LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16243, 28 November 1914, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

REFORM AND LABOUR. Sir, —I am only a poor woman, but I wish to express my opinion on the political situation. I see that Mr Massey, when asked what he thought about Sir Joseph Ward's proposed baby bonus, said he thought it was the most ridiculous thing he ever heard of. Why, in the Old Country and Australia the Government pays baby tonuses, and why should the Now Zealand Government not do the samel see, also, that Mr Massey is talkjng about the prosperity of New Zealand. Who made New Zealand so prosperous? Why, the Liberal Government. What has tho Massey Government done for tho working class? Nothing; and I advise all the women to vote for Sir Joseph Ward's Party. Factory girls, also, should do eo if they wish to get their hours per week shortened. The cry is that men cannot be got to enlist. Where are the farmers' sons now ? There wero plenty of them to be got at the time of the strike. Where are they now, when they are wanted to fight for their country?—l am, etc., i MoTITEB. Bennockburn, November 26. [We refer to this letter in our leading columns.—Ed. O.D.T.] THE BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS LEAGUE'S PL-EDGE CARDS. Sib,—A good deal of misrepresentation has been made with regard to those interested in the Bible-in-Stale-schools movement in the different electorates who have signed cards circulated by tho Bible-in-State-Schools League. It has been said that those who have signed the blue and green cards have prevented themselves from voting for the candidate whom they would like to. j. wish to say this statement is quite erroneous. Those who have signed tho abovementioned cards are perfectly free to record their vote for any candidate, even though he does not meet the Bible-in-State-Schools League's platform. I am satisfied that confirmation of my statement can eas~y be obtained from the president of the league (the Rev. Mr Baltfour), or from the Rev. Robert .Wood (organiser).—l am, etc., Elector. SUNDAY EVENING SACRED CONCERT. Sir, —Permit me to say that the sacred concert on Sunday evening by my choir and myself is to be given by us as private citizens. We have sought no sanction from the authorities of Knox Church. We are acting, without personal profit, in good faith and Christian charity in the alleviation of human suffering. This explanation is given at the request of tho interim-modera-tor of Knox Kirk Session, in view of the attitude of the Presbyterian Church to Sabbath observance, and the fact that exception to our giving the concert has been taken by the Sabbath Observance Committees of the Dunedin Presbytery and of the General Assembly.—l am, etc., W. Paget Gale. Dunedin, November 27. THE DUNEDIN TRAMWAYS' UNION AND SUNDAY MEETINGS. Sir, —As the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand saw fit to pass a very drastic resolution in condemnation of the Otago Tramways Union of Workers for holding its business meetings on Sundays, I crave space in your paper to state the case for tho union. In the first place, let me 6ay that I think it is very much to be regretted that the mover and seconder of tho resolution did not ascertain the oomplete facts connected with the matter before they set out to slander a respectable body of men. Briefly, the terms of the resolution describe the union's action as a violation of the rights of conscience, and asserts that the union to coerce of its members who conscientiously object into attending Sunday meetings under pains and penalties. In moving the resolution tho Rev. R. Inglis referred to the judgment given by Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., in a case where the union took legal proceedings against a member who refused to pay fines which had been inflicted on him by tho union in accordance with its rules. Ho ateo stated that the Sabbath Observance Committee had approached several persons and bodies, etc., and he maintained that no union or organisation had the right so to frame its rules as to compel the attendance of any man at a meeting on Sunday. Now, with regard" to tho oourt proceedings. let me state the facts, which are as follow .—The member prosecuted openly expressed his intention to refuse to pay any line that might be imposed on him for failing to attend a Sunday meeting without an apology, as he considered that it was illegal to hold a meeting on Sunday, and therefore illegal for tho union to impose a fine on any member for not attending 6uch meeting. A deadlock having arisen, tho union had no alternative but to take legal proceedings for the purpose of ascertaining whether tho rules of the union wero valid or not. Tho union decided to take that course, and also to pay all the expenses connected with the case, even to tho extent of paying the legal expenses of the defendant. Tho case was heard by the magistrate on May 28 last, and judgment delivered on August 27.' Therefore it will be seen that tho magistrate gave the matter his most careful consideration before deciding in favour of the union. As regards the charge of coercion, let me quote the rules of tho union which regulates tho holding of meetings, which reads as follows: —'"The general meetings of the union shall bo held quarterly, half-yearly, and annually. The quarterly meetings shall bo held in tho months of June and December. The annual mooting shall bo held in the month of March, and tho half-yearly meeting shall bo held in tho month of September. Any member absenting himself from the March and September' meetings without a sufficient apology in writing shall bo fined one shilling:."

It will thus be seen that tho union holds four regular meetings in each year, and fines are inflicted only on members who fail to attend (without apologies) two of such meetings—viz., the annual and half-yearly meetings.

As there are 52 Sundays in each year I think it will bo conceded' that the rules of the union are very reasonable, as they demand the attendance of members (to do their own business) on only one Sunday morning in every 26. Even then the conscientious objector can cficape being fined if he takes the trouble to write a few words asking to be excused for lion-attendance.

With regard to, the necessity for holding meetings on Sunday, let me explain that the tram cars in Dunedin commence running at about half-past 6- o'clock in the morning on every week day, and cease at midnight, and on Sundays are running from 12 noon until after 10 o'clock at night. Thus it will be seen that the only time a representative meeting of the union can bo held is in the forenoon of Sunday, unless it is held some time between midnight and 5 a.m. Surely the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Now Zealand would not seriously suggest that, our meetings should be held at such an unthinkable time.

I notieo the Rev. R. L. Walker, in seconding the resolution, stated that " they could not shut their eyes to t,hc fact that there was a section of organised Labour that was anti-Christian." That may bo so. I don't know whether there is or not, but if it is so, it does not apply to the members of the Otago Tramways' Union of Workers, for a. more highly respectable • and trustworthy body of men would be hard to find, and let mo add that every member of the union would like, if it was possible, to hold the meetings at some other time. --! am, etc., J. llaymes. Secretary OtaTO Tramways' Union. .November 27.