LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16984, 21 April 1917, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE MAYORAL ELECTION. Sin, —The public will havo noticed in your columns this morning an emphatic denial given by Councillor Shacklock to a statement he was represented as having made as chairman of Cr Green's meeting at Roid and Gray's, the report of which was communicated to your paper. From this incident. tho public may perhaps be able to judge how much * reliance can bo placed on tho statements that have been made against Mr Clark by his opponents. lam sure the electors will resent tho circulation of misleading statements that have been circulated concerning the Mayor. Cr Green is making a groat deal of tho " rolling office " theory. It is a pity ho is not more consistent in his ideas. Did he not occupy tho mayoral chair at the North-East Valley on five separate occasions, and did he not stand and suffer defeat on other occasions? The public will notice that both Auckland and Wellington have returned their Mayors unopposed. Evidently these cities do not believe in tho "rolling offioe." Certain of our councillors would liko to dictate to the citizens who is to bo our Mayor. Tho right of choosing the Mayor belongs to the citizens. It is for them to decide who possesses tho necessary qualifications for the office.—l am, etc., April 20. Plat the Game. Sib, —As a large ratepayer, an ex-council-lor, and an ex-accountant of the City Corporation for many years, I ask you to publish ono very good reason why motorists as a body should vote for Cr Green in' the forthcoming election, and that is Cr Green's successful efforts in effecting the removal of the dangerous corners from Normanby to tho Upper Junction. This hill has been notorious as a dangerous one, and Cr Green, by his thoughtful action as chairman of tho Works Committee, deserves tho best thanks of all motorists. Cr Green, as every ratepayer must know, has made many improvements throughout the city, and has without doubt been the leading figure m making the North-East Valley the fine residential area that it is, especially in connection with street lighting and tho formation of roads and their maintenance; but the improvements he has made on the above dangerous hill (without being approached by the Motor Club or_ any other body) deserve publicity, appreciation, and their due' reward. —I am, etc., Edward Howlisox. SHIPPING SPACE. Sib, —I had a small consignment to ship to Auckland to-day, and endeavoured to get it on board the Kamo, but was informed by the Shipping Company, "we cannot take it; ship full." Wondering what composed the full ship, I went down to the Cross wharf, and among the cargo to go on board the Kamo I noticed and counted over 300 barrels of beer. What s is our National Government doing (or not doing) to allow trains and boats to carry beer and spirituous liquors in preference to general cargo? Surely this is a question for tho National Efficiency Boards, and a visit to 'the wharves and railway goods sheds would be all the evidence necessary. Shortage of coal? Yes, to carry timber, building material, and other necessaries, but quite enough to carry beer —"glorious beer." How much longer are we to put up with this?—l am, etc., April 20. Disappointed Shipper. A FOUNDLING HOME. Sir,—lt is of the babies lam thinking— tho little little children, who will have never a .chance unless somo of us see the danger, the imminent danger,'before them, and step forward instantly to divert it. Theso babies, -born of the war, born of tho agony of separation from loved ones, and then—then —? God help them then, if they aro to bo neglected or left to irresponsible people. Their poor little infant wail has hardly been voiced before it is extinguished—not always wilfully and of set design—but through tho unnatural means to dispose of their infants which the mothers— little more than children themselves —resort to in order to be free to "earn a livelihood." They can't take their babies about with them; many of them would "die of shame" if it were published among their friends and acquaintances that they were mothers without being wives 1 The only thing possible seems to them to be to insert an advertisement asking "Will some kind person adopt a baby of — —months old; fine child; sole possession given." The old answer is always ready, "You don't want it known, my dear; of course, you don't; it'd spoil all your chances! How much can you afford? Well, make it £20; say, at 10s a week after the first £5." So the pretty little garments are made, the small cot provided, the hardearned money handed over, and sole possession given. When the amount is paid up, what happens ? Where may we find the baby ?

