MACHINE-GUN FIRE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3443, 15 March 1932, Page 4

MACHINE-GUN FIRE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —"Fair Play" did the community a great service when he referred, in a letter in the columns of your paper, to the undesirable Sunday practice of military gunfire in the precincts of our town. Two things, however, he failed in: Ist, the mildness of his strictures, and, secondly, in the statement that the rattle of machine-gun fire could be heard in almost every part of the Borough. To say that this occurrence in military tactics in Te<Kuiti on Sunday, the 6th inst., was less than a flagrant breach of Sunday sanctity.and a most reprehensible undertaking by those concerned, is to lightly condone it. If the residents of this town tolerate a repetition of it without a vigorous protest, it will be a lasting disgrace to us. As for the distance the detonations of the 12,000 rounds fired could be heard, it was far beyond any part of the outskirts of the Borough. In reply to "Fair Play," Mr. Mackersey in justification of the big shoot on Sunday, as being the only available day, admits the undesirability of what happened, but pleads its necessity. It was just along these lines that German militarism had its tragic development. There is no greater factor in the wide world for peace than the Christian Sunday, and to subvert it for the purpose of' military development is indeed an anomaly, if we be the seekers of peace. No one will doubt the good intentions, nor fail to recognise the self-denying work* of the Frontiersmen in their patriotic undertaking to provide a reasonable defence for the Empire, but to violate God's holy day iun preparation for war and in the hour of action to seek His blessing on pur arms, is real presumption. Mr. Mackersey can- know little of human nature if he believes the rattle of musketry is not a disturber of the peace, in view, especially, of what the Great War means to so many. I do not think Mr. Mackersey's illustration of the recent "decision of a Magistrate, that to pick green peas on the 'Sunday to eliminate waste was not illegal, was very apt. There is a wide difference between a few men gathering peas and a company of men carrying out a practice which was much akin to a bombardment of our town. Moreover, the green pea episode was a human judgment, but God has said, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." I respect Mr. Mackersey's opinion that such practice cannot be carried out on a Saturday afternoon, but with many others question his judgment.-—I am, etc.,

WILLIAM SUSSEX. The Pai'-sonage, Te Kuiti.