VOICE OE THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1935, Page 7

VOICE OE THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS EGMONT COUNTY LOAN SCHEME. POSITION OF SOUTH RIDING. (To the Editor.) \ Sir,—ln your issue of the 12th inst. I note that Mr. Tosland considers that in converting the Egmont county loans on the basis of “special area loans being spread all over the county, instead of each riding carrying its own special area loans,” it will be an imposition on ratepayers in the south, riding. I fail to agree with Mr, Tosland, for* the. simple reason that the south riding has had miles of roads formed arid metalled by means of unemployed labour, without having to raise special area loans for that purpose, as we at this end of the county have had to do, to get access to the back country. , In many cases in’ the north riding roads made with special area loans are being used as main roads. Therefore it is only right that they should be spread over t*e whole county. For the benefit of ratepayers I might add that all main road and bridge loans have always been spread over the whole county, although the south riding has had a very much greater portion of these loans spent in its riding than either the centre or north ridings has had. In fairness- to. ratepayers at this end of the county Mr., Tosland should take this into consideration, and not take up such an-unfair attitude.—l am, etc., A. J. LILLEY. Warea, April 15. EPSTEIN’S STATUE OF CHRIST. (To the Editor.) Sir,—The recent criticisms appearing in your'columns relative to Epstein’s latest work of art (or otherwise) call for sortie comment. One correspondent considers it- an insult to the beautiful Christ, and can imagine only an expression of intense Love and happiness, as depicted in a certain .magazine. Now this misdirected zeal ' only shows how mere personal imagination is no guide -at all. The inspired ■ “Word” tells us that the Saviour was to be “a man of sorrows’and acquainted with grief.” The Gospel records bear this out. Further, we read that “surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows”;. that “He was oppressed and afflicted”; and, no doubt, as a result of this load, it is stated, “He hath no form or comeliness. . . . there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” So much for the physical appearance of One whose character, in its absolute spotlessness, was unique among the sons of men. Another correspondent considers that, the body being dispensed with, “you cannot make an image of that spirit 'the kingdom of Heaven .within you.’”, Of course, the divergence of views concerning Epstein’s statue refers to the Lord when bodily (present among men on the Earth. However, this correspondent introduces the nebulous idea of the Second Coming of Christ as a spiritual reign in men’s hearts, of which no man can make an image or caricature. The testimony declares that the Lord, when bodily present with His Disciples, was taken up to Heaven in their sight, and whence, they were angelically informed, He would return in like manner. He, Himself, states that at His return He would find the Earth as it was in the days of Noah—corrupt. His mission is stated to be the overthrow the present impossible constitution of world affairs, and to establish His own pr: jonal reign on Earth which will result in the promised era of “Glory to God in the Highest—peace on earth, goodwill among men.” ■ The question remains: -“Is there any profit in discussions arising from what can only be. the product of varied, imaginations with the possible range from the grotesque to the effeminate?—l am, etc., . ■ ■ ' - P.A. Stratford, April 15; [Corresponderice on this "subject is now closed.—Editor.].. WEST END SCHOOL JERSEYS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The present headmaster of the West End. school, Mr. W. A. Brown; has been kind enough to supply a totally unnecessary explanation in regard to the design of ' jersey adopted—unnecessary because rhe leaser, for suggesting die monstrosity, was given by Mr. Barnes when submitting his proposal. However ( it was, no doubt, a kindly thought. I would like Mr. Barnes, or Mr. Brown—now that he has entered a controversy that no longer concerns him—to state definitely what schools that compete with West End can in any way cause confusion with hoops of grey and red. Mr. Brown writes “that such confusion is possible we know from experience.” He . i. : must refer to some other grouping of colours, as West End has not yet appeared in its jerseys. ' May I suggest that some senior girls, or "old girls,” of the school prepare two ' jerseys by knitting or tacking on strips of red on a grey jersey, one in each design, and that these be worn by two boys parading before the committee or annual meeting of householders. I am convinced all will agree that the jersey as proposed is a monstrosity.—l am, etc., PARENT OF THREE RUGBY PLAYERS. New Plymouth, April 15.

WHO GETS THE EXCHANGE?

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Who gets the increased exchange? A perusal of the report, of the Monetary Committee shows that' it took voluminous evidence from alleged experts, all of which favoured the rise in the exchange rate. But it never dawned upon any member of the committee to ask who was receiving the increased exchange. Was if the farmers, or was it the combinations and institutions that are farming the farmer?

There are financial combines operating in this country to-day possessing assetsand reserves which in the aggregate are' sufficient to pay our nation’s debt. And it is fairly safe to Say that out of every £7,000,000 increased exchange there is at least £5,000,000 which the farmer neither sees nor derives any benefit 'from. It goes into the coffers of these long-lived institutions which, owing to their con-. tinuity, escape terminal taxation; though they enjoy the same State protection'and privileges as the individual. If a private individual amasses a fortune during his life-time a large proportion of it reverts to the Treasury at his death, in the form of death duties. But the institutions above referred to escape these terminal duties because, having no soul, they never die. They go on forever. In fact, ■'Tennyson’s “Brook” is a mere toddling infant by comparison. Furthermore, from a national standpoint they are non-creative. Their wealth can have come from only two sources—either by over-charging their clients or by underpaying their policy holders. If individually-acquired wealth is subject to a State tribute or levy in the form of death duties, then companyacquired wealth in the form of assets and reserves, once these exceed the bounds of reason and commonsense, should in justice be the subject of an oc-r casional raid by the State. —I am, etc., j , FRANK BELL. Midhirst, April 15.