CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE

THE VATICAN AND THE WAR. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-—Will you permit me space to refer to a statement made in Dunedin this week by Dr C. J. Rolls, now visiting New Zealand on behalf of the Sudan Interior Mission, and published in your issue of "Wednesday, Blay 27. Referring to the conflict between Italy and Abyssinia, Dr Rolls expressed the opinion that the Jewish unrest in Palestine was due to Italian influence; and ho is then reported to have said that “ the difficulty was that the country (Italy) had received the sanction of the Vatican for the war on Ethiopia on the pretext that it ‘ was not a war of aggression but a conflict for the expansion of territory upon which to settle Italian people, and because a pagan nation would be conquered and converted to the faith.’ ” I, as a Catholic citizen, am sorry that such an incorrect and irresponsible statement should have been made by a man in the position of Dr Rolls; presumably he has been expressing tills view elsewhere. For bis benefit and that of others who might he misled, I wish to point out that the Vatican has never at any time condoned or supported the war in Ethiopia; and if Dr Rolls will trouble to acquaint himself with the facts he will find that Pope Pius XT. has expressed himself very clearly on the point, going so far at one time as to hint to Mussolini that his Ethiopian adventure, without recourse to arbitration, was against the ethics of a just war. Statements such as those made by Dr Rolls are mischievous and misleading, and cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. A newspaper made a similar mistake recently when it said editorially that “ it is believed in Europe that Mussolini has paid the price—fealty to the church in return for support and cheap money to prosecute bis wars.” As both these statements are incorrect and unfair, will you kindly give this letter space to contradict them?—l am. etc., Catholic Citizen. Blay 29. WRESTLING BROADCASTS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The Otago Wrestling Association is" holding another contest on Saturday night, and I take it that ns usual this will be broadcast per medium of 4YA, which'advertises in its programme “ a running commentary,” etc. I am voicing the feeling of many listeners in that it is high time someone was appointed to give a similar “running commentary ” on the local broadcasts of, wrestling as are given both by 2YA and IYA. A clear, concise commentary would be welcomed, not the announcer’s personal opinions.—l am, etc., Listener-in. Blay 29-. PORT CHALMERS WHARVES. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Will you bo good enough to give me space in your columns to publish the figures I quoted at last night’s meeting of the Harbour Board in respect to the revenue derived from tho wharves at Port Chalmers? • During tho past 12 months the revenue derived from goods inwards amounted to £7,807 and goods outwa/rds £9,555, making a total for goods of £17,406. For the same period the revenue received by the board from duos on ships amounted to £22,237—0r dues and goods combined £39,643. But those healthy figures will be exceeded during the coming 12 months by the extra revenue receivable under the new harbour improvement rate. Under that rate goods shipped from Port Chalmers will henceforth pay an extra 3d per ton, and general goods landed at Port Chalmers an extra Is per ton. On last year’s figures the revenue from those two new sources would have respectively amounted to £1,645 (inward cargo) and £475 (outward cargo), or a total of £2,120. That total added to last year’? revenue of £39,643 would have made a grand total of £41,763 not a bad earning figure for practically only one wharf (the George street wharf). It will be seen that it is a sound business proposition to modernise such a sure money-winner as this George street wharf, in order that its earning power may be further increased and that it may in greater measure servo the needs of the board’s custodiers, A real effort is at last being made to modernise the wharves in the Lower Harbour.—l am, etc., T. ScOLLAY. Blay 29. HOCKEY SELECTORS, TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I notice that at the last meeting of the Hockey Association Messrs Woodfield and Northey were appointed sole selectors for the senior and junior grades respectively. I was much surprised at the appointment, as those selectors have been the same for the past two years. Are there no other ex-players or referees capable of picking a team? It is quite apparent that the Hockey Association is wanting to keep or have all its officials from its own “ school,” and by doing so it is going to lose a large number of players. Last year several of the junior players were not given a position in the representative teams, just because, it might seem, of the personal dislike of them by the selector. The junior team showed a marked percentage of players from two teams. Several players worthy of inclusion were left out for no reason at all. As these selectors have held the position for the past two years, 1 think that it is time they made wav for someone else who might give all players a chance to gain representative honours, and thereby encourage the junior players. Could not the association nominate, say, six or less persons for tho job, and eliminate some hy votes; then have two selectors instead of one to avoid favouritism? I would like also to suggest that the association be a little earlier in posting the notices of postponement of games than a fortnight ago, as several players turned out only to find the games off.—l am, etc., Ex-senior Player. May 28.