorter periods, according' to its strength. Age previous te 'importation not to count. Malted liquors to bo hold in bond-sis months alter manufacture or importation.

3. A wine manufacturer to,'be , accounted in the wholesale trado, as also overy brower and wine and tpirit merchant. -

4. Tho retail trade to be in free houses where approved by local licensing committee, but in seaports, towns over 10,000 population, and elsewhere if desired, in the hands of a company incorporated and governed by a special Act.. ' . .

5. Grant this company—we will call it tho Public-house Trust (or P.H.T.)—the right te acquiro all properties now used '•for retail trade. Valuation to bo made, at land and buildings value, and not to. includo trade value.

6. This P.H.T. to be composed of shareholders with their directors and organisation. Their dividends to bo limited at 6 per cent. All excess profits to bo given for public works —roads, bridges, cana's, libraries, parks, and so on. The shareholders having some discretionary power in voting it away. 7. Each house te bo kept by a publican who receives a salary for selling alcoholic liquor, quite irrespective of tho quantity sold, say, for example, from £4 to £8 a week, according to size of house. Tho publican also to receive full profits, if any, from 'etting bedrooms, and a very largo percentage' of profit on the sale of all sorts of refreshments other than alcoholic. But no profit whatever on thosalo of alcoholic liquor —that going in full te tho trust. 8. Each house to keep public parlour, smoking-room, and dining-room, and also, if big enough, other such, rooms for lotting to lodgers, etc. ■ 9. Each house to be not only open to police inspection, but also to a Government liquor inspector, and the P.H.T.'s own liquor and houso inspectors. This is a very sketchy outline of the scheme, and it wants a good deal of thinking out in detail. It would hit the wholesale trade badly in the matter of tied houses. It would reduce drinking to a minimum. It gives the publican the zest of a business to manage. It ensures good liquor. It encourages the publican to discourage drinking, whereas tho tied houso forces him to encourago it by all legitimate means. . The problem of raising tho capital should not bo hard if it is clearly Ecen that tho company would have the tremendous asset of very valtieablo property, which, if not wanted in future for iiiitols, could be profitably turned into shops. And it might bo well worth the Government financing the company partly, under agreement that nil sales of property not in future • needed for hotels were earmarked to liquidate such help, or that excess profits did so for a time. This is a' schemo, and , it is hero offered for discussion. At least it would securo wholesome liquor and freedom to the public—l am, etc., KIWI. THE FREEDOM OF THE SCHOOLS. Sir,—Your correspondent, Sir. Williams, has a facility, amounting almost to genius, for literary distortion. (1) I did not express disinclination to continue thecoutrovorsy. I simply excused myself from following Mr. Williams through all the mazes of a very wordv letter. Mr. Williams need not fear, tho controversy is only beginning. So far t Canon Garland and the churches havo had almost a monopoly of the field; now the other side will bo put systematically before the people. (2) I did not say that Canon Garland endorsed the "absolutely sectarian" system in Switzerland. I asked him <if he did. As usual, the Canon maintained the silenco of the Sphinx. "Religious tests,"' says tho Encyclopaedia Britannica, in its article on Switzerland, "prevail as to teachers who must declare the religion they profess, and aro required to impart tho religious instruction in the school, this being compulsory in tho children proposing tho religion that is in a majority in that particular commune —consequently a Protestant teacher would never bo appointed in a Romanist school, or vice versa."

(3) I did not say that Canon Garland committed the Anglican Church to regarding Prohibition as a religious iseue. Canon Garland affirmed that Prohibition was a religious issue, and I asked Bishop Sprott to declare tho position of the Anglican Church on this issue If tho Anglican Church proposes to "cleanso" its institutions of those who oppose the Bible-in-Schools' League, is it tho prohibitionists or antiprohibitionists in these institutions who must seek shelter elsewhere?

(4) The position in regard to the Nelson system is simply this: Tho Education Act requires tho school to bo open a minimum of twenty hours per week— say, four hours per school day. In practice the boards and committees, ivho have the power, have increased these, to five hours pe.* school day.

