Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1940, Page 4

Readers Write

Your correspondent, .J. McLennan, tells us that some years ago he attacked the Farmers’ Union. He does

the same today. His

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS.

attack years’ ago] must have been ac-!

tuated then by politi-j cal bitterness, for every farmer knows] that the Farmers’ Union attacked the] Reform Party. They also know that 1 at that time farmers and the country] were living under terribl ecnoditions.' Bankruptcies had soared to record] heights, and the Mortgage Corporation! was slowly but surely taking over the 1 farmlands of the country. Surely they] deserve praise for that. His attack today must be actuated, by revenge for the past. For the Farmers’ Union still fights on in the in-] terest of farmers, even to the extent of claiming, as they did recently, that Government legislation would cause, production to decrease, while it was already increasing. What more does Mr McLennan want than that? What more proof of zeal on farmers’ behalf can he require than this?

Mr McLennan also speaks of political integrity, personal independence and other Conservative ideas.

The people had an example of this just prior to the taking over of the country by Labour. The result of that election should supply Mr McLennan with good and sufficient answers to his views.

Let me conclude by pointing out, re high costs of this country, that your correspondent conveniently omits to mention the huge amount of imports into New Zealand. They are mostly made in England. No amount of whipping up class hatred by correspondents can get round that fact, and no amount of nonsense re low costs can prove that farmers were happy when costs were low.

Low costs always mean depressions. Low cost of living always means a low standard of living as well. Japan and Central Europe are proofs of this. The Farmers’ Union, no doubt, makes mistakes, but at least it is attempting to help the farmers, even if their shilling in the pound payments prove they don’t need it very much. Mr McLennan’s outburst is wholly destructive —therefore useless.—“LET US BE FAIR.”

The present distress of nations With perplexity (i.e., seeking a way out) (Luke 21: 25) is an indication of the

SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

approaching end of the age given by Jesus Christ some 1900 years ago. It

has been said that for every effect there is a cause. Peace and war are no exceptions. There is the same connection between wickedness and war, as there is between dirt and disease.. The late Mr Lansbury said: “There will be no peace in the earth until men cease to trust in the power of the sword, and trust in the power of righteousness.” The prophet Isaiah leaves a similar record (chapter 48) : “O, that thou hadst harkened to my commandments; then had thy peace been as a river, and they righteousness as the waves of the sea.” Going back to the dawn of Israel’s history it is recorded in Leviticus 26: 3-6, “If ye keep . . . my commandments and do them ... I will give peace in the land . . . neither shall the sword go through your land.” The same warning applies to the Gentiles, whose times are drawing to a close. “God looketh down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek after God. . . . There is none that doeth good, no not one.” (Psalm 53: 2-3.)

This being so, God has not left man without warning of the consequences, and no one need be surprised when these warnings came to pass. “There is no peace, saith my God to the wicked.” (Isaiah 57: 21.) The prophet Amos (3: 7) writes: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing but He reveals His secrets unto His servants the prophets.” And Jesus endorses the prophets (Luke 24: 44.) The prophets reveal a time such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” (Daniel 12: 1.)

Everyone should read Jeremiah 25, in which is revealed a worldwide war, in which the slain wou|d not be gathered, buried or lamented, but be dung upon the ground. The winecup of fury would be held up to the nations, and if they refused to take it (i.e., wished to be neutral) the answer is: “Ye shall, certainly drink” (verse 28) and “they shall drink and be moved, and be mad because of the sword I will send among them.” (Jeremiah 25: 16.) He will give them that are wicked to the sword. (Verse 31). In the latter days, ye shall understand it perfectly (Jeremiah 30: 24), as marginal rendering reads. Now, while certain individuals are blamed for the present outbreak, the cause lies deeper, and a study of the mind of God as revealed in His Holy Word, the Bible, will tend to show that the present world troubles are but the natural result of disease in the body politic of a corrupt civilisation, by its disregard of God’s perfect laws—a state of affairs to which all mankind has contributed, and for which the price has to be paid, as the Prime Minister of Britain said, “in toil, tears, and blood.” To the believer in God’s Word, the signs indicate the end of Gentile times and the return of Christ to the earth.. “For God hath appointed a day in which He will judge (rule) the world in righteousness by that man Whom He hath ordained.” (Acts 17: 31, and Acts 3: 20-21.) The Angel Gabriel’s promise will be fulfilled (Luke 1: 31-33) by the Kingdom of Isaiah being restored, and the righteous will rule and reign with Christ on earth for 1000 years. (Revelations 2: 26-27, Revelations 3: 21, Revelations 5: 10; Revelations 20: 1-6.) Those who would be saved must believe and be baptised. (Galatians 3: 26-29), without which' they are without hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2: 11-12.)—K. R. MACDONALD.