Sir, all your readers must a± some time or other have heard of "The Foundling Hospital" in England, where a baby is admitted at any hour of the day or night; where no questions are asked, and where tho child is received as from God, and nourished and nurtured and trained as a child should be, being eventually placed out on the world, after having' been taught a trade or initiated into the mysteries of a profession. Theso little ones are known as "God's Orphans," thrown into His arms from their birth.

The brown paper parcels, hidden behind hedges, in lonely fields, with their pathetic contents, are gruesome and awful enough ; such a terrible waste of dear little lives; such a heart-breaking comment on our civil : sation; so needless, such an indictment of our Christianity! Sir, will 100 New Zealand men and women come forward and guarantee to give or collect £50 within one year, to establish a Home for Foundlings, war foundlings and peace foundlings? I myself will most willingly give, conditionally on 100 others doing the same, the sum of £50, or even £100. 1 will undertake to select or have built the house, to see to its furnishing, and to get it efficiently and properly started before my return Home. I will also give, or collect lo give, £50 yearly towards the maintenance of tlio home, if 10 others will do the same. Years ago I myself adopted a foundling boy, and brought him up with my own sons. He died a hero in the North Sea, having gone down with all hands in his boat, the Clan M'Naughton. The first news that I had of it was the night I landed in Adelaide, having come out from Hotne. One of my own sons is fighting in France, a lieutenant with the K.G.A. The name of the little one whom I adopted, nwl who, as a gunner, went down with his ship,> was Sidney Henley. He was a good, fine man. I would suggest calling the foundling home " The Henley Home for Littlo Children." I suggest that the homo should bo established in the neighbourhood of that city which offers the most liberal response to this appeal. Sir, help me to save, the babies! Help mo to help the unmarried mothers, who are sorely tempted to relinquish their bab es to the first "kind person willing to adopt" the child and pocket the cash. There would bo fewer little white coffins, but many more stalwart men and women, proi;d of New Zetland, and thankful for a life redeemed from (?). Donors may send in their donations to the account 'of the Sidney Henley N.Z. Homo for Little Children, care of the Bank of Australasia, Wellington.—! am, etc., E. M. Story. 9 , THE AUTHOR OF ESPERANTO. Sir,—lisperantists the world over will be honouring the death of the master, Dr L. I'. Zameniof, tho immortal author of lisperanto. That the international language is no longer in its infancy, but in a vigorous; manhood, is conceded by all those who know the facts relating to it. British Esperantists moro than a year ago presented to the Belgian Rod Cross two motor ambulances, with the proud title of "Esperanto" emblazoned on the cars. Significant of tho fact that Esperanto has come to stay is that there aro no less than 100 monthly periodicals published, the Japanese having two themselves. The late Dr Mayor, the aged professor of Latin at the University of Cambridge, after only a three months' acquaintance with the language, addressed the Third Esperanto held in Cambridge, with facility. He as an educationalist, that every child, after first being taught its mother tongue, should learn Esperanto as the best stepping-stone to the acquisition of other languages Latin, Greek, French, German, etc. Esperanto rejoices in a universal or worldwide Esperanto Medical Association, known as "La Teka." Its organ is named "Kuracists" (The Doctor). Dr Zamenhof was a Russian Pole and a Jew, and practised his profess-on in Warsaw as an oculist. As an instance of the practical value of Esperanto in this terrible war, I may add that a Frenchman who was taken prisonor by tho Germans, having bad no food given him for three days, appealed in Esperanto first to one German with no response, then to another with no response, but his third attempt was rewarded, and his fellow Gorman Iv=perantist immediately gave him hi 3 own ration, and saw to it that he was fed ever after. Hero is a practical reply to tho "Cui bono" objector.—l am, etc., W)i. ItAint, Fellow of tho British Esi>cranto Assoc.

