CORRESPONDENCE

Southland Times, Issue 19124, 17 December 1923, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE

Letter* must be written fn Ink and on ons ■lds of the paper. Unless a signature, not aeressarily for publication, accompanies a letter u a guarantee of good faith It will ■ot be considered. An asterisk attached to the signature to a published letter denotes that some portion has been deleted by the Kditor. a right which ia exercised in questions of public policy, libel, good taste and fair play. THE TRAMWAYS. To the Editor. gir,—As a visitor for the last four months to your fair town and probably decide to reside here, I have been wondering what kind of men run your tramway. I do not consider they are run in the interests or welfare of the town. Fancy issuing a card of 10 rides for 1/- instead of 14 or even 12, and then charging cash fares 2d, for the first section instead of a Id! No wonder the cars on week days run half-empty. But Sundays is the absolute limit. Who is going to pay 3d for the first section? No wonder the cars are empty. Let the management alter things and the cars will be filled and provide more revenue. I am, etc., ELLES ROAD. GORE TROTTING CLUB HANDICAPS. To the Editor. Sir, —With your kind permission I respectfully wish to draw the handicapper’s and officials’ attention to what I consider very grave liberties taken with the handicaps of the following horses:— Norma Dillon —has won over two miles and has a record of 2.17 for one mile, now has been handicapped as a 4.46 horse. I don’t think another handicapper in New Zealand would put this horse on more than 4.42. Prince Pointer—handicapped and accepted for at Christchurch in November as a 4 44 horse. For not starting in Christchurch is let up 3 seconds and comes in at Gore on a 4.47 mark. Why? John Pointer —won very easily at Forbury 1 mile 5 furlongs, at the same rate of speed for 2 miles equals 4.41, now comes in at 4.45. Fashion Queen —won two miles at Forbury in 4.36 4-5 and instead of going back for winning comes in on 4.39. Ada Bell on the contrary, for bettering her time at Winton no less than ten seconds is put another second further back. Why should one horse be put back for winning and others let out the way these are? Perhaps the handicapper can explain. I am, etc., OWNER.* WAIMATE SHOW PRIZES. To the Editor. Sir.—My attention has just been drawn to a special telegram appearing in your issue of Saturday, November 17th, in which it is made to appear that Mr R. J. Anderson, of Kauana, secured two championships, three first, five seconds, and three thirds, almost sweeping the board in Border Leicesters at the Waimate Show. I should like to point out, Sir, that Mr Anderson did not secure more than one first-prize in Border Leicester sheep at this # show, and that he did not secure a single championship in above mentioned breed. The whole of the championships and special prizes, for which credit has been given Mr Anderson, were secured by exhibits of my cwn. I do not know who was responsible for the information published in your columns, but I think it a great pity that, in a matter that is of such vital importance to farmers, as well as to breeders, a misleading message of this sort should have been given publicity,. Trusting that you will do me the justice of giving honour where honour is due, and by publishing this tftter. I am, etc., THOMAS S. LITTLE, Corriedale, Windsor, North Otago. MIDDLE SCHOOL JUBILEE. To the Editor. Sir,—Jn reply to Mr Watson’s letter I have to say that Mr Watson is reported in the Press of July 28 to have stated at a meeting of his committee that the Middle School was the oldest in Southland, In the Press also a local appeared in which the Middle is said to be the earliest established primary school in Southland. Several other allusions of a like nature have been made in which the pre-eminence of the Middle in point of time established Is indicated. Mr Watson says that at a certain meeting he made remarks as to the existence of other schools before the Middle. It is unfortunate that an equal publicity in the Press was not given to the correction of Mr Watson's error as was given to the error itself. However, the position is now clear: The Middle School, Mr Watson now’ says, was not the first Government primary school in Southland.