Under the Nelson system, the five is reduced to four and a half on one day per week, and tho half-hour so freed, is devoted to voluntary religious lessons. It is untrue to say that "our entirely secular system permits the first' lesson after the school has ass-ambled to be Riven to religious instruction. TTiis is what is done in some Dnnedin sejiools, nnd is a breach of tho law. Under the Nelson system, if the.usual opening hour of the school is 9 a.m., then on one day a week the assembling of the school is postponed 'till 9.30 a.m., end from 9 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. tho school buildings may he asod by accredited persons to give religious instruction to those children whose parents wish them to have it. Under Bte Dunedin system tbo compulsory clause of tlw Act; is used to compel both teachers and scholars to attend.

(5) The Secular Education Defence League went out of existence before the birth of the wider organisation, tho National Schools Defence League. It is true that Mr. M'Cabo's visit stimulated tho earlier movement; it had no connection with the- present one. No doubt some persons belonged to both league*. Having dealt briefly with tneso matters (just to show I am not "disinclined" far may I point out that my questions have received no official answers, unless I am to accept your correspondent as the mouthpiece when be (a) apwovoa of the breach of the feuc m Pundiin. and (b) urges that no on* wlso eannot* accept tho Christian dogma e should bo allowed to teach in the people's schools hut let mo direct the attention of Mr. \\ illiams and of others to tho main and only contention,

What does the Bibtain-Sahook League ask for? The introduction of the whole Bible into the schools to throw its fight abroad therein? God forbidt Bishop Sprott, in his address to tho Synod, July 1, 1913, said: "But if such j>t> the basis of moral obligation, then what men need is to have their consciousness of God—often so dim and vague—strengthened and deepened. And it is just this strengthening of our religion oofiseionsness that tho Bible—tie whole Bible—» is filled to effect for us." Had ihe Bishop forgotten that ho had alreadysaid: "You are, of course, swan* that wo do not propose to place- the wliolo Bible in tho public schools. We propose a book or selected passages; and I presume that tho criterion of tlifi Spirit and teaching of Christ will control the selection of all -pa-sages from the Old Testament, _ which' aro chosen lor their moral, as distinct from their historical, value"?

Is Bishop Sprott aware that tho Bible* in-Schools League proposes Wwt the selection should be irtado by the Education Department ? Is tho Chwch so hard pressed that it looks to a State Depart* ment to- provide it with a criterion of the spirit and teaching of Christ? Tie league of the seets asks—

(1) That Stato teachers shall W compelled to give general religions teaching, and that there sliould he Mo conscience clause for teachers.

(2) That the teachers i» dealing frith his class must suppress his conviction; and not allow questions that raises dogmatic issues.. Free inquiry is to be sftppressed.

(3) That tho clergy shall hate tlie right to divide tho schotoe into sects for dogmatic teacliiug, seetarianissi pure and simple. (4) That those who do not desire this religious schism in tho schools shall contribute towards ihb cast of it.

. (5) That tho two distinct issues shall bo put to the pfiople as one issue to which a "Yes" or a "Nβ" must be given. One of the Buiioditi executive candidly explained tho reason for.this: somo supporters tidliovo in the genera! religious instruction by the teachers, others.in the seetjvrwn teaching by the clergy; each thinks little of the other plank, licnco the two Must be hold together by the fietion of "trust tile people" in order that a gross inj&stico may bo done.—l am. otc..= THOS. H. ■ HUNTER. Wellington, April .16, 1914;, MR. MILLICAN AND THE HADFIELD. -HOSTEL, Sir,—l do not think it was quite- fair of Mr. Milligan to assert dcnuiteily, and without qualification, that I ivas iiot entitled to live at tlie Badfield Hoebel, nor do I hold it to his credit, that, whe-ji called upon to make- his assertion good, he should 'niorely say that ho stili holds to his assertion that the Chnfch. never intended to support an institution for such as hold my opinions. Mr. Milligan's first statement was a public accusation that I Was living where 1 had no right to live, white his second statement is hot an accusation at all. It .is virtually a withdrawal, but Mr. Milligan calls it holding to his previous assertion, and thus escapes too necessity of apologising. HoWevet , , this is only a personal matter. Lot us get on to Mr. Milligan's public exposure of tfe Hadfield Hostel.

