OUR READERS’ OPINIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10140, 28 October 1925, Page 7

OUR READERS’ OPINIONS

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS

C j.i.signor.—You have omitted to mention your authority, also to state your address. Working Man.—Why not ask Mr. Lysnar personally; you may have been wrongly informed. Spectator.—Ypur, epistle has already appeared in,another journal:J. Burgess Binder.—As portion of ydiir letter appears unintelligible, and as no address is given, it is held over until yoi/can spare time jto -ealFon the. Editor. / v

THE DENTAL CLINICS, ”

Editor.) Sir, —You acclaim Mr, Coatesi-as the “Man of the Hour” and Mr Lysorai; as the /‘live man” and battler for the, district. Now, Sir, I would: like to-ask both of them what they were doing when the school dental clinics were established. I am sure everyone thought that any ..child 1 up to a certain age would be attended to free at these places. It now appears that, unless the cliild is actually attending the State schools, no treat-ment-will he given. Fancy, such a state of things in enlightened times. ;such as these arc supposed to be,! Tivconclusion, Sir. if these be “statesmen,”* who would lend themselves"to 'such Tas this. . The good keep us anti send us a Government with National ideals.—l am, yours,/etc., * DISGUSTED.

ANIMAL WELFARE WEEK

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l am well aware that a great deal of your available space is occupied at present with election matter, but if you can find space for a brier letter on the above, subject, I will thank you warmly. In England and America, Animal Welfare Week is a regular annual event, public meetings and demonstrations being held in all centres of population, . Last year we had a week set apart in New- Zealand to promulgate this worthy object, but it was not well known, and consequently not as effective'as it might have been. This week (25th to the 31st October) has been set apart again for this object. _ May L ask clergymen to preach a sermon on the duty of kindness to animals or to refer to the matter in their pulpits in the course of the day’s services. Also for school teachers 'to bring the subject before their scholars on Friday the 30th inst., which is a Humane Day in schools and, no doubt, teachers will by means of a special address or essay writing impress upon, their pupils the rights of animals and tho obligation which rests upon everyone, to deal justly and kindly with them. No doubt all the animals we shall see at [the Show and Races have been .well cared for, tout there are many less favored ones which require our pity and protection. —I -am, vonrs, etc., A, GLEAYE.

LABOR AGAINST REFERENDUM CHILDREN SUFFER.

(To the Editor )

Sir ? —The New Zealand Labor Party candidates have pronounced against a vote of the people being taken on the Bb e in Schools question; this action proves that they do not represent true democracy in New Zealand, because they are afraid to trust the people. Sr, the home of the Referendum is in Switzerland and in 1882 that country took a referendum on the proposal to remove relig ous instruction from the schools, but the proposal was rejected. Catholics and Protestants united to vote “No,” the minority being German Radicals, Freethinkers and- Soc alists. In South Australia, Victoria and Queensland, the question of Bible reading in the schools was submitted to a referendum. This year, one of the Baltic States decided the question of religious instruction in schools by a vote of the people. In 1901, 1903 and 1904 tho R'ght Hon. It. J. Seddon, the leader of the Liberal Party in New Zea and, introduced a General Referendum Bill which would include the Bible in Schools qiiest on. In 1905 a Bible in Schools Plebiscite Bill was also introduced bv Mr T. R. Sidey, M.P.

What is the matter with the Labor Party when it, wishes not only to proh'bitj as in Russia, the B.b'e in the schools, but it also desires to prohibit the people from having a vote on same? It is a sign of weakness, and also ignorance of the Referendum principles, for the Labour Party to take refuge behind the excuse that a vote, cannot he taken oh a religious question. What will Bible reading m schools mean? It means letting the children know it is wrong to steal, to lie, to dishonor the Sabbath, and right to honor their parents, to love mankind, to care for the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the baked. Since that is the Bible religion, I say we want a little of- it. as it is true Socialism. In the United States of " America under the Initiative, Refer- ! cndum and Recall Acts, a vote may 1 be taken on Bible reading in schools. L. Trusting voters will spurn eandidI ates who are afraid to allow the peo--1 p'e a vote on Bible in Schools, which • would mean much for the children’s moral welfare. The Labor Party may have my name.—l am, yours etc., , A NEW ZEALANDER.

MR.. HILL’S CLAIM ON THE GOVERNMENT. .

(To the Editor.) • Sir,—(Knowing from experience that your journal will always give a man a fail hearing, may I be permitted to again bring under your notice and refresh your memory of the unjust treatment I am receiving in regard to the termination of my Government appointments ? My family is bitterlv suffering from "the treatment unjustly meted, out to me, after 18 years’ faithful service as Registrar ofBirths and Marriages and Registrar of Electors for Gisborne. I presented a petition to Parliament, as you will know, in October ,1924,. setting out mv case, which came before the A. to L. Parliamentary Petitions Committee, praying for a refund of £3SS rent paid by me for the Department out of my stipend. The following is an exact copy of the advice re- : ceived from the Clerk of the House of Representatives: “Abstract'd report of tho. Public Petitions A. to L. Committee of the House of Representatives on the petit bn of Henry Ewart Hill of Gisborne. Recommended for consideration of the Government.—E. W. Kane, O.erk of the House of Reprcsentat.ves, 14th October, 1924.” Nothing was done, i again petitioned Parliament in August, 1925, praying that the recommendation as stated n the pet t.on be given effect to, and again the following gentlemen who comprised the A. to'li. committee reported in the same W av I “Recommended for consideration of the Government.” Following is Iho committee as set out in A Hansard: Messrs R. Wright Bartram, Bitchener, Burnett. Harrs. L-ve, Mur.ro, Parr, Ransom and,Holies ton. These gentlemen are sat svot nothing is done. I appeal to Mr W D. Lysnar, M.P. for Gisborne,, as fied that'my clam is a just one and the people’s representative in Parliament, to use his great power to insist that my family receive immediate considerat'on as set out m my pet tion, as it is a matter of urgent moment to us. I have str.ven as a citizen to be of use to the community and I do think, St that you can .help me. Surely! and I crave that as you have -often pointed'out, I am entit ed to just treatment as recommended. Trusting you will help me to obtain linnr.c'al assistance as recommended.—! am, yours etc., H. E. HULL. ? [The mere fact'Hint a Parliament:uy Committee, after thoroughly in-