—l am, etc., H. M. CAMERON. December 12, 1923. “PAT IS LOYAL TO HIS CREED.” To the Editor. Sir, —In the Times of Thursday last appeared a letter signed “Fairness,” in which the above remark was made along with others. There is possible no human trait more noble, more honourable, and more admired, than honest loyalty. There also exists a loyalty which is dishonourable and in many cases criminal, both to the individual and to the State. When two or more thieves are in partnership they expect to be loyal to each other, and if one proves to be disloyal, the others regard him with the same contempt as we would a soldier in the field who is disloyal to his country. There is loyalty to an oath, but enlisting for pay in the Confederate Army to continue slavery in the United States cannot be a loyalty to one’s conscience, and, therefore it behoves every person to examine closely, honestly, and fearlessly, what he is expected to be loyal to—the Catholic creed especially. The sale of Indulgences,” writes Mr Joseph McCabe, “is so historic a symbol of Papal corruption of the Catholic Church of Spain, that I refused to believe the fact when it was first brought to my notice long after I had quitted the Catholic ministry. My informant, an American gentleman who had lived in Spain for more than ten years, forwarded me copies of these ‘bulas,’ as they are called, and the truth was evident. I have since made full inquiries, written on the subject, and been ‘answered’ by an English Jesuit, who explained that the Indulgence was a pure gift from the Church in return for a specific sum of money, such as (he did not say this • your soap or your butter is, and I nave lost all doubt on the subject. On the windows of Catholic book-shops in Spain one often sees the word 'Bulas,’ in targe type. You enter and ask for a bula,’ or you may go to the nearest priest’s house for one, and find that there are four species, at two different prices. Lay a peseta on the counter and demand the ordinary ‘Bula de la Santa Cruzada’; a flimsy piece of paper, much sealed and impressed about a foot aquare, and with the signature of the Archbishop of Toledo is handed to you, with your change of twenty-five centimes’ "\ou have not bought it. You have given an alms of about seventy-five centimes (about 6d), to the Church (minus the shopman’s commission), and the Church has graciously accorded you—but it would occupy too much space to enumerate the extra ordinary spiritual privileges which on? can purchase for sixpence in this favoured land. The central grace is a ‘plenary indulgence.’ That is the common ‘bula’ of Spanish church life. The rich pay more than the small sum which is stated on the paper, and as the ignorant peasants find frequent need of this comforting assurance, since it only lasts until they sin again, the amount which the Church derives annually from this sordid source of revenue can be imagined. Another ‘bula’ of the same price gives you the same comforting assurance in regard to any deceased friend to whom you wish to supply it. A third -s tVSu QMafcpai. For fifty centimes

(less than fivepence), you obtain permission to eat meat on Fridays and on most of the days on which Catholics in less favoured countries must not eat meat. The fourth ‘bula’ is the most infamous, unless the reader chooses to regard it with humour. Technically, it is known as the ‘composition’—an excellent word. It says that if you have any stolen property of which you cannot discover the rightful owner, the purchase of this ‘bula’ makes the property yours. The pick-pocket does not usually know the address of his victim, and though the ‘bula’ declares that the theft must not be committed in view of the ‘bula,’ the practised conscience of the Spanish thief easily got over that difficulty. But that is not the full enormity or the full justification of the title ‘composition.’ One ‘bula’ costa about a shilling and covers about twelve shillings’ worth of ill-gotten goods. For every additional twelve shillings you have stolen you must give one to the Church — in other words take out a fresh ‘bula.’ And let me quote the incredible words of the document—‘ln the event of the sum due exceeding 735 pesetas 50 centimes (£25) the amount compoundable by fifty summaries, application must be made to ‘us,’ for a fitting solution of the case. The priest will take this tithe of your knavery on a scale he thinks fit to determine.’ Let it be clearly understood that I am not reproducing the statement of writers, travellers, or residents. I am describing or translating the very words of the ‘bulas,’ copies of which lie before me. Incredible as the facts will seem to most readers, yet it is so. The Catholic Church in Spain draws millions upon millions of pesetas every year from the rich and from the densely ignorant peasantry, whose hard won centimes are stolen by this abominable chicanery. English Roman Catholics who heard of this shameful traffic for the first time innocently drew the attention of the Vatican to it, and were, after repeated letters, snubbed for their intrusion. The truth is that the whole traffic is under the control of the Vatican. These ‘bulas’ are no bits of mediaeval parchment that have lingered into the dawn of the twentieth century, they are printed fresh every year, and they cannot be issued until an annual permission comes from Rome. Then a procession of