VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1934, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS ADVERTISING NEW ZEALAND. LACK OF FACILITIES AT HOME. (To the Editor.) Sir—ln a report in to-day’s issue regarding information I received from, my father concerning the need for some improvement in the stocks of the Publicity Department of the New Zealand Government offices in London, it is stated that when looking through the lantern slides he found that they contained none of Rotorua, Wairakei or Wanganui River. Whilst this statment is correct in the main, I would like to add the exact extract from the letter I received, which runs as follows: “I went through the slides they had available and picked out 60, and most of these are a moth-eaten lot. Of Rotorua, Wairakei and Wanganui River they had hardly a slide that I would put on. 'inis has compelled me to make about 50 from my own negatives.” It is high time members of the Tourist Department made a tour of this country themselves and collected some views that do the country justice, then spread the news and views. Otherwise the future tourists will be flying past without landing. Their present limitation is to land at Auckland and go down the Main Trunk. By that time they have had enough and catch the next boat from Wellington without seeing a fraction of the scenic beauty of either the North or the South Islands.—l am, etc., REG. WEEDEN. Pukearuhe, March 29. “£lOOO GIVEN .TO CHURCH.” (To the Editor) Sir,—With reference to your statements under the above headings in to-day’s paper I beg to say: (1) That no such donation has been given; (2) that 1 was never consulted about such a donation; (3) and that your assertion that “Dr. Kelly considered the time was not then opportune in view of the economic conditions to press forward the scheme for the provision of a school” is absolutely false. The school will be provided when there are enough children in this district to warrant it.—l.am, etc., JAMES KELLY, Catholic Pastor of Pungarehu. Pungarehu, March 29. FUNDS NOT REQUIRED. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l sincerely thank you for the publicity given to my appeal for the unemployed in connection with the Urenui camp. The ban has now-been lifted by the department, so no further funds are required. . I thank everyone for their help.—l am, etc., E. R. C. GILMOUR, Mayor. New Plymouth, March 29. GERMAN COLONIES. (To the Editor.) Sir,—With reference to my previous letter regarding Germany’s former colonies I would have been willing to make some concessions. For instance, the German- flag could be flown once a week in our Navy, and all salutes on that day would be -“Hail Hitler!” But “N.Q.” out of an innocent “sop” makes a bait. : None perhaps will expect Germany to accept my suggestion, but few will expect her to live a quiet life unless restrained within her present boundary. /Perhaps,.‘‘N.Q.” will concede that my suggestion will prove a means of finding .out whether she wants a place in which to expand and. produce the raw materials she' needs or whether the aim is power above-all. things. . Why was Germany ever allowed to agaiii endanger peace? I fear that history will record ita mistake. Has not 'the "tearing up of a slip of paper disqualified her. from being trusted with any -treaty or promise? If Mr. Ramsay MacDonald really thinks the Sermon on the Mount instructs him to place ourselves in" the •hands of' whatever enemies arise let him do. it. Then we may be rewarded by Heaven, but not so while he holds an olive Branch in one hand and a bayonet in the .other. The alternative is to let the dolereceivers turn to welding plates. Otherwise precious mothers’' sons may sooner ;than we expect be called away to face 'a nation that, cannot yet treat her own subjects humanely—l am, etc.,-■ QUERY. Stratford. March 29. THE SANCTITY OF THE HOME. (To the Editor.) Sir,—ln your leader of the 26th inst. you again assume that the Government is justified by expediency in taking a man from his home by force. You again yard up the slaughterman, the drover and the shearer to raise a dust to obscure the issue. I would remind you that they are (so far at least) free agents. Let me remind you that no emergency except one—war to preserve our national integrity—can ever justify an intrusion bn the sanctity of the home, and no emergency can ever warrant a violation of the principle of liberty. Pandering to the party in power, you choose to ignore those basic factors in nationhood. It is immaterial to our argument'whether the New Plymouth unemployed are wrong or right. I know nothing about them, but I do know that no nation can long endure that respects neither the sanctity of the home nor the principle of liberty—l am, CtC ' W. GODKIN. Puniwhakau, March 28.