LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15130, 22 October 1912, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

I THE PEOPLE OF RUSSELL, Sir.-May I suggest that Mr. Macleans remarks on the P^^jgrtT!Xted in humorous voin Your report might he these people were Your report might ho taken Ran that Mr. Maclean had spoken of them in a disparaging manner. This was far from being the case, lie maae an eloquent, appeal for these, settlers, who, in spite of adverse surroundings, give eo much for their church. Mr. Maclean is heart and soul in his work and the re*«« made by his scattered flocks puts many wealthy people to shame. Is not 0 » l00^ , a little hard on Synod? We do not feei able to solve the problem of the origin.of life. In our own small way wo try ac.U grapple with the existence °J XCKTON . _ — LOOKING FOE, WORK. Sir.—Kindly allow me space to endorse the remarks of -'Worker' regarding the above. He saya ho has been 10 days. .n a fruitless attempt to secure a position in Auckland. I can and do tender him mj deeoest sympathy. I too have had a similar," and "probablv a worse experience, foi J. have been weeks trying as hard as any man could possibly result the very same as "Worker" experienced. J.vcry position for which I applied— I think I possess extra good credentials—has brought in on an'average 40 applicants, .±hc man with influence at his back, irrespective ot his ability, is invariably given preference. But why cry out that there is shortage or workers in Auckland? Why urge continued immigration when there are plenty good men in our midst trying day after day for work? I came to Auckland as a result or this agitation for immigration, being convinced "that it was just a matter of making application and I would without much ado be taken on. I humbly confess I've been sadly "taken in" and must of necessity depart from the New Zealand's Queen City I Disappointed. THE ANGLICAN SYNOD. Sir, Your correspondent, " Onlooker," makes some interesting observations on the Synod, and amongst other conclusions at which ho has arrived seems to bo one that the clergy take themselves a littlo too seriously, and their work not quite so much &o. But they have "authority." On Friday two letters were read by the president to the Synod. Ono was from an old servant of the Church, who wrote regretting that illness prevented him from being present for the first time for 40 years. Then a. Synodsman moved, very inadequately, as it seemed to me, a motion expressive of tho' sympathy of the Synod with him in what was hoped would prove his temporary illness. But the letter waft from a layman, and was taken sitting. Then a letter was read from a young man who had been appointed Bishop of Kimberley, a mining town, I believe, in South Africa. Now, we in Auckland know that a mining town is usually a place where scalawags and other persona of indifferent character most do congregate- But the moment the president stated that the letter was from a bishop, the whole Synod rose to its feet, led by who knows whom, and paid that respect to the episcopal letter which was denied to the'lay letter. It all looked very funny, and perhaps'something grotesque. But clearly not only do the clergy take themselves somewhat seriously, but bishops also, or so it seemed to one at least of those who were not onlookers, but was One Looked Upon; Sir, —I noticed with interest in your issue of the 19th inst. the reference in the* Anglican Bishop's charge to the pressing need, for more clergy, and for more funds for Church extension, missions, etc. •An inhabitant of the Auckland province for upwards of 50 years, I have during that time walked many times past St. John's Col-' logo, and through the Church's largo block of land in that vicinity, and,, with many other observers, have never failed to bo struck with tho fact that the General Trust Board has not so utilised this valuable property as to convert it into a great asset. To-day it is in the same virgin state as when I first saw it 50 years ago, save for a few paddocks which have "been cropped again and again. I understand that the terms of tho trust prohibit the sale of tho land, but any business man would have carried into effect tho following scheme, and increased immensely tho revenue from this land:—My plan would