CORRESPONDENCE ANGLICAN SYNOD AND THE REFERENDUM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1914, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE ANGLICAN SYNOD AND THE REFERENDUM

10 IHS EDITOR. Sii^ — The result of the voting at the Anglican Synod on the Beligious Instruction in Schools Befertndum Bill was a foregone conclusion, and one can but admire tbe moral courage of the Key. Hobday and Rev. Bates in expressing their opinions bo fearlessly in the face ,of> overwhelming odds. But there is one aspect of tho attitude of the Synod that should not bo lost sight of. The time-worn gag "Trust the people" comes with excellent grace for the synod of a Church that, while it depends fot nineteen-twen-tiefchs of that measure of success hitherto attained by it in, this land on the women members of its faith, has so far refused to these sanie women the light to vote at its parish meetings, or a seat \ on its vestries. One may be pardoned for regarding with some suspicion this new-born and burning desire to "trust the people" — one may be pardoned for doubting the bona fides of the leaders of the Anglican Church in their zeal for a referendum when one passes in review ' the following discrepancies in their words ' and works that seem quite providentially apropos of the present Bible in Schools ' controversy : — ' First*. The consistency of ( the Right Reverend Dr. Sprott, who quite recently, at a meeting held in the Kent-terrace Presbyterian Church, proposed a vote of sympathy with the Ulster Carsonites— a politico-religious minority fearing and struggling against political government at the hands of a, politico-religious majority • and who now urges with all the , eloquence at his command 'a referendum , in New Zealand on a religious issue, because Canon Garland alleges that 74 per cent, of the people are ip favour of it. Secondly : The consistency of a synod '. which is asked to express its disappro- • bation of the diversion of religious endowments to Socular purposes — conse- ', quent on the disestablishment of the Welsh Church (vide a notice of motion set down for this synod) ; but which approves of the diversion — in New Zealand with no State church — of State taxes to support sectarian religious teaching in the State schools. < Thirdly : The wide divergence between the word of the Church which disavows any desire to drag the Bible in Schools question into the political arena, and the act of the Church which — conjointly with other Churches — appoints an organising secretary, a, gentleman who, despite his cloth, is a. skilled lobbyist, who used every device known to political agents to carry his cause successfully through the Queensland Legislature, and who has, step by step, m New Zealand pursued the same tactics he adopted' in Queensland. No desire for politics — forsooth ! Fourthly . The consistency and high regard for their calling of a majority of the Anglican clergy who endorse the Bible-in-Scnools League on the ground that it is engaged on a moral and religious issue and who turn down the Nolicense League in New Zealand because it is, so they say, engaged on a political issue. Lastly : The strong moral and spiritual fibre of the laity of the Anglican Church, who are willing (some of them) to spend hundreds of pounds on an agitation to destroy one of the justest, m6sfc logical, most scientific, and most Christian systems of education existent, but who are' also willing to starve their clergy — especially those in the country distnets (vide the Bishop's remarks this session) — and willing to drive their clergy to devious ways 'of raising money, as, for example, the receilfc appeal of an 'upcountry vicar' in the Wellington Diocese for the "favourite quotations of eminent persons in New Zealand for publication lr book form, such quotations tt> be accompanied by the sum of one shilling towards the building of," a ; church in his •parish." < \ _ ' Such resolutions and such actions by a Church that stands self-condemned of its failure to feeVl the lambs of its flock,* should be well pondered by the people for whom this Church, by its own admission, has so far done so N little, and to wnom this Church is now prepared to trust so much. — 1 am, etc., ANGLICAN LAYMAN. 9th July, 1914. , THE FISH MARKET 70 IHI EDITOR. Sir, — In my article on the above subject, published in to-night's Post, I am made to say, "The trawling areas of the ocean floor resemble, the hilly areas on the shore." This is' a' mistake, because what I did' say — or what I intended to say — was that the trawling areas of the ocean floor, resemble the agricultural areas on the shore, i,e., great smooth surfaces. In another paragraph the noun "people" has replaced "City Council." What I said was that "they required a. ' policy. ' The fish market iis the pioneer of tne great markets of the future, and the sooner the 1 Markets Committee realises its responsibility to the people the better it will be for posterity. The first best thing is to ' wake • up.'" It may sound strange, but it is true nevertheless, when, I say that despite my four months' management of the fish markets, I have only met one of the ' Markets Committee, Mr. Fletcher. ' I have never met that /great exponent of municipal marketing, Mr. 