LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14530, 18 November 1910, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

AN APPEAL FOR JUSTICE. < *f| . Sir, —I noticed in your issue of the sth' 'f ihst. a. very able -article headed "Soldiers' Graves." All veterans will feel proud of ' ,v f your efforts to have Imperial ana colonial 'tv soldiers' graves restored, as a token of re- C specfc and admiration for those who laid ?? down their lives in defence of the hearts §SSS and homes -of the settlers of New Zealand- '<*, But, sir, there is another duty to perform, 1£ and that is to give a military passion to th« •' '■}'/$ survivors of the Maori war to colonial soi-. . ; diers. Why- should they be neglected now. especially after so many years, when they "' are' old and in-many cases poor and ,unrewarded? I appeal to you to use - your :; pen for such a noble cause. As it is now, * it is a perfect disgrace to the Government *' v J' and people of this Dominion not to recog« »\.f4 nise the debt of gratitude that they owe t*i> i() the veterans of the Maori war. ' S. STIDOLFIt, i ( ' Hon. General Secretary Royal New Zea«', 'Ivtig land Association of His. Majesty's _• •"•'.''ill Veterans. j^|§ Wellington, November 9. ' LASCAR SEAMEN. >-:■? —In view of the Prime Minister's <Sif . Joseph Ward) statement on this subject I should like to point out his; inconsistency ; in objecting to the competition or Indian seamen (who aro of an older civilisation than our own), and who are immeasurably, both -' • in physical and mental refinement., on a. -,'X[ higher plane than the Maoris, whom the Prime Minister and his party do their . : utmost to make a privileged class in New Zealand and to elevate _ thorn to be per* manent landlords and ultimate possessors of :-V ; all the improvements, the result of tho . 'j-'j labours of many of the white settlers of this ; ■;-£] country. In conclusion, it seems to me» <». ''Vj be an impertinence for New Zealand, who !;Si relies solely on the protection of Great V;V,£| Britain, to object to an English company " employing British seamen,, when such sea- • . men are acknowledged and recognised by. •0% Great Britain. Citizen. . , October 30. .. Sir,— noting the controversy t© ability _ J .fj ail seamen of the Lascars employed on the j .< ■?;: P. and 0.. Company's steamers; I •would T&eSm suggest that during the stay -of th next l Xs§. boat in Auckland some' boat-drill be in- f -/j dulged in. This action would perhaps oonvince . many prejudiced persons, and . afford , further opportunity (for those who know " * what a capable, well-disciplined seaman the - • ;1!?* Lascar really is) of seeing the crew fully extended. . ' Feed: Fabkell. November 14-.. P.S.— there a Marine Board regulation | s | requiring crews to be drilled periodically? My reasons for asking are that during an experience of over 25 years on steamers in Australasian waters I have never yet seen - a crew put through any drill. • jj THE CHURCH AND THE MASSES. ' Sir,—Your correspondent, Mr. F. .G. . Ewington. " doth protest too much." The --V; Church for "nineteen hundred years" may -iv have taught that " the labourer is t worthy, of ; i his hire," but it has always insisted . that ,;-i the labourer shall produce an abundant stir- ■ .;;V; plus for those who control -natural and social *. ( opportunities! The existed of a "Master ■ 'j in heaven," as taught by the' Church, may -;.k| have restrained the greed of some; it is only .: too obvious that it has not rendered unnecessary the passing of a thousand and one" Acts to prevent the further exploitation ,o^^% the masses. I have not overlooked" t&iSSi§l "fact that tho Church has fought. 'thfVf' • «a||9j workers." lam well aware of tho tion, but I also know.' enough - of; -historyofei3i3Hß|B jive tho statement a ' polite ; Kwington's list of Christian '* reformers" * is' p|p|» lot so formidable-after " nineteen liuodred -apM »ears!" Sly courteous critio • alsooverlooki : ;i| the fact that some of;» the j. raen ho mentions ' " ire far from, being orthodox, t and 'ho "was " sertainly most, -unfortunatei naming Shaftesbury. - If your correspondent .will v P : turn to s Shaftesbury's " Journal,"- ho ill : , find thai humane man bitterly complaining " : that ho ocnjld not obtain the support of the || clergy in his endeavour to pass factory legiV ; ; lation, because tho * clergy, s ho says, ;; ar» '* . " .cowed; by capital and power!'-."-,... >% H. Scott Ba&'NEraiv NowxaJjor 10. . ' s