LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15829, 28 January 1915, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

EDUCATION AND PATRIOTISM

♦ Sir, —I think vou are right, that students should be taught the history at least of their own country, but I also think Sir Robert Stout touched the keynote of the whole sAstem, whether in education, military, or"naval matters, or any other thing that affects the Empire generally, when he said there should be equality of opportunity. This does not apply at present to naval or military affairs in Kngland. 1 consider if they "are going to force eveiy man to fight for his country, which he has every right to do. then they should give him 'equal opportunity to reach the highest position obtainable. " J. E. Ssirrrn. MOUNT EDEN LOAN. Sir.—Kindly allow me space to endorse the remarks made by - ' Resident.'' in last Saturday's Herald, for it is high time an endeavour be made to stop what might be termed the " Frenzied Rating*' in tins district. The present rates are not only amongst the highest in the Auckland suburbs, but the" " ratable values" are considerably higher than any other. To add these proposed rates on to the existing ones means an increase of 75 per cent.. and at such a time as the present, is

iniquitous. Again, the ratepayers have lately-been compelled to instal water meters, fur which privilege we pay for water at twice the price of a city consumer, an 1, I understand, at 100 per cent, profit to the Mount Eden Borough Council. The park, perhaps, is needed, but would it not be better to pay tlie owners a sum to ket«p this offer open for. say, five years, or a more settled time before saddling ratepayers with more rates. My own position i? this that if the loans are carried I shall be called upon to pay about £12 per annum rates, including water, and I am the owner of a palatial residence of five small rooms on a -10itsection, and there are hundreds of us in the same boat. Wake up, Mount Eden [residents, whv even to go in with Greater Auckland would be more sensible. Mount Eden. Anothkb RrsiDF.NT. DIPORTED TIMBER. Sir.—l notice that an Auckland firm has a cargo of Oregon pice unloading. Is it not about time that the importation of this timber received the attention of the Government. Tlie sawmilling industry hag probably been the heaviest sufferer of any trade in the Dominion ov ing to the present war. Many mills have teen forced to shut down owing to lack of orders, whilst the rr-ijoritv cf the rest of us are working about halt cur time. Notwithstanding this, 'onsiderable quanti'ies of Oregon pine are being .mported. As showing the effect this ha.; on the local industry, let us take the case of a shipment of, say, one million feet of Oregon— which is not an unusual quantity--as several millions are imported every year. The prod action locallv of a similar quantity would mean the disbursement of --lose on £5000 in wage?. At present I understand the import duty on this timber is 2s per 100 ft. I would suggest either that the duty be considerably increased, or that the importation of Oregon pine during the war be prohibited. In view of the reported slump in America the probability is that unless this is done a large ."-mount of timber will find its way to New Zealand ports. In conclusion," I might point out that the Dominion (an produce timbers which are equally suitable for the purposes of which Oregon pine is used, so that the imported article can easily be dispensed with, without in any way affectirig local Requirements.

Saw-mill Emtlotet:

RECRUITING

Sir, —Re Mr. Still well'a letter in Saturday's Hebald re recruiting, it seems only fair that "a very laudable example to the rest of the community"' should be set firstly by the one who proposed that others should set it. Many Government employees and others are both overworked and underpaid possibly, but it is well that all in authority do not hold the same views as your correspondent appears Ao. or we would soon see the overworked fathers, husbands, and brothers in the hospital and their starving families seeking assistance from Government sources. Mr. Still well's suggestions remind one of the Irishman, who, finding his blanket too short, cut a piece off the bottom and sewed it on to the top. Because the public money which is used for the setting up of contingent* for the war would then have to be divided and a portion given for the help which our workers would demand in their need. No one can deny that there may be a few shirkers in Auckland, who probably "shirk" other duties besides recruiting, but I have not happened to meet them so far. I think that in expressing our views upon this or any other question of importance, where there are two sides to be considered, that we should be careful not to give opportunity for others to say, or think, "Dr.m vitant stulti vitia. in contraria currant. Ji'STTta.