bo to survey the land fronting the main road into building sections, with an are* of from three to fivo acres each, and to lea«ie them for long term 3, say, 65 years, the rentals to be at the rate of. 4- per cent of the capital value of the land. That part of the land away from the main road, and also at the back of the small (sections, would cut up admirably into small farms of from 100 to 200 acres each, and should be pleased for 50 or 60 years, the rental to be at 4 per cent, of the present valuation of tho land, tho tenants bound during their leases to make certain improvements, e.g., thoroughly draining the land, also to keep fences in good repair, and the lands under cultivation, etc. All this land lies well for draining, and, as the first outlay would be largo and much of the land is clay, and would demand working and ploughing for th© meHowing influence of tho sun, good tenants would bo attracted by th© grant of long terms- I have seen crops of oaten hav grown on similar land at the Tamaki produce as much as two tons to the acre, and if the Trust Board was to treat these tenants in a generous but business-like way I feel convinced that what is now next door to a barren wasto would in the next few years be a great food and revenue-producer and, in verity, a land flowing with milk and honev. Lastly, it behoves the General Trust Board to ensure that this splendid endowment of tho noble Selwyn and his not lesa noble wiifo would do for tho Anglican Church what lie intended it should do, eo that tho revenue would bo available for Church extension, aids to tho missions, and the proper provision for th© spiritual -welfare of our brothers in the back blocks. It may bo that the terms of the trust do not allow the granting of leases of the property on the terms, or in the areas, I have mentioned above, but it would be a simple, matter to promote a Bill in Parliament to carry out such a scheme. Ellebsiie. Sir.—As a layman of the Church of England, I desire to enter my protest against the absurdity of holding the Synod in tho library of Bishopscourt. I yield to no on© in rny veneration of eld buildings, etc., associated with tho, rise.of the Church in New Zealand, but let the library be used by the Bishop for its original purposes. Well taken care of, it will last a long time jet. I always take a great interest in the proceedings 'of the Synod. Yesterday I attended to hear the Bishop deliver bis'charge Before the proceedings" began, and after a large number of people came who were disappointed at being unablo to get a seat (the place was I may say crammed), and went away. A number stood during the whole time; many of them being ladies. '' I also attended tho missionary meeting in ' the evening, when almost the last words of the Bishop were to tho effect that all the diocesan funds showed a decrease amounting roughly, I should say, to £1000. _ I connect my two last paragraph by saying that if the Bishop, by using an inappro-pnately-sized .building to hold the Synod'in shuts out large numbers of those who are deeply interested in Church matters from attending during the meeting of tho Svnod ho takes a practical and effective method of lessening their interest, and by inference their practical sympathy with the Church by a less liberal amount, of almsgiving or offertory Of course, this should not be but it is human nature. . . ' I noticed during tho charge that tho Bishop allocated the setting aside of onetenth by all heads of families, etc., for the Church. The apathy existing and increasing m regard to the Bible, the Church, and religion generally is. I fear, the cause of the decreases in subscriptions to the various funds. What does the Church do to combat tins increasing apathy? Does it. prove incontestably that the higher criticism does "r u. an . d ■ , oanno , t effect the Bible in the slightest degree? I have heard ""thing in any of the churches T have attended, an am attending, to this effect. What s the result? Men a:r o listened to with jl spect who say that the Church is decaying and that the Bible is not true. contaS myths and allegories of a certain value SS very lutlo truth; and they say that religion » unnecessary so long as men live a mora life, endeavouring to do good. etc.. etc 2 tins is the old story, which has occurred again