THE GOAL STRIKE. Silt, —Tho coal miners of New Zealand having refused to supply the people of this community with coal, it is "up to" tho people to refuse to supply tho miners with food. No ooal, no food; —that's a fair tiling. Then, in respect to those men who will neither work nor light for tho preservation of tho community, it is also a fair thing that they should not share in tho advantages of this dominion. In respect to theso drones, we should emulate the bee, which teaches us an object lesson in respcct to this kind of insect—out of tho hive they go! Work, fight, starve, or get out! Lot tho miners havo their choice of these four alternatives. It is not a fair thing that they should loaf in a timo of peril on tho rest of tho citizens of this co-operative community.—l am, etc., Duuedin, April 20. James 11. Bonn. Sir,—Are wo as a loyal section of tlio British Empire going to allow it to go forth that a< minority of irresponsibles within our midst are to dominate us against our,, fair, democratic, and perfectly legal enactment of tho Military Service Act set up by our representatives for the furtherance of our cause for humanity's sake? Aro we, I say, going to allow this state of things to exist any longer in silence? As a citizen of this fair land I personally say, No! Tho timo has about come when T do not feel inclined to bo kicked any longer. Let the dominion, from tho North Oapo to the Bluff, rise up as one man, and show these irresponsibles that their tme has come to an end. Lot there bo mass meetings, I say, in every largo centre and hamlet, and thus let the people give expression to their view of the disgust they feel, and show this anarchist-loving class that the position of the Empire demands us t.o close their mouths once and for all. I feel that it is of no use our Ministers trying to pacify them. They know no law, or order; they appear to me to know no flag; least of all the flag that has given the greatest liberty. You cannot argue with them in a way to bring them to see the error of their ways. The only way, it seems to me, is the might and strength of purpose of the loyal numbers in the dom.nion to will their expressions at large mass meetings, and crush {hem by the power that would be shown at such meetings. Our boys are fighting, and fighting gallantly for our sake and humanity's sake. Arc we going to do our bit with this internal enemy? Are we?—l am, etc., A_n t Englisuiiax. Mataura, April 20. / THE MILITARY SERVICE ACT AND THE CLERGY. Sib, —On the 19th inst. you reprint from the Church Envoy a pronouncement by the Primate of the Anglican Church on this subject. It is specially interesting and' illuminating as to the ground of the objection by tho Primate to the calling up of "clergy" to serve in the war. It is not that the work of the Church is of the nature of an essential industry. This may be regarded as a secondary ground of objection. The main point is " that ordination imparts a character to the ordained which makes it wrong' for him to quit liis sacred duties for any less spiritual occupation." In order that tho public may see tho radical difference between his point of view and that of other Christian Churches of this I quote the following resolution which tho Synod of Otago and Southland at its recent meeting passed with enthusiasm: —"The Synod, observing the Rev. Hector Maclean, of Knox Church, Invercargill, in the uniform of a sergeant-major in the Expeditionary Force, acknowledge that ho is forsaking the brightest prospects of success in the ministry tf Now Zealand for tho service of the king in the battles of tho nation; express their profound admiration for his eolf-sacrificing action; trust that ho may find- in the fellowship of _ his comrades that opportunity for spiritual usefulness which he has desired; and pray that he may bo supported amid tho trials and protected amid the dangers of tho war, and brought back in safety to his people and his homo. The Synod, in associate with the name of Mr Maclean the names of the other ministers and probationers who havo gone to the war from the bounds of the Synod— namely, the Rev. Messrs Dutton, Ross, Clark, Wilson. Gilbert, Shaw, Burridge, Lopdell, Hardie. Irvine, Brown, Halford, Nicol, and M'Neur." I venture tho opinion that on the present question, the Synod of Otago and Southland in A.D. 1917 is more likely to bo right than the Council of Chaledon in a.d. 451.—1 am, etc., Alex. M. Finlayson. ' Maori Hill, April 19. ' Sir, —In his address to tho clergy and laity of the Dunedin diocese, as published in your issue of to-day, the Primate breathes that fatherly and Apostolic spirit which, whilst protesting against tho operations of tho Military Service Act as regards the clergy, in dignified words claims the catholicity of his Church and clergy, and consequently the soundness of his claim lor their exempt.on from ?ny ordinary secular law, which might clash with church or canon laws. H.s position is made the moro impregnable by virtue of tho decrees of tho Primitive Councils, which, as he claims, are admitted as of force in tho church, and which certainly override any decis.ons or pronouncements of any merely lay or secular bodies. This attitude is undoubtedly correct, but, unfortunately, Governments do not, and will not recognise any theological authority, unless in so iar as it agrees with their enactments.