'E. Tregear, for whose energies there is a splendid field if ho will only come out of oblivion and render that service he so'undoubtedly owes to both the -Labour Party and the people. Mr. Fletcher has a monopoly of ' the fish markets, and displays 'an enormous lack of business acumen in pushing the trawling 'proposition in the manner in which ho is doing. Why does he not take advantage of the visit of Professor Prince and seew advice from that eminent gentleman? Or, failing this, why not charter a trawler for experimental purposes? — I am, etc.. R. O. FOLLBROOK. Wellington, Bth July, 1914. \ [The context of Wednesday's article showed that the comparison with "hilly areas" applied to the sea floor near Wel« lington where trawling has been tried.] BIBLE-AJJD-CLERGY-IN-STATE-SCHOOLS . TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— There are two' points in W. Foster's argument of figures 1 would like to touch on. Mr. Foster is keen to show that Canon Garland's ,74 per cent, of the population in favour of the Bible in schools platform is' not 74 < per cent, at all, but only 73.89 per cent. Your correspondent carefully ignores the Salvation Army, a. i body enthusiastically in favour of the Bible in schools. Later on in his letter Mr. Foster quotes figures which are purely guesswork. He writes of fifty odd thousand attending Anglican services. From where do these figures come? As far as the Anglican Church of this diocese is concerned no census has been taken of the numbers at the services. To argue from figures.it is selfevident that those figures must be correct, or else what of the argument? Mr. Foster calmly drops one not inconsiderable body, to wit, the Salvation Army, and quotes guesswork figures to prove something else. What reliance, then, can be' placed on his argument ?—l am, etc., • • HOWARD J, JONES. Brooklyn, 6th July, 1914. . [A recent manifesto by the league began thus: —"The league is a union i entered inig fey, the Church of England^

41 per cent. ; Presbyterian Church, 23 per cent. ; Methodist Church, 9 per cent. ; and the Salvation Army, 1 per cent. ; in all, 74 per cent, of tho population." Though Mr. Foster— no doubt inadvertently — omitted the Salvation Army, the difference between him and Canon Garland is only .11 per cent, (less than a ninth of 1 per cent.), a fractional difference too small to be worth serious notice. As for the alleged "guesswork," is it necessary to remind Mr. Jones that Mr. Foster is not the author nor the? editor of the Year-Book, from whicli the figures were quoted?] WORTHY OF ATTENTION 10 THK EDITOR. Si rj _^Whilst our worthy Mayor and councillors are professing a desire to improve and beautify the city, by the expenditure of large sums of money, there are minor repairs and improvements required that seem too trivial ,for their notice. You might call their attention to the dry fountain at the entrance to the Public Library, erected *by public subscription in 1896. It has been dry for a very long time. I consider _it a very convenient place for the public to quench their thirst. Workmen being at present engaged on the spot, the cost would be trifling. The urinal at the end of the building, too, is an objectionable disgrace to the city. — I am, etc., • OLD COLONIST. 10th July, 1914. | WIRELESS AMATEURS -, TO THI EDITOR. Sir,— Re "Spark-gap's" letter published on 9th July, may I inform him and others interested that there is a New Zealand Amateur Wireless Association with branches in some of the large towns formed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining the rights of amateurs in New Zealand. The Wellington branch has about 40 members, and 'holds meetings monthly. I shall be glad to supply "bpark-gap" with further particulars. — I am, etc., ' • R. FRANCIS JOYCE, "Stonar," Kelburn-Parade. 10th July, 1914. MUNICIPAL TRAWLER 10 IHI EDITOR. Sir, — I have read with interest the various opinions of experts and others as expressed in your columns regarding Mr. Fletcher's proposal, and especially the letter which appeared in your issue of Bth inst., over the signature "Experience." Now, I don't know where your correspondent got his experience, but I can say this : that, apart c rom over a quarter of a century's experience of costs of running steamers, I, as a ratepayer and therefore an interested party as regards feasibility of the proposal, have made it *my business to make some enquiries, which confirm my opinion that the proposal is absolutely unworkable as regards profit-making, or even . paying working expenses, let alone sinking fund and interest on capital.