For two days the Swotd of Daroocieß had trembled otfer this institution; At last tho blow fell. Mr. MUligSn had begun exposing. Is seome th-sj "some months ago seven or eight shots'' yeio fired from a pea-rifle at a target; withfa the Hostel p;rouii3s. Mr. Milligaii has us there. Wo have shot at targats on and not onoo, kit several times. Also, we have waved flags from tho , roofs of tho Hostel, and (awful revelation!) "during ehttrch hours." Wβ were practising semaphore signalling. which is, I understand, far more sinful than tho "quiet Sunday Walk," so universally recommended by swell as Mr. Milligan. Yet We do not eseaps so t>as* ilv from tbo wrath of Mr. Million. "But,", says Mr, Milligan, dramatically, "worse is to follow," and iff. Stillican tolls how he onee saw some students on the roof of ih<* Hadfield Hostel behaving riotously, and waving to somo ladies in the street below, Ido lint endorso this conduct, aftd I eannotcall it a gentlemanly proceeding. Tho best I con- say i-s, "Plftaso, Mr. MitlU gan, it wasn't pie"; but I think that vour readers will agree ffitli me that tho suni total of iniquities set out by Mr. Milligan does not warrant his assumption that th<i Hadfie'td Hostel should bo "cleansed.," that it is a byword vin tho and a discredit to the Anglican Chufch. I can assure Mr. Miltigan that for many months past there has- been, to my knowledge, no Sunday target-s-Jioeting at tlio Hndfield Hostel, no semaphore practice, and no waving to ladies in the street. Wo have reformed.

Mr. Milliean is well within his rights as a loyal churchman wfieli lie sots out to cleanse a Church institution, Jt was this same eleansiftg process on my part that first drew tho wrath of Mr, Miljicnn upon mo; but if Mr. MiJHgajr desires to cleanse, tho Chtrrah, in tho namo of Gilbertian comedy, let him be* Kin with something more vital than the waving of flags on Sunday. Lot him seek to stamp out of his Ohuroh that pervading spirit of intolerance winch demands that a State school teacher shall bo compelled, irrespective of his own convictions, to superintend tho reading of tho Bihio to tho children in his class, that he shall teach as trtto (at least by implication) what ho may believe, to be unlnto, that ho shall be compelled to leni the sanction of his flilenco to doctrines lie may held in utter contempt.—l am, otc.,' G. M. CLEGHORN. Hadfiold Hostel, Kelbvirne. Sir,—l sliould Kko to inform Sir. Milligan that the only qualification required by the Anglican Ctiufck of students entering tho Hiulfield Sostol is membership of tho University of Now Sealaud. Tho rulos e.f tho establishment refer to little, elao thiui optional meals and compulsory prayers. There is no religious tost, no oath of fealtj" tft tho. Ohurch, and a. student can .hardly be expected to keep rules in this respect ,that have never bep.n suggested by tho authorities. Mr. Milligan has attempted

to convey the impression that by opposing a. fractional part of tho public policy of the- Auglicfta Church, Cloghorn and I have violated faith in tlw meanest matthot. He fnrtliei; quotes with vast ■ approval his own.ease as ft paJagon of obedience to tho Church dictates on the etibjeet of Bibie in scti.eois, and says in effect that we should do likewise; and 1 refuse. For, sir, I contend; that _ tbie principle ©f obedience in spiritual matters is jttst about the inost ttiwoiind item of all tho Milligailie propaganda. He adniits —My, fiponly ayows—'Umt on Iho Bible-iii-schools question ho doesn't think for himself; he delegates that otienMS activity to the Church. It is not his conscience that prompts him, ■ but loyalty to an "institution." Very good. ' He thmigoes on to say that ha is a Prohibitionist). And ho enn extittse this apparent heresy to tho Cliureh only hy hinting that the Anglican Church w in favour of Prohibition. Leaving aside the ftctual attitude of his Church for a moment, ar<i we to assume that if the Church oponiv declared against, Prohibitioiii Mr. Miltigiin would as a loyal ohurehman violate liis oonfioieftee in favour <-'f tho ecclesiastical platform? I do not think his conscience is thus elastic on Prohibition j nor is mine on Bibb, in schools. And I wouH'to just as muols justified in demanding that ire leave the Chiirch oft account of his littleechism as lie is in aelting me to leave the Hostel on account of mine.