heralds march through the streets of Madrid announcing the glad news that Spain’s unique privilege has been renewed.” This statement was made by Mr McCabe in 1909—that is only fourteen years ago, and we may be sure this traffic is still going on there. Mr McCabe was here in New Zealand again last July, 1923, and in a lecture in Wellington Sir Robert Stout was chairman. Well, the above is Roman Catholicism, and it is not very hard to imagine that when a thief has to kill his victim if resisted, he would be able to “compound” with his priest, especially when he can plead that part of the stolen property goes to the Church. According to my understanding, the Confessional among all Catholics takes the place to a certain extent of the “bula,” because it does not matter much whether you have to give so much for penance, or buying a “bula.” It is high time all these creeds, Protestant and Catholic, are honestly examined on the basis of modern knowledge and not based on such a frightful inheritance of hate towards our fellow citizens. The average human being has troubles enough without this artificial addition to it merely to please the priest and the parson. Your correspondent, “Fairness,” was not quite correct in his statement— Earl Kitchener w’as not a Roman Catholic, and although other nations have criminals too, they also have world-renowned men.— I am, etc., N. A. NIEDERER. QUALITY OF NEW ZEALAND LAMB. To the Editor. Sir, —I was much interested in Mr O’Connor’s letter dated 5/12/23, re quality of New Zealand lamb. It is very easy to sit in one’s office and deal out hot criticism as expounded by the writer, but from the farmer’s point of view at least it would be most interesting indeed, to change occupations, even from now on with some of the buyers whose income is awaiting them, always, rain, hail, or snow. The poor “ ‘Cocky’ hard up against it,” is accused of increasing the number of second grade lambs on the London market. If the poor fellow could make them all “prime” why, he would do so, but what about since the slum his reduced limit at his bank, or vanished credit with a stock firm, and his oft’ repeated efforts to free himself from entanglements of a mortgage or mortgages. He has to get money somehow, and he is forced to sell his stock as soon as he can so as to meet his obligations by a certain date, or get out, despite bad weather such as experienced last autumn, also in many cases lambs are bought as stores by dealers or speculators at store prices who attempt to fatten them, but don’t make a job of it always, then draft down to second grade with only a fair percentage of “prime.” This then is the fault of the breeder evidently. I agree there are careless and indifferent farmers who are not at all concerned about New Zealand's fat lamb industry from a National point of view, further than the cash return to themselves, but I think it is more than evident the majority of farmers realise just as much to-day the necessity for good breeding and proper feeding, as they did in the days when our lamb made its name on the London market. As I have endeavoured above to explain there is no doubt a larger number of second grade lamb is finding its way into the Home market, caused through lack of capital, weather conditions as far as Southland is concerned, and to some extent indifference, yet it is not altogether the breeders fault. There has been almost a continual increase of meat exporting firms, large and small, springing up in the Dominion, and in conjunction with the old established firms competition has been exceptionally keen. This has been felt by the farmers and with the various buyers canvassing him for his season’s lambs he is naturally tempted to sell his lambs to the buyer giving him the best offer. If the buyer steps in and takes second grade lambs from his flock who is to blame? If the farmer drafts his own lambs or gets a stock agent to do it, and forwards them to the works with a number cf second grade lambs amongst the consignment, I say he is to blame, and he is undermining the industry.

One of the chief causes of trouble on the London market was the wrong description of meat or careless grading, which has now been rectified by the establishment of the Meat Board. A recent report from London Office of the Board is interesting re grading. ‘The improvement of some works has surprised operators, who state that meat from such works which in previous years always sold at a substantial reduction is this year selling at prices equal to the best. Standardisation of grading has simplified operations to all concerned.” Evidently there is no cause to worry about the quality of lamb marked “prime” losing its status, the only trouble being the too large percentage of seconds mentioned by Mr O’Connor, for which the farmer is not entirely to blame. I am, etc., T. DOHERTY.