say nothing of the 'bulk of the people of New Zealand, how many of the members of Parliament, in, this or past Legislatures, would oven in the slightest degree recognise the sp.ritual authority or episcopal of his Lordship? Further, would these spiritual " contumacious " even admit that such a. thing existed? I think not. This, of course, is lamentable; but unfortunately the Erastianism and secular government of the Establishment has borne a too bitter fruit—What should be, and what is, are different matters.

Parliament, with, its varying personnels / and vagaries of thought, ever guided and directed tho theological efforts of the '"ecclcsia docens" in tho Establishment, and henco Erastianism held sway, to , tho extent even that a '• Holy Spirit called" Bishop could not be accepted and consecrated unless by consent of a perhaps anti-Christian minister. The Primate seems to hold as authorities tho Commissions of Elizabeth. This is as it should be. But Elizabeth issued many Coram.ssions. notably under Lord Burleigh, and one of the in was for the instant removal of altars crosses, vestments, etc. — in fine, all " Popish " symbols " (Grindal's ' Remains," Parker Library). I sincerely trust that nothing of the kind exists in or about the churches under the Primate's jurisdiction.

The English Bishops' opinions on the first four councils, and Bishop Harold Brown's opinion on the six General Councils are, at best and most, tyut opinions, and aro net binding pr eyon directory on, or to, any parson or' layman of the Anglican Church. Sad indeed it is to have to admt; but the average member, nominal or practical, of the Church of England is bound by these Episcopal or Convocational, opinions, utterances, -or' decisions just about as much as though they were issued by the " Pope of Rome."—l am, eto., F. Kjtkneth MTDONALL. ' April 19. FOOD VALUES. Sir,—l waited for Mrs Pinfold to reply to "Food," and would now like to add a littlo. Mrs Pinfold docs not emphasise the question of cost, but this is almost daily becoming a serious question, especiallv in vjew of the world-wide' present" and "predicted shortage. Animal foods are the least nutritous, most liable to cause disease, and the most expensive. The natural foods —grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts—aro the cheapest, most healthy, and least costly. Ono pound lean meat, with bone taken out, costs about lOd, and gives 10 units of energy. Ono pound of whole wheat bread costs less than 2£d, and gives 600 units of energy. Wheat contains all the elements of food in the right proportions, cxccpt fat. Consequently a person can live on whole meal bread and a little butter or olive oil, work hard, and live on a very small income. Not long, ago in your paper it was stated as a. proved fact than men had lived on potatoes and a little butter and hnd_ worked hard. Such a restricted diet, whilst enough, is not necessary yet. I live on wholemeal bread, fruits, peanuts! beans, peas, potatoes, and vegetables, all eaten raw except bread, which is sliced and baked in tho oven. Mrs Pinfold classes peas and beans, as carbohydrate, but they aro rather proteins, healthier than those provided by flesh foods. Mrs Pinfold says that salts are required. They are provided in fruits and vegetabl-s if eaten raw. What T have said may shock many; but if such living givcs_ jrood health, as it does, why not follow it? My experience "s proof of this. I do not reqiv're medicine. I work six or seven hours at manual hard labour between two meals only, and urn roninlimentod by my dentist with the st-nWnent that ho very seldom has a patient with Mich a eK-ui mouth, and that it matters I'ttle whrt.her I clean my te«*th or not. Most neonle orcfer to eat for pleasure, not for h<ylth. —I am, etc., April 17. Natural Forms.