EXISTENCE AFTER DEATH. Sir, —In reply to Mr. John Lepoer's letter regarding communication with" the dead, let me say that assertions are not proven facts, such as would be accepted in a court of justice. I would like to ask Mr. Lepper does he know that a few years ago Sir Oliver Lodge published a book entitled " Mind and Matter." a criticism of the book " The Riddle of the Universe." by Ernest Haekeal ? In the end of that book Sir Oliver Lodge makes this statement regarding the continuance or cessation of the life at death:—" So far science has demonstrated nothing to man what it is that survives after death." In the article quoted in the press as to the accuracy of the statement by Sir Oliver Lodge, I do not find any new' facts adduced to give any further light on the subject as to what is beyond death or the grave. I claim that there is no mere positive proof than the people of 5000 years ago possessed. Auckland. t Gracik. Sir.—The exceedingly interesting statements of Sir Oliver Ledge, quoted in the Herald is important for verv many reasons, but principally, I think, for flie following:— the great scientist voices the latest conclusion—which he himself calls "a tremendous conclusion"— arrived at by the scientific world upon a subject in which all who have recently been bereft of their loved ones are certainlv most deeply interested; and he affirms that not only do we continue to exist, but also that the "deceased" know far m-ve about things than wo do, and communication is possible. Sir Oliver is not' one to make a statement without having verv good data to support it. so we may rest ; assured that science has at last slowiv worked its way one step nearer to th"« fact that man—the real man-is immortal Scripture has ever proclaimed, and religion has justified that man is a spirit, immortal and but sojourns here in this mortal world' How apt we are to forget this all-import-ant fact! How we allow ourselves to he swirled away on the wave of materialism wafted hither and thither bv whatever wind may blow! Will the words of Sir Oliver help us to remember the lesson so often learnt and quickly forgotten? That we live in the flesh but to serve the purpose of the spirit in man. When we truly realise that this is so we perforce rind it necessary greatly to change the who!trend of our live*. In the light of recent events we may, I think, more readilv respond to the •"tremendous conclusion." If we grasp its significance we may be led clearly to see that at present we. both collectively and individually, attach far too much importance to. and make the be-all and end-all of our lives, very much that is of very questionable service. We pander to the body and its wants, giving it harmful luxuries, to our desires arc! emotions, instead of using them merelv as a means of expressing the higher man. There is another demonstrable scientific fact having important bearing here—that we evolve beyond our present stage as we learn to serve, whether we be nation, class, or man. Will the "tremendous conclusion" of Sir Oliver Lodge bring us nearer to a realisation of our professed religion? Will it awaken in us the -will to follow the great example of its Founder? To act as though we believed that the only "right" we have is to serve our fclbw-

men, that all possessions and rxn B ! should only be regarded as held into! 1 to be utilised to help oar struggle- X^ rades. Just now, when the world iT^n in turmoil, we may the more readily pt* ""' the idea. Germany lived to reach promP ' ing manhood amongst the nation, i. educated, herself day by day to the 5 of grasping world-dominion. To-<j 5v iT falls by her own act. Rome fell bv*n« • * - her accumulated wealth for £elf-»r»Uft? < tion, whilst her conquered petpb? s «j£j ' for her assistance. America a ;J p«r.„£s among the nations of to-day, oecaueaki"*? is seeking material wealth*, when" & ' | should be sacrificing it to help to rid Si ': I world of the evil forces now Jet i 9 i ; Think of our social and sterna i ideals and relationships !n IbblfS 1 ' [England is morally «t.-o ni . l )fall „ S h [ ' risking everything to the true, men have reached '.• hi -b r i, ,*• " self-interest, hut ih.y !.; IVC &* ' | Caesar fell, as Napoleon fell, a- the Ka' M must himself in cue time fa!]. Are *** ' the great examples < f our race', to *i,!? we all look up. those v.'.., " .„, ,;-° ViJ0 °i to help us on! M0ti.,.., \hj W *"* " sons in this creat strt:..;.-. a, Jr.J*** they arc not :.,:-:,,.;, ■ -: 1 find them in th? fufi'- -~,- -;]] , ? "* that they ha-, ft grown =n h-i*** SZ, by th* sacrifices yen avd they have Dtr»er - hv the sacrifices ycu a-d t:„-y have > lnes? an? the tacts as known by the world to-dav. and ■.:,•. he ki2*2 all »i titt-y but. as stated by Sir Olive? |", .bey the laws. Mrsnc '