and again, but which in its effect ™ the rising generation is to create S that if there be a God He takes no Inter'J m human creatures,,and that those human beings are irresponsible in many ways C cause they are created with a nature wh^h If men believed that God is. and is int«r vening and that uncertain way i„ I T an iffairs, and that Ho is guldinn- til „T MHe shows in the 1 10 prophotfof M tiine-if they believed that 812? fi dl attend and believe in the- neoossifv ftT ievotion to God and Kis true wo"hfu TW whom have we to guide m* rw«-- P i , ut clergy of all oenomKonl? Ch^ch o^pSf and-mcluded, do not asMsf- »* VLli • Ju " s " jor. They go on in the old way" fel" T"' VVmkle-hke, they are asleen h !\JiF Vua t lelves and studying CiodV \rU.j , s thorn-, Luxut ffloa euro,!, o, Bxcuxd,

~ the waihi l^i;^r# c |i Sir,—ln Hansard No. M ,"* 1 reported that Mr. Payne ;£*» Lynn, asked the Minister I**1 ** Vft{* he intended to take stem ♦„ l 3h **b»B?hli* released who had been i™n • av * fte "£' ft noction -with I'roceedinw in^ 5 --' Payne made tho- ffi if * J? 1 fr y; '•He (Mr. Payne) might point J. I <W-" :' ■ men had conducted theta4lvL ?Ui If'. U citizen-like manner &,a » & I Throughout the strike,!^*«®"# been marked,,, A » action, and thai the? i,.,,, an <l e i t; a »i'l::# victed and sent to gaol i-° nl - *>S* fe that a certain amount c excited in the community b "°* f .Hfi" fl coining to the town from , tller *£** ' -:•: the places of the striker a » W 1 arrivals had beer, w.tffl. other curiosities that mioL "* .life-** ■ town. Them had lieen"n ft, CCTD6 « «?' i vention of the law etc." 1 said of the person who mokes 1 statement .=o regardless of £,«?£ "S?4h '*** have, hoard nothing ,f? ! #l magistrate (Mr. PraW> L P *.!* , *$'& S lenient .ay than he dealt ft? «H& 1 who came before him. !ft?:ftft«2 I showed morev with hi* ,-i' ' ■ tß iMi.? : '& this phase of'the pffel Ninety police are" required §..grffej 1 and protect the citizen in W-V p '*& ffl men have to pay a share ofZ*' ™*& § could .do with the money 1 roads m North Auckland/ S' ?}>& have in the Government men wt<§§i j minister the law with fi™ wi « id ,• : < righteousness regardless 0 reS*' «idl $ of Grey Lynns representative % *&*<&»; 1 October 11, 1912. _Jft£f, A. .<fc£ 5 TOE CITY MARKET. Sir,— suggestion to other 4« •-,' "'* tho portion of land upon whichtF -*' 1 Market stands raise, the question offS I land specially granted for sperifi„ 1 can bo dealt with in such a manner I am under the impression that; 1" ftsite is f» dedicated in tho Cirri™*"** 1 Vesting Act! The revenue fe"** I i]ii 4 section of land was no doufe 1 I trio times and circumstances lon ta 1 since,, and when the present W,' »* : 1 tho city funds will benefit to «SSWjI extent, Upon the advent of the rwS*- I tional Government a debt ' had •^"^* fc ' 1 in the city area of £28,000, which "S l '! introduction of municipal governing : 1 was desirable should be cleared Sts 1 that new, when in the Provincial fC 1 ' I I moved to, introduce a Bill to rfS l M debt, not originating with any lZr * 1 thonty- The country members' ifc&jl objected on the grounds mainly thai'-*'6 visions had been long made to bunOpii fcet, which they considered needful : ?BP*"*if consultation with the City Council I#*si promise that if tho debt was repealed*'-* city would within cae Tear.build am,?*on tho site set aside for the Bill .then passed. Tho rmrSS# I • I laid the foundation stone and S I silver trowel and mallet to the Art eiiu! 1 (where it may be seen). The marked I market was not a success; few ar«'»£L I days. All kinds of produce, .^r^ ll.| brought to people's doors. With'SS:-il ■wishes for the prosperity and advan3 1 of my old home for 53 years md ****$ if ] ' -P» 'A. PETliffe,' I f>rdnev, October 1* " • • • i "■ " "■ \:'■■:!