LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2131, 24 April 1914, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

MR. JONES AND THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Sir,—ln reply to your correspondent Howard 1. Jones, may I point out that it did seem .strango to mo—and dtill does: (1) That a league that has styled it> self the Bible-in-Schools League, and has thereby obtained considerable support, is not advocating tho introduction of the Biblo into tho schools. (2) That Bishop Sprott, who holds that it is the Bible—the whole Bible— that is fitted to effect the strengthening of that consciousness of God that lies at the basis of moral obligation, is also not advocating the introduction of the whole Bible into the schools.' / Apparently, Mr. Jones thinks that under the present system he and others suffer a similar hardship to that which would follow if tho' proposals of the-Bible-in-Schools League were adopted, viz., that tbey must contribute - towards the cost of teaching some doctrines to which they conscientiously object. What is' the teaching in the public schools to which Mr. Jones conscientiously objects: Arithmetic, writing, history, or what? If a majority proposed to have Mass celebrated in the public schools, would Mr. Jones consider it fair that Protestants should be compelled to contributo to the cost of such teaching? If I- may do so without offenqe, may I suggest to Mr. Jones, who speaks much concerning logic, that personal abuse is not argument?—l am, etc., THOS. A. HUNTER. Wellington, April 22, T914.' •

THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS DEFENCE LEAGUE: A CRITICISM. Sir,—Rather moro than a week ago the National Schools' Defence League, presided, over by Mr. John Caughley, met in conference, reappointed an executive, and passed unanimously a remarkable report. This report is of publio interest, as it 6ets forth the two planks in thoplatform of this somewhat unique institution. By your editorial courtesy I would call attention to the platform of this league, and submit it to some mild criticism: 1. Tho first plank in. this league's platform means distinct and determined i opposition to the Bible in the syllabus, of tho schools of the democracy. Here is what the executive's report says: "Every National Schools Defence League in the Dominion is irreconcilably opposed to making ■ Biblereading or religious instruction part and. parcel of tho Stato schools curriculum." Here the sword of opposition to the Bible in schools is drawn, and no quarter is to be given; The Biblo shall have no recognised place in the. schools of the common people. Messrs. Mackenzie and Caughley are probably aware that, the Bible is read in the high schools of New Zealand, and they avow no antagonism to it there! They only advocate, the bann on tho Bible in the schools of ;the mass of the people of the land. These .gentlemen are aware that the Bible-is read by. the children in the Council schools in England, in the Board schools of Scotland, and in the common schools of most of the Australian States, but they are cilably opposed" to the children in the National schools of New Zealand reading Bible lessons. These gentlemen are aware that when our King, was crowned lie accepted the Biblo as the most valuable thing that the world affords, and Jiot long-ago His Majesty declared it to be the first of .our '/national treasures," but the oxecutivo of-this league tire I determined that this "national treasure" shall not be,;given-.-,to. our. children in our- National;: schdolsi r.The fundamental principle, then,, of- this. . association, that calls, itself the Na- . tional. Schools, Defence League is irreconcilably to the use of the. BiMo in our common schools. ■; 2.-TJio second plonk in the platform of this league is as follows: — "No opposition to the Government's granting the use of. schoolrooms, _ before or after the hours ordinarily allocated, to the secular,' syllabus 'to accredited representatives of the various religious denominations (working jointly or severally) so long as no denomination is denied equal facilities." The first plank thus means deteropposition to the entrance of the Bible-in-scb'ool hours, but in the second plank no opposition is offered to the right of tho parson tocnter the school after school hours. This league thus stands for shutting out. the Bible from the syllabus, and opening tho door for the parson after school -hours. It is prepared to fight against the exclusion of the Bible, -but it .'does not seem prepared to fight for tho entrance of the parson. It simply says it will offer no opposition to the "Government granting tho use of the schools, but it does not say it will fight for the "right' of entry" that it favours. The .real objective of the league is the boycott of the Bible, and anything more than this is simply opinion without action. Mr. John -Caughley presided at the meeting when this anti-Bible-in-schools' report was unanimously adopted.. It will be-remembered'that in September last this gentloman was ; announced to unfold in Dunedin a rival scheme of religious instruction in schools to-that of the Bible-in-Schools League, and at his meeting ho absolutely and completely ignored this pledge. After he had' time and again been reminded of this serious breach of faith with the Dunedin public, in November last he set forth his rival schemo. Tho scheme abovo which'the anti-Bible-in-Schools League will not oppose is part of the inadequate scheme Mr. Caughley sot forth in November His scheme was inadequate then, but it has been made more inadequate now' for this Anti-Bible Executive has cut out of it tho time provision ho made for voluntary religious teaching. In November last Mr. Caughley declared as follows: —"Tho ordinary school day to fie shortened to give reasonable timo" for religious instruction "without lengthening the child's. school day." In the mangled version of Mr. Caughley's schome abovo no favour is shown to a time concession. - This association calls itself tho National Schools Defence League. It favours a "right of entry" of a.kind, but it is.opposed to the Bible in the svllabus. _ The league is thus simplv "at, war with the entrance of the Bible. No association could -bo-worse misnamed than this association, as the following remarks will show:— (a) A society that exists to perpetuate the _ boycott of the Bible in our schools is a society that is seeking to dostrov our schools. The. Bible-in-schools' movement .means the- stronathcninsr and preservation of our public schools, svstem. In evprv place where such a concession is civen, and equal rights oxtendct! to religious' denominations, tbp; demand for d"nnminntionnl schools has no ,forcel Accent tho programme nf this Art.i-R'bln Lnnrrue. nnd the door is open for Hm natinnnl din. content with the sectarian secularism of our schools tnkine the form of a dfimnn/l for denominationalism. (h) This society, by" its erusndn aeainst the Bible, is robbing our schools of their national, character. A school svstem ' with th" greatest English olokri'c, the B'Wn. banned is autinnlioiuil and nnti-British. (o) Tim rip-lit of entry which is not opnnsed by this l°ngue involves no time concession, and this places the voluntary relicioiiß lessons on a level with a programme of nunishment detention. (&) The "rieht of entry," which is ' not opnoscd by this league, is a right of entry that might be given in a country where the mad creed of dogmatic atheism had been announced by

