CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 99, 23 October 1940, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

EROSION—AND APATHY

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I have followed with interest the articles and reports on forest protection and soil conservation which appear from time to time in the Press. It seems to me that a small but determined minority who are aware of the vital importance of this matter to our national life are putting up a brave but, alas, a losing struggle against the forces of public apathy. Preoccupied as we are today with our foes overseas, let us not neglect the fifth columnist at home, who may yet rob us of our victory. His name is Erosion, and he is no fellow to be trifled with.

New Zealand was endowed with a wonderful heritage of natural forest. Lack of foresight in the past has created a serious position today, but there is still time to stem the tide of destruction, and by a vigorous policy of reafforestation, restore the glory that once clothed our hillsides. In all parts of the world it is being more and more realised that man depends on the trees, and spectacular campaigns .are being waged against the destruction of the forests. The outstanding example is the United States of America, which took up the battle against soil erosion on a massive scale. A civilian conservation corps gives employment to. 300,000 men in the woods. Owing to past neglect of the forest lands, this mighty army of tree planters and protectors is engaged in a relentless task of defence. When Mother Earth itself is threatened, man is indeed faced with a life or death struggle. In a spiritual sense, we are equally dependent on the tree. As man grows to love and protect his verdant woodlands, so will he grow nearer to his God. The tree has been the inspiration of thousands. Let us not forget, in this artificial civilisation, that we still depend on it.

Finally, let me quote that great treelover, Richard St. Barbe Baker, founder of the Men of the Trees, who has probably done as much for the cause of the forest as anyone else in the world: "If a nation saves its trees, the trees will save the nation." What better slogan for a campaign to save our forests?—l am, etc., TREES. October 22. i

THE LORD'S PRAYER

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—lt seems to me that the Director of Education, Dr. Beeby, in writing those departmental letters to the Wellington Education Board banning the recital of the Lord's Prayer ir.« the schools under its direction, on the ground that the action was contrary to the secular clauses of the Education Act, was upsetting the precedent set by his predecessor, for a prayer service under the direction of Dr. Butchers was held at the Correspondence School (Vacation School) held last year, where 156 pupils were assembled for a fortnight's schooling (residential) at I the Boys' and Girls' High Schools, New Plymouth. If the Wellington Education Board is breaking the law in giving directions that the Lord's Prayer shall be recited each morning in the schools under its direction, then the Department itself has broken the law. I understand that the Lord's Prayer was one of the prayers recited by the Correspondence School pupils when in residence at New Plymouth last year. Dr. Beeby says that the matter of opening schools with the Lord's Prayer (acclaimed as the most sublime piece of literature ever composed) is "controversial." It would be very illuminating to learn from him what part of the prayer is controversial? That gentleman surely knows that or.account of its non-controversial nature every Protestant and Catholic church recites it whenever Divine Service is held.

Let Dr. Beeby reflect and try and calculate the number of times "God Save the King" is sur.g in the public schools each year. A fair estimate is hundreds of times; and that means, according to his reasoning, that the law is broken each time that glorious anthem is sung in the schools; for it is a sung prayer to God for the King. The same remarks apply to Bracken's "God Defend New Zealand." This prayer was sur.g as an anthem and broadcast at St. Peter's Church on Sunday. I have heard many Christian teachers object to reading the Bible in schools because it is highly controversial, and pupils would be sure to ask embarrassing questions when certain passages were read to them, and although I know hundreds of teachers, with the exception of Dr. Beeby, I have never heard or.c of them refer to the Lord's Prayer as being "controversial." —I am, etc., J. C. MORRISON.

ORIENTAL PARADE GRIEVANCES

(To the Editor.) Sir, —On reading the article in "The Post" under this heading, it is good to know that interest is shown in trying to keep The Parade tidy, but I and many others would greatly appreciate it if the authorities took some steps to put a stop to the incessant din, chiefly the motor-cycle pest, which residents are subjected to on such evenings as last Sunday. If the councillor concerned about the mess lived in this area I'm thinking he would show very much more wrath later on in the day when perhaps he was trying to get a little rest, and therefore I would suggest that he come and live amongst J us. Between the time the din ceases and the milk carts rattle along people are lucky sometimes if they get a couple of hours undisturbed sleep. Then there are the almost regular revellers in the early, and often late, hours of Sunday morning shouting at the top of their voices (this invariably keeps up for an hour or more), so that fine weekends are not altogether restful in this particular locality. Can nothing be done to improve upon this state of affairs, otherwise as the summer goes on the racket will increase, as has been the case in past years. Many complaints have been made I understand but nothing ever seems to be done about it.—l am, etc., RESIDENT.