• F~s)j&.';.i THE COST OF ir,IXG, 'l ' 3 Sir,— A writer who compares tie praa* 1 cost of butter, meat,, and other'>-pr||||iJ with those ruling in theebrtias OTadefejll some important 'considerations. %e'toniwi ' try wtis then undeveloped, so prices S'l to be much lower now. Small saflmgwfaS m used to take over three months to : fes u New Zealand, now huge steamers § third of the time. There were ilea|gpf roads, and no railways. Industries ''&&'£■% * their infancy, expenses heavy;. i sni2.S!. Think of the facilttieslfbri&fSsi tion and transit of necessaries whicitd||j| in the meantime come into existence]; It I is easy to explain why prices were spedteif S high in the sixties. Money was bebjf I like water in. war with the 1 sands of British troops were being';£rc?i|S| I out, and most of our able-bodied | withdrawn from productive "wort "fo|?ig|jll How could prices be anything ]b#pj|| ffl The path of militarism to which. wOir«.tKW : 'i committing ourselves carmc*birfcl<i&d:in^ ! l same direction.. In facing the prohlajs'iiE!;! the future, reliance on brute force ri&j. v than. on. justice is more likely to in disaster than to ensure our safeir. ':';% H. MiSOJr t 'M,A,'' i Sir,— j»reai deal lias already ' \ written on tho above, but it oppeara t& $$ ( that a number of the writers have by guesswork. " Horny Hind '", mailSsa jSalrJll statement that ho still holds that the cost's?; j necessities is greater now (even alloronjfes'i increase of-wages) than 20 -years : "Horny Hand's" informaiaon^-I,iriS?fflp| the wholesale prices of a few arados of;iß|S | and also of 1878, and I venture fe siiteiiiijj at the present time those goods^xaitjii''.:■] bought retail for less cost than the wholaaa 1 price then. In 1878: Sugar, 2*5 -l(b$w"; ton; vestaa (250), 19s <>d gross; -jKffif|H (half-pints), fe sd; ciindles,. ''SiJjjjJtei;-' ] soda, 19s; starch,'4£d; Heme raisoia; fe-4 ''■ Epps's cocoa,' Is ?ld; i-oap, 25s pCTCfRJ::,' cornflour, 7^d; T.B. jams, 7s 5d fonti ' buckets, 54s 6d per dozen. In 1892': Supt; j £24- 10s; candles, SJd; kerosene, Is 3d pifvi gallon; Elemo raisons, 5Jd; ourraßt^-W,|| flour, £9 ss; salt, 4s 6d;. rice, 22sj soap,■ 12s; washing soda, 3s : Mi \ coftec, Is 3d; vestas (250),: 183; 6d";';;pS.H^' I .''i 9s; and everything else \in Clothing is also now chea!>er.;V\Vijiia|!«?|| very low, and it was seldom we h&stp_mf[\ moil 3 anybody. P. I«B QTJSSB, ,| La Rerraite, HamDton East, -' V J October 16, 1912., -"-'■ ' BIBLE IN ! SCMOOLS. ' -' J Sir,— writers on the above the daily press gain the sympathy "of y&i' readers by concluding their epistks wi&fl j few words of reverent acknowledgedieat;?{j J "the Great Teacher." We know'.Blii chiefly through His written Word .(agifot m to the heart by the Povrer ,of BissJp'.s| Spirit). One of " the Great commands to His apostle Peter was: ''I«J 1 my iambs." Elaavrhero Ha>/comr!Mo "When yo pray say "Our Father,^ eti ] Many littio children, especially in tH coattry, have to walk, or perhaps run, itt'ifc^;.; order to be in their places : when scj»» ~: opens. Some of them may have, bid .fe;: help in milking cows, feeding animtls, ui many other small duties- Wise pareiife m ,. guardians will, of course, see : *Nh|^'"..' children begin each day by reverently .w# - ing—as a family—before the "Lord <& f | Maker;" but in the public srshools afl'W :• and conditions are gathered togeuft--Where is the man or woman fit to cap>^' ; -; and influence these young and j tender mincb to be found who would ' reverently lead them in offering ;OP>S;'! prayer taught us by the "Great Teacbcff,v : Here, at least, Romanist and .P«&»*>jsj the latter word is hardly | conneotion— agreed. The. late of honoured memory, almost with"'tJs#.'! breath advocated this plan, while one'jOtWp; honoured pioneers, now passed to we*. yond, remarked • " And close sehooljw':.:; the apostolic grace." If these suggeOT«a;> had been faithfully followed there wqflWte: little fear of Paganism in a country WM'-. the bountv of tlio Creator is visible on ««W; side. " A Parent and a PioiSEJ.;^, ~^:^pi(M GREATER AUCKLAND- ■ %. Sir,— have just been reading- the Wmk. scheme of "greater Auckland,". an(rn«w thorougldy agree with him. .tWW I yoked up and drove over the wnoli*,*■*,,| embodied in the scheme, and was f.^'^S 1 :- to see numerous instances of dwellingi?Sfop ! within a few feet apart, and tho^at^^ I means alumditm for the future. Of;.^fe ic cannct be helped now, but <V"j^i£& should be made to guard against this.' A ' remember right. Sir John Logan CampW|?l. tho father of Auckland, had thiS;Ht|)» when he cave Cornwall Park for tl»J§g|S|| and pleasure of Aucklandore., ThorecaMp no doubt that he foresaw the pro,jab#yS;; its beins the centre of the said'^KSfiSM, Auckland!" John Lawsos, J- 1 - Beresford I"ark, near Onehungk" "- .'j Octc'i»r 17, 1912. 1 ->'!-"