CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 10

CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE.

W. Fitzhenry writes:-—" You<. have written an article on South Africa headed ' The Curse of Gold.' •. Howevter true the phrase is in connection with South African gold mines, I believe it has a wider significance throughout the world, for gold as the basis of wealth is producing gigantic accumulations 'an one hand with extreme poverty on the other. This should be deplored by all right-thinking people." " Numbskull " remarks that the men who are fighting for better conditions for their lellow-workers are rewarded by being called "Red Feds" and "misguided fools," and are denied their right to live, while if they had been going to South Africa to destroy Boer liomes and make little children orphans and mothers widows the very best Christian people and the whole Press would cheer themselves hoarse, holidays would be proclaimed and bands would play. I R. Luke asserts that any nation or people can be democratic no matter whether they have any religion or not, and that, as Socialism is spiritual wisdom so democracy is worldly wisdom. He adds:—" All unions are little democratic governments; all companies, trusts and banks are social democratic unions. Of course, the poor workers like myself only found the name; the gate of finance and bullion was shut in our face; but if the workers would only co-operate arid learn to employ themselves and open their own distributing depots they might/ rest in peace." " Citizen " considers that the divergence of views on the Bible-iri-schoola question is alone sufficient reason for not allowing Bible-reading during school hours, and that the introduction of Bible lessons would bring dissension, 6trife and sectarian bitterness into the schools. He adds: "It is a significant fact that New Zealand 'has a higher standard of morals than I have ever conceived in the Old Country, where Bible-teaching has always been allowed to dominate." - W. Fitzhenry writes:—"Mr Witty did not pay his constituents a goal compliment when he stated that the Reformers would not dare to hold a meeting without police protection. Surely the electors of Riccarton are not altogether bereft of civilisation." _ Alfred Lewis describes a chance meeting he recently had with a, well-educat-ed man who had fallen a victim to alcohol, and says:—"We cannot say Britons are free whilst such cases as this remain in our midst. Men like this one are slaves in far worse bondage than that of olden days, and they cry to us to free them. May God lead the people of this dominion to set all other questions aside and, even at. the cost of sacrifice, do their duty and strike out this evil." " Curious " writes:—" I noticed recently .• m a prohibition paper that; Mr Phillip Snowden ' had cabled a<v ceptance of the terms offered bv the No-License Executive.' Thus, in return for his lectures on prohibition ha wdl receive a pretty stiff fee. Yet the prohibitionists - are always .bawling about the paid agents of the. liquor trade." ;'..: ,-.-,. J < J. B. Davidge writes from Gisborna in reference to Professor Prince'3 statement that 50 per cent of the fish caught at the Bluff have to be thrown back into the sea as there is no market for them. He asserts that smoked and frozen fish would find a ready market in Gisborne. Joseph Grey points out that, thoasi many may differ from the Socialist and. "Red Fed," a- bitter boycott of these pen by employers will not to bring about the industrial peace which all desire. The employers'" attitude reminds him of the strango trait in human, nature that makes people hate those whom they have wrongel. The same writer "says :—' Massey's bare-faced bribe of the freehold to Crown tenants 'shows who are the workers' friends. Private property has enriched the few and impoverished the many, swelling the city slums and driving maidens and youths in the blind alley of casual unskilled labour, the sweaters' paradise."