tho Government. The Right Rev. Bishop Clcary caustically criticised such a proposal as that of this league some years ago as follows:— '.'Christians might conceivably have been permitted to do as much in Notre Damo, Paris, at tho close of tho revolutionists' worship of tho Goddess of Reason: During school hours our law has put God * out of calculation. . , . It compels the earnest Christian teacher to check his best thoughts and muzzle hi 3 tongue, and play a part. . . ."/ Extras are provided for by the. system. God is not. ... If Ho is brought into the working of tho system, He is brought in surreptitiously, and as a stowaway; and all teaching regarding % His law is as contraband as pipe opium." (o) Tho "right of entry," • which is not opposed by this league, is one that opens' tho door to Berious misunderstandings. The door is open to proselytism. In tho Bi'ble-in-Stato Schools Leaguo platform the "right;of entry" is limited to ministci., to teach the children of their own denominations, and this right can only be extended by tho mutual consent of ■other ministers and the parents of the children, but in the proposal of this league there is no such limitation. The pro-posals-of. this league are thus utterly antagonistic to a truly national scheme of education.—l am, etc., ROBT. WOOD. Dunedin, .April 21, 1914.

A FARMER'S OPINION.

Sir.—As- a follower of tho late Mi. Seduon tor fifteen years, 1 wisn to say tnat since tho recent strike 1, together with hundreds of ocher "bedcionites" in the country districts, will in future ally' .ourselves .witn the present Uovernment, who took such a proper and dignified stand during that period of 'industrial unrest. I note by your sub-leauer oi this morning that tho member for Hutt, whom I have always liked and respected, has advertised (as a bait, no doubt, for the Red Fed. support), "No specials are required." In a country district this slurring and undignified remark would ensure his defeat at any poll, but ho thinks that by so doing he will, in a working community such as Petono and 'Hutt, gain a big margin of the votes. ' People who ride ■ a high horse often fall, and let him beware else ho rides'for a fall. If he is unable to get a good meeting without advertising "No specials required," he is evidently relying on tho Red Fed. brigade: to put him in. The fact is that the Ward-Isitt-Russell-Vigor BrownWebb combination are at their wit's end to devise means to- get into power, and their satellites have no doubt been instructed likewise. The members for Hutt and Awama are not going to have the walk-over they imagine in spite of the Red Feds. The Leader of the Opposition may bluster arid go on like* an aggrieved schoolboy, but the solid New Zealand elector can see through him and his wiles. What a contrast between him and the Primo Minister, the one a. worthy Baronet, the other only a small farmer, but a real gentln man. : I know the country well, and have seen Sir Joseph Ward's remarks as to how he is getting all the. farmers on his side. He must bo easily gulled, for I will guarantee he and bis following will find themselves in a bigger minority than they are at the present time. Apologising for such a lengthy space in your valuable paper,—l am, etc., A 10-YEARS' SEDDONITE. Palmerston North, April 20, 1914.

