"W.M.F." REPLIES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 November 1911, Page 4

"W.M.F." REPLIES.

To fcho Editor. Sir,—lN Re my last contribution, the weakly contemporary run by a. carpet Knight, ami who is general factotum, so forgets himself in his endeavour to ingratiate the Liquor party and others as to make pu'blic use of my initials for caricature. Of course he considers this as vastly clever., and that I am fair game; so I am, in a way, hut not for long. He iLsks "Has W.M.F., who writes such fanatical theological drivel to the Chronicle about every other day, got a hoe in his bonnet?"' This savours ol' the malico prepense of the wasp and hornet. It is noticeable that this wee weakly vents its spleen against our local daily. I don't hold a brief, hut, sir, under fcho present regime,' the Chronicle has been mised from the rut it was in, when under the control of the caucus tihat arrogated to itself to lead public opinion. I well remember the Kereru cacklings, goose drippings, and hags of mystery stuffing that was purveyed to a suffering community, •as its tri-weekly. or daily bill of fare! At this point I revert to the subject matter that sent the "Weakly Wee" off its base.

It certainly is incongruous to refer to sprituous liquors and spiritual drink in the same letter; it seems on the face of it to savour of the throwing pearls before swine (in this instance.) at least! Please keep mo out of your ken in future. T regret that tho great failing with us is the want of steadfastness and backbone, when great questions affecting the moral and spiritual uplifting of the nation are at stake. We of New Zealand cannot take unction to ourselves that our country can claim the appellation "Land of th e Lea 1!" Has not the "Trade" and "politics" contributed greatly to produce the present society condition termed iaissor-aller. It is a far cry to honest John Bryce, G.O.M. Sir Wm. Fox, for the contrast between the solf-assortionists and opportunists of our day a nit'those nne types, is retrogrado and despicable. Tho stamp of settlers who participated in the development of the country boetwen the Turakina and Manawatu rivers appealed to mo (farmers and farm hands )as far superior in sound sense, manly qualities, to tho present day samples of "busters-up. Six shillings then was equivalent to ton to-day in purchasing power. The demeanour between employer and employee was of a mutual character; no Socialist Tom, Bill or Henry had a, possiblo of skite recognition. In contrasting then and now as between em.ployer and employeo is there discord or accord with the old English ballad—

" Oh! out ,ipon the calf, I say, He turns his grumbling Uiead away, And quarrels with his feed of hay, Because it is not clover. Give to me the happy mind, That will over seek and find Something fair and something kind All the wide world over!"

And Now Zealand accords with another quotations, to wit: "'Tis safe enough, and sound enough; It thrills the heart to feel a man is a bit of British stuff, and true from head to heel."

.Do the hemes of Jlow Zealand reach tho following ideal: " Sweet is the hour that brings us home, There all will spring to meet us, There hands are striving as we come, To be the first to greet us. Oh! joyfully dear is the homeward track, Whore we arc sure of a welcomo back."

If these phkises of human nature ar« not with us; why not? Is thero x anything lacking in our na-" t-ional life? One recognises two unnecessary evik thai hinder such a moral and spiritual desideratum, and. these I place, first the iiquor traffic, second the profession of politics. .The first needs expunging, the second expurgating. This would give a fresh start, a purer atmosphere, and a new era of prosperity. and national advance. For both evils exist on sufferance, habit, and maudlin sentiment.—Yours, etc.. W. M. F.