- As regards " Experience's " figures, I may say that I am prepared to prove that his estimate of working expenses is not 50 per cent, of what the cost would be, and in this connection would point out that he only allows for five hands, when ten would be needed, costing at least £1800 per ' annum for wageß and overtime ; coal is put down at £500 (I assume that the £50 shown is a misprint)— this would be nearer £1000; nothing is put down for insurance, (marine or accident), victualling, • lubricating • and lamp oils, repairs to hull, engines, boiler, nets, and other gear, slip dues, paints, and the thousand and one incidentals that go to ' absorb the earnings of a steamer, be she large or small. Then as to earnings : To make , up the actual money opent in cash for working expenses and depreciation, the vessel would hay« to earn at least £600 per month, and to do this consistently the year through, irrespective of bad weather and time lost, while under overhaul, is, in my opinion and the opinion of other very well informed people, absolutely impossible. In conclusion, I would emphasise what has already been pointed out — viz., that one trawler could not keep tha Wellington ' market supplied constantly,and if two were obtained the market wonld be so glutted at times that the annual loss would be enormous.— l am, etc., , MORE EXPERIENCE. Wellington, 10th July, 1914. "A NOISOME NUISANCE" TO TOT EDITOR. Sir,— Might the . attention of the City Council once more be directed to the noisome pestilential stench that pollutes the air near the Queen's Wharf? It is a. public scandal that ; such a state of things in the busiest tpwn area is allowed to continue, in spite of the many occasions attention has been, ■ directed to this, the " sweeping, the expectorating, and other nuisances. Surely 'the fact that ladies when approaching this locality are compelled to cross the street to- escape the contaminated atmosphere ought to galvanise the most lethargic council into a sense of its duty to tho public health. — I am, etc. , . PEDESTRIAN. 10th July. 1914. YOUTH AND THE TREE TO TBI EDITOR. Sir, — In a few days' time the more 6erious-minded and public-spirited portion of our community will be girding its loins in preparation for the work on Wednesday next — Arbor Day ; and it is hoped that tho portion will prove^ to ba the whole. In the. meantime, _it will, no doubt, bo intensely gratifying 1 to those people, whatever their number, to see in your columns the list of sports fixtures for that day. Nothing could.be better calculated to encourage the plodding elder than the knowledge that his hoalthy sons have declined the work, and are either looking on or playing ball. How edifying it will be ( to the sons ! What a tribute to the civic spirit of the youth of our city ! In fact, sir, what a flouting of the efforts of the elders. Would it not be a graceful act on the part of these sports bodies to forego their games for one short day and spend it iust ac beneficially to themselves and much more usefully generally in pleasant wor& for "which the day was set apart ? What a splendid advertisement for v club it woulf 1 be if it mad 9 application for tree- planting work ! It is indeed to. be hoped that the fresh young ,mußcle of the country will not leave it to others to do work of which they themselves are tc reap tho benefit.— l am, etc., . ARBOR. 11th July, 1914. PROPOSED HUTT MUNICIPAL MOTOR-BUSES TO IU EDITOR. Sir, — Will you allow his Worship th« Mayor of Hutt space in your columns tc set forth his views on the above ques' tion? I would like him to reply to tht following queries if he will. What art the council's intentions (assuming the ratepayers pass the proposed loan) in re- , gard to 'buses at present running? Dc they intend to purchase new 'buses anc run in opposition to the existing firm, or do they propose to purchase all oi some of the admittedly good plant now running successfully? Do they propose to buy land, build and equip a garage when they can secure from the presenl lessee an excellent garage at (I under stand) a very moderate rental? Assuininj. . - tbo ftpuftctf prpgoea .tg rufi & muaicig*

service in opposition, do they consider it reasonably decent to endeavour to run off a man who has shown them and the ratepayers the merits and advantages of motor service when compared with the very inefficient and slow services running prior to his advent, and who has further more sunk all his capital in his venture? If I am correctly informed some twenty odd Lower Hutti residents came to the assistance of the present owner recently. Does the council think that these men should be penalised for their public spiritednessV What will be the effect on tbe services to Taita? The residents up to and adjoining Park 'Avenue will doubtless be well satisfied, but where will we dwellers on the outskirts «ome in? In other words do the council intend to run the service only in tho borough ; and generally, what do they propose? Let them give the ratepayers some idea of what they want them to vote on. Mr. Baldwin may say it is no business of his to answer anonymous correspondence, but my modesty compels me to subscribe mysell.— l am, etc., A RESIDENT. 9th July, 1914.