Mr. Millfgan deceives himself, if ho imagines that th<> Angliesti Church is in favour of Prohibition! lot him ask 9,11 the clergy he. knows. I have done bo, and found; them unanimous in doolajsning the immoraKtv of National Prohibitioh. In Mr. Miligan's eyes the oonsenstis of these gentlemen on Bible, in ushoota i» little- short of a Bivino mandate. Let him adopt a similar attitudo to their opinions on Prohibition end see whore be lands. ■

The Church Still openly avows the doctrine of religious subjection, bub the tiaio is coming when, such a doetriho Witt be hoard- iio more. The Church of the- future is the university. Her creed is truth. Rational conviction t&kca the pise? of faith. Bus <§ry shall bo logical consistency, not loyalty to an ittetitu* ton. A man shell tend his ceftsojeneo himself, net job it out to the "leaders of the 'Church," and appeals to tire feeling of "eorporateness" and "loyalty" in matters of conseienco shall be scrapped for ever, along' with their prototypes, the tlmmbse-rew and tho rack. They are all methods of producing a soulless tmiforniity—- that majority conscience tre lieai , bo ranch of—*whieh do not forget persecuted Gallileo and burned Bruno, and would BOW give us Biblo in schools. But a short tiroo ago heresy was a capital offence; to-day it merely entails 'the contempt of the eOn-ventioiially-iirclined, Some 'twere- optimistic to hope soon—freedom of conscience will be under tho creed of truth' as much the birthright of every ftian as under tho dogma of the. Church original sin h no*.—l am, etc., LEONAJU) P. LBABY, Hadfiold Hostel.

P.S.-~The ptiMie has recently had the luxury of being sliocked. Mr. MiUfein has laid bare- tho.iniquities of Sunday shooting, signalling, and glad eye. The moral offence, however, is not as great now as it once wae» for •even the Church endorses such Sunday sports ,as tho afternoon Walk and semi-Sae-red concerts. We aro all aware, tuoreov-cr, tuat the pjonets-lity of the-commandment requiring hwnan st&giiatiou one day a week has been considerably curtailed by the special excejjtimt that, has been made in favour of tho Sunday trams of the Kelburne Cat Cbmptiny.'-L.P.L. April 18, 1914. . : , ...

THE STAR IN. THE EAST. Sir,—Will you/kindly o-lfow n\e space in which tq"a.).iswer'' : tlib : ' ! st'(!temcistß made in ro the ' above' 'Order and its leaders, by Mr.' Sobday in this morinitg's issuti- of tho Dontjaos P

1. Neither Mrs. Bosant not h'er eo- ■ worker,'Mf. Leadbeft'ter, have arty power to'"decide *hp this expected Teafther is"; that 13 decided hy a much higher power than theirs, and thoy pass on tho information given them to their pledged pupils, who havo metruotiona according to their position in the Inner School, to again pass on a certain amount to the general public. Th'o great Teacher is net KrishnamuTtij but ttjo lard of all the religions <>f tho world, the Christ. Krishttaniurti is a Brahmin tonth, and he and his brother aro still under Mrs., Bcsftnt-'s protection, becauso they are now of an age when they may cnooso for themselves, and they fiavo absolutely refused, after taking the best legal adviee in London, t<j return to theii* father, Narayaniah (whom I know 'o&r----son«%, as also I know tho hoys). The father, who ili-treated them, lied ftbout KrishnaiMrti, and broKo Jaig written and witnessed promiaes to Mrs. Besant, at tho instigation, of her enemies, tho anti-British 'Party of North India, hoping thereby to destroy her influence in India. All this however has proved a complete failure. NarayaoiaJi did Mot "recover his" sons from this pro'teetidn" nor -can ho ever do so* evfrn snould Mrs. Besant's -Gncmifis succeed in getting her imprisoned for contenipt of Court. With regard to Mr. Hobday's quotations from the literature of the E.S.> which ho interprets as meaning the Socioty," I ask him what value he would pla.eo upon the evidence of a man, say a Freemason, -who after pledging himself mast solemnly and rising to t-ho higher degree?, of Freemasonry, gave away to the public the most sacred and secret of tho ritual and ceremonial of bis degree, wrenched from their contest and setting, knowing that the public couM not possibly understand it in ils mutilated condition, aim so forcing the hftiid of tho officer in charfta of the kdfje to tonka what defence he coitld, knowing t§o that t-bis officer was also pledged tiot to re' veal the inner teaching to the outsider? Yet that is what has been dono in these quotations from the "Link," and I am surprised at the number ef people- willing to take advantage of what must bo to every- right-thinking ean the act of a renegade.

