CORNERING THE WHEAT MARKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15257, 18 March 1910, Page 8

CORNERING THE WHEAT MARKET.

TO THU EDITOR. Sir, —It was with deep interest 1 read your correspondent’s letter on “ Cornering the Wheat Market” which appeared in the “Times” of February 18. Although I do .not pride myself on being a “dramatic critic,” I should like to point out to your correspondent, who signs himself, “Feed My Lambs,” that if only ho would read up that portion of scripture relating to Joseph and explain it in a more broad-minded way to liis son, instead of rushing into print and praising him up as a “ dramatic

critic,” he would be doing a better thing. I admit to him that Joseph did give back money, but not to the starving poor, as suggested. Joseph gavf back money to his brethren only, and then o-nly as a bribe to get them ' to bring their youngest brother out to him. No; Joseph cornered the wheat market as no one else ever has done or will ever be able to do, as wo read in Genesis, chapter 49, vernes 15 to 20. First the people came with their money; when that was exhausted, Joseph took their cattle, and afterwards their land, aiid then themselves to work for “ Pharaoh tho King.” Doesn’t that plainly show us that the Bible is repeating itself day by day. How many homes and families have the American wheat kings ruined? Would they not, if they could, have carried on to the extent Joseph did? Another point I should like to point out is, although there were thousands of Egyptians on the verge of starvation, your correspondent admits that Joseph gave away corn to his brethren. Was that the right thing to- do? Then he imported his brethren into Egvpt, and gave them all good offices in-Pharaoh's household. What would we think if a famine were to sweep all over this dominion, and we had a foreigner for a Governor (as Joseph was a foreigner in Egypt), and lie sent for his tribe : to come over and live with him and be installed in high offices of some kind, and yet make the natives surrender ail their money, cattle and land and pay one-fifth of their crops to help support the upkeep of a household who were living on the best of everything in the land ? lam inclined to think that your correspondent would bo one of the first to hold a different view, if such.a calamity were to come. I think I have enlightened your correspondent on the subiect he wrote about.—l am. etc.. BIBLE CLASS CRITIC,;