BABBITS V. SHEEP.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14211, 30 May 1910, Page 3

BABBITS V. SHEEP.

AND SCItU'TUIUB 'IK.VCHING. Although Scriptural authority is invoiced in regard t-o many questions it would hardly be suspected that the injunctions of tlio liibie could be ai>plied to the question of tho relative claims of sheep and rabbits upon the accommodation of the freezing works of Southland. It appears., however, that the Scriptures were somewhat freely quoted in a recent- correspondence between tho Southland Frozen Meat Co. and a Duuedin rabbit exporter. It will be remembered that towards tho end of April the Southland freezing companies iOimd it necessary to shut down their works against rabbits and that the decision aroused considerable indignation amongst those engaged in the industry. .Pressure was brought to bear Upon the ireezing companies to induce them to reconsider their decision, and the Dunedin exporter in question called his knowledge or the liibie to ins assistance, liis iirst telegram to the Southland Frozen Meat Go. lead as follows :

"Christclnirch Meat Co. blocked, but. recognising the _ notice of old cheats claims <ui their consideration, ha\e shut out sheep, rattle, and lambs in order to continue accenting rabbits. See hist sentence Luke. C - iii>. 10 v. 37." I ho Managing Director of tho Southland 1* rozen Alcat Co. gave due con!t>n to the course ndont-ed at JiunisKle where mints were accented in preieronce to mutton, and on" ret'erenre in the passage cited be found the exhortation "Go and (hi thou likewise." Alter oogitaiion he sent the following reply:— «*

Hurnsido action and vour text no-red. Our circumsi a noes l'nnv di/ler. See Ist- Samuel, Chaoter 14. verse and J'roverhs. Cantor j. v . 10." ]<eleieiiie will shnv,' that the .Manager of the Southland Frozen Meat C'o. had ialicn back on the precedent set up bv manded every man to ■■bring hither his ox and Ins sheep and to slay them lieie. r urthermore, ho threw tin a second hue in aetenoe, and ueatlv parried the citation ol the Buruside example by quoting the wise Solomon to the etleet ".My Son if sinners entice thee consent thou not."

Jhe rabbit exporter was not. however, by any means at the end'of his resources, and was not at all prepared to _ eon,ess himself silenced bv the weight of Saul and Solomon. Jlis reply to the Southland Frozen Meat Co Has as follows :—■

Have referred to wicked Sanl's command. Heading passage further discover that it only states that the people brought in oxen, and no sheep and la nibs. 1 here was evidentlv space for rabbits. Bead 'Proverbs, Chanter 1 v. 5: Chapter 2 v. 9 ; Chanter 3 v * 27." The attack by Biblical missiles was now waxing hot, but the Manager of the I'leezmg Co. was sulficiently conscientious to refer to each of the nawafes rated and he there found that the rabbit exporter had confronted him with the following injunctions to virtue and straight dealing:—

. 'A wise man wdl hear and will increase learning: and a man understanding slull attend onto wise counscls."

''Then shall thou understand righteousness and judgment and equity;' Yea everv good oath.'' " ' '

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due when it is within the power of thine hand to do it."

Unfortunately for the rabbit exporter the frozen meat industry wns not firmly established wh«>n the Biblical sares wrote and it would not ho easy to douionstrat" the relevancy of their teachings to the conditions of the industry in Sonthland tn-dav. The Manager of'the Southland "Frozen Meat Co. mi"ht take the view that in matters of eihics Solomon w.-s a wise counsellor, but he eould hardly be cxpeciwl to acknowledge Solo'>"in as anv kind of an authority on the management of freez : n" works. TT» stood bv the de-isio,, that ' !ie first duty of the freezing works was to freeze the farmers' sheep' and allow- , rerv interosiinn; exchange of S"n'ptnrnl to lame ("Southland Times. ,J >