Mrs. Besanfc 3-aj'3 many things to us that non-members cofljd not tfn-dfir-stand, and evidently thie which is qwot* ed by Mr. Hobday is one of them; not knowing tho code, no dQ'ubt- it soe-aia absurd, To us who do know it, it is fall of meaning and beauty, Certainly thft Lofd Jesus and the Lord Christ aro different individuals, but when the Christ took over the body of Jesus at the baptism in Jofdart the person standing tilers was Jesus Christ— tho body of Jesus, tho spirit or consciousness was Christ, Surely Mr, Hof>day knows that his nflfire, Hobday; and mine, Christ-id, aro tho names of oaf bodies, not of our souls; tbo soul is the' consciousness, the body its garment of flcjih.

There iii nothing uwisual in tho taking over of tho body of a disciple by a Master, and the beatttiful non-phy-sical colours aud tnongfit-forme described in tho "Litik" aro -seen by many of us_ on such occasions, nutt on many Jess important ones, varying of course in grandeur svnd in tho colours and forms appearing. Y«s, the ijord Maitreya is the Buddhist name fot Christ.

It is truo that I did not mention in my lectures that "the tJieo*ophists- of Germany, Stvoilen aid itianj in Endand and elsewhoro havo mitirol.y ropudlated all connection with the 'Ordor of the •Star in tlio East,' beoaaso that is not truo. Dr. Rudolph. Steitwr, who is a very clwor man anil a psychio, somo years ago advanced several theories about the life <if tho Lord .Testis and other matters, wlii-ch lio had toimulated fnem liis own oooult investigations, and these being cntirel.v different from these arrivetl at by hie superior officer, Mrs, Annie Bftsant, she, nlWod him to forni an occult school of Iris own, as she ivittiM not interfere with thft pcrsoiul .bclirfs of any nie-mbo? of tho 'Thcosophical Society, though sle decliaed t<> he'

mads rosjxrafliblo for t.Uem. so naiurnlTy hie pupils ajid here grow further nnd further apart on tlieso lines. J)t< Sk'iucr was slsß bead of the German eiiotion of tho Tbeosophieal Society, and the ojie oompukory rale of that society i-s that no ono. shall be doniod membership for a matter of religiow or other belief: mcinbops may believe anything so longOS they acb (vs decent, sdf-res.peeiing citisKtfis, So when at tho ooinmirnd of hei Teacher, Mrs. Besant aniigiuwed the coftiiug of the World TeUcher, founded tho Order of the Star in the East, to prepare tho world for Bis coming, told ueof tho wonderful work Krisbimitiu.rti was to do, and Dr. -iSteiiier, instead of allowing tho members of tho German sscti&n to eheoso for tl : istn.solv6s, de*clared that all who joined tho Ordor would be from that section, he violated tho constitution of thfe The/ssophkal Seciety, and its president, j'lre. Annio Besant, deprived nim of his charter. Only a portion of tho fie'rman s.ection followed him, and a few from other countries, whits bero and there in alineet all theosophical sections ho_ has a few omissarica who, while norainftllj' under Mrs. Besftflt, sow distfuat of _ her, and. work for him, We ha-ve still a Rood loyal German section, and ' though I>i\ Steifler took with him a largo number, our member &hip has so rapidly increased- during 1918, and through tno publicity .given by thd court cases in SJadras, that wo have almost made dp the loss occasioned by tho Steinor. aecessioiu