NATIONAL SERVICE. Sin,-—Wo havo gloried not a little in tho magnificent response made by our dominion to the Empire's call. Has any part of the Empire shown greater patriotism.' Gallipoli and the iSomrne have given one answer to that. But what of our-" selves.' Capital feasts on the blood of the Empire; .Labour run riot strikes at our defences and throttles our very existence. Our leaders! They are Imperialisms on champagne and oysters. Capital declares that Labour should work and light. Labour declares that Capital should lignt and give, if patriotism means unity for tho sake of the Empire, let us not boast of our patriotism till we put our own house in order. In these critical times what should bo our watchword? Our representatives say, conscription of men; our workers say, conscription of wealth. Tho extremists of both sides would be at each other's throats sooner than concede that there was virtue in tho other party. Why is this? Simply because whore it is a matter of self-sacrilico we halt. We do not consider how we can serve the Empire best, but how other people can do that for us. What we do want is conscription of resources. This is no time for profit-making or for slowing down our work, or for striking. We are at war, and should be content and thankful for a frugal existence. All our resources should be at the disposal of our Empire, all profits should be devoted to paying for this war, and the Government should havo power to say " go here," "go there," to every member of the community. .To that end it seems to me that the Government should take over all -the industries of tho dominion. Does anyone deserve a greater wage than that of the soldier at tho front? Every worker, from manager to message boy, should be in the pay of the Government, and his wage should be proportioned to the soldier's pav. Everv non-worker should bo interned and set to cultivate huge areas like our Town Belt for the production of foodstuffs. { Our present methods are ruining the for- j tunes of some and making tho fortunes of others. That' is not .just. A national calamity should be borne by the nation as a whole. An effective moratorium might be established so that at tho end of the war a person's financial position would be what it is now. Let us give a- death-blow to traitorous back-bitings and to traitorous exploration, and stand undivided for the welfare of the Empire.—l am, etc., April 19. A. JOHNSON. MUNICIPAL INSURANCE?. Sir, —The opinion of "Duty" as to my not paying proper attention to my duties is nis own, and might have carried some weight if he had been a man and signed his epistle. My attention to duty, both to Empire and city, is nothing to be ashamed of. I am doing my best to assist Cr Green to be the Mayor of Dunodin, and consider it the duty of all fair-minded electors to reward his lengthy service by placing him in the mayoral chair.—l am, etc., " R. S. Black. Dunedm, April 20. IRISH GRIEVANCES. Sib, —It is as I feared it would be. Mr M'Donall will vouchsafe me no satisfaction on the question of the present grievances of Ireland. Jtlow liko other Home Rulers ho is, for are not his sentiments swayed more by the traditions of past grievances than by the intensity of the present ones? And how trifling is his crowning grievance 1 'Yorkshire' could even imag,ne there were no grievances. This'makes mo sad. I am afraid Mr M'Donall's imagination aas again run away with him, as it did in his description of the thousands—or was it millions?—of Irishmen slaughtered in France. I most distinctly named two grievances—landlordism and pauperism. . The curse of the shebeen man is sad enough to constitute another one. Apologising for using your space in a forlorn quest,—l am, etc.. April 19. Yorkshire. Sin, —In common with many other poor innocents, "D.C." is evidently eager for information on the above subject, when it is patent that all • such take the stand— "It is not so, I don't credit it, it is impossible, now prove it to me." Let "D.C." again carefully read my letter. JJid your correspondent meet an "Irish grievance" in broad daylight, at the Octagon, he would not recognise it. But the very_ things that "D.C." and Co. refuse to admit in this year will be freely admitted by their grand or great-grand children and the then politicians and writers. There is an old and true saying that "Posterity is the best judge of the truth." It may be pure coincidence, but I have met the story of the "howling child" before; it is not convincing, neither is it to tho point. ' I find that in your own and contemporary columns, for the past four years at least, many Irish grievances have been ventilated; some at least of yoiir readers did not see or heed them. "D.C." will, find in Harold Begbie's "Lady Next Door" a grievance , or so, and tho files of tho Chronicle will prove interesting and instructive. True! til s last great daily is the organ of tho "Rotten Liberal Government," but its nows is fairly accurate and authentic. Let "D.C." obtain -information at firsthand from reliable sources; mine would be but "ipse dixit." Ho would then find a deal to ponder over, and would ponder at his present obtuseness, if such it be.— I am; etc., April 20. P. Kejtneth M"Donah.