THE STAR IN THE EAST,

Sir,—As the Order of the Star in tho East is, by its rapid growth, attracting tho attention of those interested in religious matters,- gentlemen like. ''Scot'' and the Rev. Mr. Hobday, who are genuinely desirous 'to know tho truth about it, is also to he expected that writers such as the anonymous "Wairima" should also arise, and I now- toll "Wairima" that tho only correct statement in his. letter is that a certain man left the Order; that is that man's business, not ours. "Wairima" cannot "explain matters" to "Scot," for he has not the necessary knowledge. He does not even know Krishnamurti'e journalistic and home name ("Alcyone"), used as a household word and name by thousands of people who love him. No 'member' of. the Order has ever done puja to Alcyone, though we all respect and love him, especially those who. like myself, know him personally; and if "Wairima" is "acquainted with our books," 1 am sorry to note that as yet ho has been unable to assimilate -their spirit of gentleness, tolerance, and reverence for the religion and religious belief of others. His letter is not'what he claims for 'absolutely true"—but is incorrect I from start to finish. Why need "Wairima" trouble himself about us. Wo are not interfering with him or asking him to join our Order, though if ever he understands it, and wishes, to do so,, ho will ho welcomed as a co-worker and a brother.—l am, etc., CATHERINE W. CHRISTIE, Travelling Organiser for tho Order of the Star in the East;

\A PROTEST.

Sir,—l notice that in your issue of April 20 you give a full report of. a raid on a Chinese house in Haiuing Street. In this, report you state in tho clearest language that gambling was going on in the house, and there is no other inference to'be takon from your report than that all the accused are guilty. Further, you comment on the raid and .say that "it has long been suspected that pak-a-poo was spreading out like an octopus over all the white population in the quarter, but yesterday morning's raid clearly shows that the game has grown to a great size, controlled by an organisation, probably reaching out from China." Guilty or not guilty, surely tho Chinese are entitled to the same protection, as is given to all Britishers, and should not bo deemed guilty of any crime until the same has been proved. I think it most unfair that you should publish such a report, particularly in view,of tho fact that the information therein was supplied to you by the police,' who are the prosecutors in all these cases. I also think it most improiper, if not savouring of contempt of Court, for any comments or statements to be made concerning a case which is sub judice. I can only, enter, an emphatic protest against the' position in which my clients havo been placed by your report.—l am, etc., J. F. W.- DICKSON. [The remarks complained of by Mr. ■ Dickson clearly referred to the largo, quantity—a ton—of unused pak-a-poo tickets found on the premises.]

NEW ZEALAND IRON SAND AND ORES. • Sir, —Having received from two firms in New Zealand requests for razors made, from Taranaki ironsand, I presume that interest is being aroused in this matter again in the colony. I have never had the pleasure of visiting these wonder deposits, particularly wonderful to anyone who, like myself, claims to know something of iron and steel values and the possibilities regarding such an undertaking as this and the hematite deposits really are, but seeing that I was the first to undertake the actual making up and manufacture of this material on a commercial scale and thereby to prove dcfinitoly the value of same, I may bo allowed to lav before voni- renders a few facts concerning this businoss.

