Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 24 February 1940, Page 6

Readers Write

The Women’s Patriotic Committee would like to think the public for their gracious and generous contribution to the Soldiers’ Comforts Fund. The I opinion was expressed among the helpers that the response definitely shows the people realise that the patriotic committees are earnestly endeavouring to help the men who are giving their services to their country. The women’s committee is grateful both for the generous sum collected and for the attitude of the public to the Flag Day.—A. H. COOKSON, for Whangarei Patriotic Committee. * * * * The following is copied from “The Crusade for Justice,” a paper bearing the imprimatur of the Most Rev. the Archbishop Averill, D.D., Auckland, Primate of New Zealand; also four leading clergymen, and the Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army.” To prevent war: “Let us make a united effort to remove every cause of war.” “Let us work for a spirit of universal brotherhood.” “Let us reform our money system.” “Let us see that all are enabled to receive a just return for their services to the community.” All these precepts have been advocated by this pioneer in letters or in the Press, during the last 35 years. He has always wistfully looked towards the churches for help that never came, until the aforesaid precepts and promises appeared in the “Crusader for Justice: A Message to the People.” “I am too old now to do anything except writing and thinking, to suggest some idea that may help my fellow citizens and myself with the invaluable help of the churches. The monetary problem will be solved and made a permanent fixture, primarily by instituting a universal currency of paper, silver, and copper at the cost of their production, together with machinery and service, the State, i.e., the people, to have complete and absolute control of industry, commerce, and finance. In an international currency can be amicably established, also the material resources of, say, Europe and Africa pooled, and their distribution supervised by a League of Nations tribunal, primary and secondary products could then be supplied in abundance, and the wrangling about prices, profiting and profiteering become only a relic of the bad old days. Also, payments by the universal currency is a matter of accountancy —to keep all the international transactions in reliable order. Everyone would have “enough for the enjoyment of a decent comfortable life,” and bankruptcy or pawnbroking humiliations would cease from troubling. “Down and out objects” would be unseen; unless in segregation, if the liquor traffic cannot also be reformed. That, and the conflicting views about the truth of the scientific discoveries in Nature would still be formidable obstacles to overcome.

THANKS.

A NEW CIVILISATION.

That might be effected by the elective members of a League of Nations, or Parliaments. If the foregoing suggestions are cheerfully accepted, internationally, the competitive and cumulative strifeprovoking, money-making system will be abolished, and a sufficient remuneration for services to the State will be payable. Improvements of every possible kind could be effected to make our lovely- and attractive Humanity Isles of the Pacific more lpvely and more attractive. We are an educated community, and also too shrewd to demand more than enough from theTreasury and cause inflation.. f’Also the tenure of the Treasury is only for a period of three years, and, if found to be advisable, this could be reduced to one or two years. The cost of elections would be infinitesimal, " The churchmen should lend their great power for the advancement of this new economic system, making provision for every unit of mankind, and also all useful animals, by utilising the costless currency to enrich

the arable and pastoral soil everywhere by cultivation -,and fertilisation to any necessary extent. In fact, this suggestion gives an opportunity, never hitherto available,;; because of the scarcity of money, to cultivate the land with the utmost ■■ possible skill. That is only possible V by the expenditure of time and money. The Poles and Czechs can never be compensated for their terrible losses, but if this, or a somewhat * similar policy, were inaugurated, • their lives and the lives of their gen-f erations, can be made as happy as it is possible for human beings to be. — T WILLIAM R. KEAY. %