UNEMPLOYMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 4 August 1931, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT

(To the Editor)

Sir, —The noise of the great battle of Unemployment, which a short time ago raged among the tall columns of ink and paper, has apparently ceased. Day by day it is reported through “The Mail” “all quiet on the western front,” hut lest that breaker of images, “Iconoclast," coming in at the eleventh hour should say, “I won the war,” may J he permitted to (ire one more shot, even though it mean a resumption of hostilities? Your readers have so far wailed in vain for a reply from either “Les Sport” or “More Virility” to tlie challenge of It V. Wallis in your issue of the 18th lilt, for some new weapon more “quick and powerful” than the two-edged sword, Excalibur, which they contemptuously reject as ineffective in spite of incontestable proof to the contrary throughout the world’s history. There was once published in “Tho Mail” a story of twin brothers who were alike to such a remarkable degree that they were placed under scientific observation. Their thoughts and actions were so closely allied that, as schoolboys, they were accused of cheating because the same mistakes appeared in each scholar's work. Separation, however, made no difference for even when placed at opposite ends of the schoolroom their examination papers were identical. One is forcibly reminded of this by looking carefully through the letters of “Les Sport” and “Iconoclast,” and noting the many extraordinary points of similarity in the work of these two correspondents. It is not my intention to trespass upon your space in order to enumerate all these points in detail, but there is ono which should not be lightly passed over—their most unusual attitude towards the Salvation Army. There is little need to defend this wonderful or ganisation, world-wide in its activities and- founded for the uplifting of fallen humanity. The Army has either given employment on their own property to tens of thousands or found it for them elsewhere and made the waster and the unemployable into thrifty and reliable workmen. Let ‘lconoclast” who would break down but cannot build up, try and imagine what the world would be like without the Salvation Army, so wide and varied in its charity, regardless ol race or colour, patiently, continuously and successfully building up that which others have foolishly broken down—a- tree, “which hare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded its fruit every month : and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” “By their fruits ye shall know them.” In my first letter there appeared these words. “Probably the majority of those who have followed up the correspondence having reference to unemployment arc disappointed in the anti-Christian attitude taken by “Les Sport,” whose excellent contributions have given such genuine pleasure to a very large circle of your readers.” From this “Iconoclast” somehow gathers that the writer “sings ‘Les Sport’s’ praises for the expert manner in which he conducted the controversy re the above subject and then reprimands him for not agreeing with others that Christianity will solve the unemployment problem.” Because of this he says I remind him of the “cow who gives a bucket of milk and then kicks the whole lot over afterwards.” But your correspondent would not hesitate to say that the fish he had enjoyed for his breakfast was excellent even though it had a few sharp bones in it. I repeat that the letters referred to were excellent apart from the few faults that- have been revealed. “Iconoclast” says “we want something more practical than impossible Christian ideals.” Of course, they are impossible. for it is this very impossibility of attainment that keeps the world moving. The artists of any age have not and never will arrive at perfection in their art. Could we attain to the highest ideals set before us stagnation must inevitably result. When the custodians of the world’s wealth, from the millionaire down to the smallest depositor, are animated by purely Christian motives it will go far towards righting the world’s financial difficulties which are among the causes contributory to the present unemployment. “Iconoclast” and his twin brother “Les Sport” evidently cannot get very far away from finance when they can only see the Salvation Army as ‘‘one of the wealthiest commercial combines in tlu> world, having millions of pounds' worth of property.” Seeing that is so, let us meet them on their own ground. This enormous wealth is held in trust for the benefit of distressed humanity by the Army—not a combine but- a capitalist. As things are to-day capital and the capitalist jiro absolutely necessary for progress. The wealth of any capitalist must in some way benefit the world atlarge. When he is actuated by the same lofty principles which animate the Salvation Army; when he, 100, recognises that his wealth is held in trust and voluntarily forfeits his personal claim to it; when, like them, ho realises that a life of service is always life at its best, and gives himself ungrudgingly to it, the unemployment problem will be permanently solved and he will fully know the meaning of the saying that is written, “It. is more blessed to give than to receive.”—l am, etc., X-RAY. Umukuri, 3lst July.