Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 30 July 1938, Page 6

Readers Write

I have been reading with interest the new laws and regulations for the sale of fruit, and cannot, for the life of me, see what FRUIT good can be got out REGULATIONS, of them save to give jobs to some of the Government’s friends. Fruit must be dearer, and it looks as if apples and pears, like oranges and eggs, arc tc be luxuries for the well-to-do onl3 r . It is not so long ago, as a result of Government interference, ■ that eggs went down to 8d in summer and 2/- in winter. —“FRUIT LOVER.”

Mr Algie is reported as saying, re | capitalism: “Many sins have been laid | at its door, and among them may I justly (note these I FREEDOM AND two words) be laid | CAPITALISM, selfishness, greed, | materialism, inabil-1 ity t 0 think for the other fellow.” Still i (Mr Algie continued) it (capitalism) | has built up the world to the standard | of today. What is this standard which ] selfishness, greed, materialism and the I inability to think for others has built | up? Why, exactly the standard one | would expect from such a character J (given, mind you, by a declared friend : of such a system); bombing open 1 cities, murdering women and babies, 1 sinking defenceless ships, making it j necessary to dig bombproof shelters, I manufacture gas masks for tiny I babies, destroy God’s bountiful har-| vest of food to create better prices j for Mr Money-Bags, whilst millions of homes are short of the necessities of j life. How very shocked we so-called Christians 'are when “we are told” Russia dees not believe in God. Yet the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, who went and saw for himself, assures us that Russia is living nearer to the teaching of Christianity than any other nation. Russia has rescued thousands of miserable Spanish children, is feeding, clothing, educating and caring for them, whilst we Christians (?) are conducting 'a bitter (if bloodless) civil war in New Zealand. We deny our children the right to the teaching of the Bible in schools. Our mental hospitals are overcrowded; and other hospitals are being enlarged to accommodate our sick. We have permanent health camps for our children. Three years ago we had gangs of soldiers and others going into places to work for that greedy, selfish system which assuredly had the inability to think for the other fellow. Their pay was ten shillings per week 'and their keep. I find in this Christian country of ours you may deny God and sneer at His Holy Word, but if you say anything about that man-made man-“mismanaged” monetary system, you are “named,” and—well—-really!! After giving Capitalism such 'a dreadful character, Mr Algie says others want to try something which will turn the world “upside down.” Most people know it is already upside down. Some of us desire it should be brought right .side up. Under what heading, sir, think you, Mr Algie would place the Christ 'and His humble followers? They had only one coat each, and had one “common” purse. Were they Communiss? I lam afraid this word “Freedom” is very much abused. Anyway there can never be freedom where the boss is selfish, greedy, materialist, and has the inability to think for others.— MARY SPEDDING, Tikipunga. I would like the general public to know, through your paper, that while in Wellington last week, attending a conference of the GIRLS’ SCHOOL Women’s Division AND HOSTEL, of the Farmers’ Union, I was taken by Mr Barclay, member for the district, to see Mr Peter Fraser, Minister of Health and Education. My visit was entirely unofficial, but Mr Fraser discussed the state of the girls’ school and hostel with me and told me he was doing his utmost to better those conditions as soon as he possibly could. Further to that, he sent for me on Friday to come and see the plans for the new girls’ hostel. He arranged for Mr Savage, architect for the department, to bring the plans to his office. We spent altogether an hour discussing these plans and suggesting possible improvements. When I left Mr Fraser’s office, I felt sure that he would do all in his power to improve the conditions surrounding the girls at the High School. He was assured by Mr Savage, in my presence, that the plans for six new class rooms and the new lavatory block would be commenced this week, alsp that the plans for the new hostel would arrive in Whangarei before I did. The plans for the new hostel were before the board at its meeting on Tuesday night. | I would like to add that I personj ally felt that Mr Fraser is taking more interest in the improving of all educational and health facilities than has any other Minister I have been in touch with for many years. I also felt that Mr Fraser was doing a great deal jto help the women on the land j through his support of the housekeepj ing scheme of the Women’s Division jof the Farmers’ Union. As a member, j for many years, of both the High j School and Hospital Boards, I feel j that in our efforts to better the condij tions in both we have the wholej hearted interest and support of Mr 1 Fraser, and I feel sure that within the next few months there will be ample evidence to show this.—VlVA DONALDSON.