vest:gating the matter, has twice favorably recommended Mr Hil.’s petition for consideration is proof pcs - tive of the justice of his cause. And if there, is one candidate standing for the Gisborne seat who has a chance cf moving “the powers that be’’ it surely is Mr Lysr.ar. Only pers stent advocacy can attain success in such a matter—as witness the difficulty in securing the rebate of the duty on the Korua’s gear. Our advice to Mr Hill is, therefore, that he can trust Gisborne’s champion battler —Mr W. D. Lysnar—to see the matter out to a satisfactory conclusion. —Ed. G.T.)

MR TVESS REPLIES TO MR

CASSIN

(To the Editor.) Sir,—As the assertions of Mr. F. Cass in are far wide of the mark and contrary to fact, I am dealing at some length with his letters. In his first,, dated. 22nd October, he states I claim to have been the organiser of the Lil>-Lab * party of 1922. This, Sir, is not what appeared in my message to Mr Lysnar. If Mr Cassin will peruse that message again he wi 1 find I clearly stated that “I was the organ ser for the LiberahLabor candidate/ J To substantiate this, I handed to the press, a letter dated October 18, 1922, from Mr G. Wildish’s executive intimating their regret at my resignation from the posit 1 on as organiser in the interests of Mr Wildish’s candidature. Being defective in my hearing, I felt 1 could not do full justice to”the position. In his second letter he infers that I acted ip the above capacity “for several days,” whereas I was unanimously elected to the posit'on oh September 27th, and held office till either the I.oth or 17th October. (However, Mr Cassin can enqu’re the correct date if he so wishes). Mr Cassin also accuses me of deserting Mr Wildish. Tlrs, Sir, I emphatically deny. I worked in the interests *of the candidate right up to poking ’day, even go ng through to Wairoa with him, returning to Gisborne a couple of days before polling day. The above, Sir, I think sufficient "to convince public opinion. —I am, yours, etc., €. IVESS,

THE ELECTION. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l notice with regret that Mr Smith, has allowed li mself to be nominated by some deluded Nationalists. I was in hopes that he would have pulled out, and let us have had a fair go between Mr Lysnar and Mr Coleman. . I consider Mr Smith is only an intruder in this election, and his insistence on standing may help to spoil Mr Coates be'ng returned with a strong following to back him up. Tlie electors should remember that every vote cast for Mr Smith will be "against Mr Coates or his nominee, and lie is only trying to dece : vo the electors when he.tolls their, that the party ho represents has any hope of being returned with a majority. I think lam safe in saying that'the party will be almost obliterated. \ So why waste votes on them. Their numbers will bo so few that -it is -certain that the Labor party will be the official Opposition. As such, they will not do very much harm. When Mr Sm th finds himself at the bottom of the poll. I have no doubt but that he will round on those who have insisted on pushing h m into the fight. I. think I would be quite safe in predicting that when the numbers go up the position will bo as follows: Lysnar 1 ; Coleman 2, Smith 3.—1 am, yours, etc., A PROPHET.

SIR JOSEPH WARE AND THE NATIONALISTS. , • (To the Editor.) Sir,—There is' one aspect of the political situation upon which no lle-

form paper appears to have made any comment. I refer to the advantage the Nat'cmal party would have over any other party by having Sir Joseph Ward as its. Minister of Finance. With the except on of the last few years. Sir Joseph has guided the finances of this country in a manner acknowledged all the world over as masterly. I ask you, Sir. is Mr. Nosworthy, the Reform nominee, in the same class as Sir Joseph, and will leave anyone to dispute it who cares.—l am, vours, etc., HARD UP.

[Unquestionably, Sir Joseph Ward has done a lot of good work as a Minister of the Crown. As to h's capacity for general politics, however, opinions differ, and rightly so. "Hard Up” should remember that Sir Joseph Ward has not yet been ree’ected to Parliament. What is more, Sir Joseph has laid it down that, if he is x-eturned, he would not desire to displace Mr. Coates or Mr. Forbes. True to his colors, lie would, in tbo event- of his return, require to s’t- on the Liberal-Nationalist side of the House. But for all that his opening speech for the Invercargill seat does not suggest that he feels that the Coates Government should be overthrown. If- Sir Joseph wished an official position in connection with the Nationalist party, lie would be standing as a Nationa'ist. As it so happens he labels himself a Libera!. The reason is, of course, that lie does not believe in some of the planks of the Nationalist party! Why then should “Hard Up” think that Sir Joseph would he willing, if elected, to sink his political convictions to help the Nationalists?—Ed., G.T.]