When the late Sir Alfred J. Cadman, C.M.G., came to this country along with the late Mr. E. M. Smith, I had letters of introduction to them, aiid by appointment met them in London, and there saw tho exhibit which

tlicy had at that time at tho offices of tho Agent-General, and was immediately hugely interested and quite satisfied as to tho vast possibilities of this business. They had already bad a number of callers, most of whom had first of all asked for assurances regarding their own remuneration, bosido asking, for a liberal allowance, amounting in one easo to £400 for oxpenses likely to bo involved in tlio making up of these materials. This they wcTe not prepared to spend to start with, seeing that neither they nor their would-be helper know what could be dono to start with with the materials they bad. It is too long a story to tell in detail, but 1 may say that Mr. E. M. Smith came to Sheffield so as to be satisfied about the working dono, and within a fortnight had finished material, tool steel, files, etc., to take back with him to London to show. This tool steel was tested in tho Government workshops, and gave extremely satisfactory results at the Petono workshops, wnich beat most of the brands of ordinary tool steel working on the lathes there, and wo received a certificate to this effect from the then Minister, the Hon. James M'Goweri, speaking very well of tho results. Believing in the possibilities and sure success of this great undertaking, I agreed to do the necessary expert work in connection with all this" for baro out-of-pocket expenses, and on account of local influence was able to have certain plant set at my., disposal, the firms charging, not £100 as they had in similar cases before our trial, but merely allowances to the men and to the works manager, amounting in all to not more than £5. Expecting that it was only a matter of a very few months that the whole business would bo put through •from the information I received . from this gentleman, which without question was given to me in good faith, I did not trouble to have any stamped agreement or anything of the kind, only two assurances that 1 should not lose anything for the splendid work I had,done furthering tho interests of tho Now Zealand iron business. When Sir Alfred Cadman left London finally ho kindly invited me to the banquet given at the Westminster Palace Hotel in great style by the gentlemen who were supposed to be taking over this business, and who in a few months were expected, to put forward for London's acceptance a great, and comprehensive scheme for tho successful inauguration and development of tho New Zealand iron and steel industry, at which I had the honour of speaking to the toast of "The New Zealand Iron Industry," and everything looked_ very.rosy; but I regret from that time onwards disaster and trouble has seemed to dog the footsteps of this New Zealand business. Disagreement between tho parties concerned eventually ended in the properties being withdrawn from the small syndicate which I unfortunately had kept in funds largely from my own family and immediate circle of friends, and the next matter of interest was tho arrival in Loudon of Mr. J. H. Witheford, to whom the thanks of New Zealand are certainly duo for the very great efforts that he has made against fearful odds to place this company in a satisfactory form, which, had he had the slightest consideration from tho New Zealand end, ho would have done long ago, and probably half a million sterling in profits would have been earned long ago.

He, like everyone else, lias been fearfully handicapped in all his negotiations by the unsympathetic attitude taken up in New Zealand, and whether the people of New Zealand know or not, I can tell them that it is the fact that nearly three years ago Mr. Witherford. after great effort and careful negotiation had smxeeded in securing the- co-operation of all people whoso names would have been guarantee enough for the complete success of this great undertaking, when the' men at-the New Zealand end were not content to let it go through on the prearranged basis, nor would their representative in London sign tip when everything had been successfully arranged. Of course people say here that after my unfortunate experience I was a. fool to over waste my time with colonists, who, having got tho best services one could give without paying for, forget those services when a measure of success is secured. The only regret that I have, sir, is that' the people who found the money for the pioneer work in this matter have been left high and dry without a- shilling return for all the money, that has been expended, and tho only satisfaction. that it seems likely that I shall have will bo to know that when nearly everyone in the commercial world condemned the New Zealand iron, business a3_ an unpractical and unpracticable business, I worked on without fee or reward, feeling sure that the possibilities of this , great scheme would [ eventually be recognised, and some day I perhaps, ex - en if in the dim and distant future, tho prosperity of New l Zealand would depend not on tho 'quality of her sheep, butter, and wool, or oven her gold, but as in England on tho development and wealth of her own resources, iron, coal, and steel. Nowhere.in the Southern Hemisphere had such ideal conditions obtained as in your colony, and as in my first report, given a good many years ago, I mentioned this particularly, let me repeat that "undoubtedly a very great and successful future awaits those who have the courage, wisdom, and foresight to develop these natural resources of unlimited wealth." —I am, etc., C. H. WHITHAM. Sheffield, March 1, 1914.