The fact is this, all iflitiates know each other, so as |)r. Steiner docs not know Krishnamurti, cither Br. ■Steiner, or Sire. BeSaiit is maliinp a tremendous mistake, and each individual ■must chq.ose for himself according to what he knoiva by individual study and oxperijnent-j and personal knowled-go of ■the tsvo loaders, A jneinbor of the Thefl■Bopbica.l Sooiety need not be a, member of tho Order, ajid there a*e nutobers of "Star" members who aro not members of tho Theasophical Soeietj s . Yes, lam a striver after truth, and I have seen and experienced in othc-r wftys quito cnoagb, not only iii Adyar, but in New Zealand, to know that what is quoted from'"The Link," hy the aid of a traitor, is quite possible* I have becii present When, a great teachbf spoke through tho body of a disciple, s& I know. When Mrs. Besaivfc spoke of a .posBible fall she did not Incaft a sin, but an error of judgment, such as in the eyes of tho world gives »n opportunity to crnolly criticise, unjustly ceftdemii, and make, if possible,' of ntfn-effcct ali the beauty .and nobility <jf the previous life of tb.o teacher malting such a'adstttko. He or eho falls iu the aps of the world, in reputation, not in enafae-

In conclusion, I nsk Mr. Holiday, to remoinber that all these personal attacks made upon ottr leaders are but Side-issues-, to teal issue is that tho Master—tho Lord—is coming agftin in tho flesh, and some ef us are doing our best, .in all hoaesty, to prepare the world for His coming, so |hftt in its ignorance and bigotry it will not kill tho body He uses in three years, as it did two thousand years ago. £"<ss, I, too, believe that the. Lord Maitre.ya and the Lord Christ are tho same. The name is a matter of language, and I believe that Krishnamurti will leave his body and tad it to tho Christ, and then it- will not bo. Krishtiainufti who speaks-, but tho Gfeat Teacher, and though no one is asked to believe this upon joining tho Order, it ought'to be made quit* clear that many members do ijelievo it. Kindly remember, too> thai my lectures take froth three-quarters of. ail hour to an hour in deliver}'; the reports, dene !y someone else, have to bo condensed, fts a- rule, iwto: a. tWO' or tfirep-inch B.pacfc, so can no gdequftfo! jdba 'of-the' leijfee." ;. -'■ •'• If Mr. tfob'dny will edmo'to th& nkt Star in tho East meeting, or to my lio quest-ion meeting, to bo held on Wednesday, April 22, in the' Thcosophieal Booms, in BaThmee Street I will do my best 'to , answer any q\icstw>ns ho may ask.—-I ami cte., CATfiBUINE W. OHBISTIE, Travelling Organiser for the Order of the Star in the East. ' THE ORDER Of THE STAR IN THE EAST.

Sir,—lβ jttur issue of April 13 i-hero is a letter signed "fieot.," )ii which the writer says Ift does not quite uii.dorstaud. matters, I. proceed to esplafn, Tho real in-ncr object of tte Order h to worship an Indian bo» whom they call "Aiajpae." ihoy bmieve he is 50 "holy" that aithougii in otto egu-so he- is not "diyino" yet- they do "poejah" , to him. I'hoy believe "Christ" will soon "use" his body, fheir theory about "Jeans" is ihit when "Christ" had deno mth-liis body ho f'Christ") west away,, while "Jesus" went to Syria and lives 'there still., -and can ho soon, and still takes food. I think 50(1 will fed that no member of tho Order *ifl dtmy in you? cohrmns that they 'do "poojah". to Ak-johe. they know I am acquainted svffih tlieif books-, and they know that Ur, J. L, Kelly- (late editor of tho "New Zealand Times") loft the ■Ureter, when, ho was satisfied that "poojah" was don.e. Tl-iero aro more "Essters" in New -.Zealand than in any other country in proportion to the population. I hope "Soot" finds my explanation lucid, Whether he considers it blasphemous nonsense- is ahotlier matter. Anyhow, it is absolutely true.—l am, etc., : WAIWMA. Iketabuna, April 15, 1914.