CORRESPONDENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19641, 8 November 1933, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

THE CHURCH AND DISARMAMENT, To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald “

Sir, —Nations, like individuals, have a perfect right to do what they please, so long as their acts do not infringe on the rights of others. Christianity, as practised and preached in New Zealand, is apparently quite neutral on the question of peace and disarm-

ament, yet at times, the Church appears to run with the hare and at others to hunt with the hounds, but in the absence of authoritative enlightenment your readers will have to form their own conclusions. One thing is quite certain, viz., that the Navy League and the League of Nations can never agree. The one professedly seeks peace through armaments; the others’ aim is disarmament and the settling of all disputes by arbitration. It is a well known fact, to all who have taken the trouble to investigate, that the most rebellious school children are those where an excess of punishment is administered to enforce discipline. Everywhere there is the tendency to treat the Golden Rule as something applicable only to Sunday school children, “Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you.” Yet it is quite logical to say, if you want punishment, try and administer some to the other fellow. If you do not receive it straight off, remember that you have it coming to you sooner or later, and that as we sow, so must we reap. It is always amusing to see two dogs quarrelling over a bone, and the third dog running away with it; but when after years of sacrifice and struggle in the Great War, America comes in at the last moment, takes the credit for winning the war and leaves others to foot the bills, it is high time that a mental stock-taking was made, especially among the religious bodies of all warring nations, to deal with this species of imbecility, which shelters traitors to the world’s peace under the cloak of religion. The League of Nations is the only possible means in sight for the attainment of permanent peace, but so far it is not only noncommittal, but non-aggressive in its proposals, and, like non-party motions before the House, is almost sure to be talked out. The world’s disarmament is gradually getting nearer because of its increasing need of “one fold and one shepherd,” in every sense of the slogan: a League of All Nations, whose power will be absolute to secure and maintain international peace and ultimately peace within each nation’s walls. It will be futile to wait till all nations join of their own free will. Nothing worth while is ever accomplished by waiting till the scheme has universal support. If coercion be necessary, who but the League should be empowered to apply it? As soon as the League contains an overwhelming majority why should there be any further need for nearly the whole world to be heart-broken with anxiety over a wanton, rebellious street urchin or two? No nation can claim to be quite self-supporting. All have become trained to dependency on others, and no nation, not even Germany, or U.S.A., if cut off from the world, could survive one year without a marked exhibition of degeneracy. The leading nations, at any rate if not all, are looking forward to the time when the League of Nations will be the supreme power in all international affairs. International administration will at first be limited to protection, insurance, etc., and will absorb, say, 10 per cent, of present annual cost of armament, leaving 90 per cent, for investment in peaceful pursuits. The change over from national to international rule —defence and offence, as may be required—may appear revolutionary, but, in effect, it will be purely evolutionary and require years to develop. The immediate effect will be a consciousness of peace and plenty There will be no further necessity for the bones of our sons being compelled to bleach under a foreign sky, and those communities who indulge in civil war will to that extent make way for others more fitted to occupy and rule. Between the Church militant and the Church triumphant, there seems to be a great gulf fixed. This chasm is supposed to be diminishing, but is it? The Church, as organised, has not much sympathy with the problem of disarmament and peace. When international disarmament is effected it will probably be not because of the Church’s attitude or sympathy with the problem but in spite of it. I deeply regret not being able to think otherwise.—l am, etc., C. H. MASON. Timaru, November 6.

RESERVE BANK BILL. To the Editor of '* The Timaru Herald " Sir, —In your issue of Wednesday last, is a Press Association report of the final stages of the Second Reading debate on the Reserve Bank Bill, giving the result of the voting on Labour’s amendment, and purporting to give the text of the amendment itself. By some mistake, however, the text quoted is that of an amendment to the Imprest Supply Bill, on the subject of unemployment, which had, of course, nothing whatever to do with the Reserve Bank Bill. I am taking the liberty, therefore, of enclosing the Order Paper of the House for Tuesday, which will supply a full and official copy of the motion in question, and which I trust you will be good enough to publish with this letter.—l am, etc., CLYDE CARR. Wellington, November 3. (Enclosure.) Mr Sullivan submitted the following amendment: “That all the words after the word ‘That’ be omitted with a view to inserting the following words in lieu thereof: ‘this House declines to give a second reading to the Bill for the following reasons—(l) It fails to establish the sovereignty of the people and Parliament of New Zealand over the Dominion’s credit resources; (2) it fails to establish a stable currency based on goods and services; (3) it fails to make any provision for credit and currency being provided in ample quantity for the requirements of industry, trade, and social services; (4) it fails to do what is most urgently required in the country’s economic and social life —namely, to provide the means of increasing the purchasing power of the wage-earners, farmers, unemployed workers, and the useful people of the community generally; and (5) it will accentuate and perpetuate the worst features of the present banking system, including its insistence that money shall not be created except as interest bearing loans’.” STAMP SCRIP FOR TIMARU. To the Editor ol “ The Timaru Herald ** Sir, —There is movement afoot. There is talk, and no doubt, there is some thinking. Some citizens in Timaru are undertaking investigation. With an honourable purpose, and a stolid determination, they have been called to examine a glimmering of hope; to carefully discover if the light is artificial or natural; if it is a genuine illumination, or merely a fake hallucination. These intentions are good. No doubt, the local leader of the intentions, Dr Fea, also possesses good intentions. It must be conceded that he believes that stamp scrip will help Timaru; and it must also be conceded that in an attempt to manifest the noble spirit of citizenship, Dr Fea ventilates the idea of stamp scrip —the idea of stamp scrip that was inspired in Dr Fea by Dr Begg, and that was inspired in Dr Begg by somebody else. This spirit is good. It can oe commended as a true and believing spirit, and we should warmly praise

this warm spirit of philanthropy which is being publicly exhibited by Dr Fea and a few more of our citizens. So, before proceeding further, it is very nice to think that the sponsors and investigators of stamp scrip are being animated by an intensive love for their fellow citizens. We often find this feeling in our midst. It was to be, and it is to be. It has often been related in the moral of the old story of many renderings. Once upon a time, some good men found a plan—there is no need to mention where they found ir. With the plan, they could give money to the people. So, the good men set themselves to materialise their humanitarian project. They worked hard, because they knew that they would at least give the people some value with their money; their liberality was raised above mere paper money. But, as a warning, it must be hinted that this story has not the happy ending of the usual romance. The happy ending was spoilt by that ignominous difficulty known as the law of the land. The good men had all their tools and materials confiscated before they could benefit from their labours. Very sadly, and under lock and key, the good men discovered that even though the law allowed individuals to sell home-made cakes and such goodly things, the law would not allow individuals to sell or issue homemade coins—even though they did contain a tiny morsel of silver. It was indeed sad. The men had their beautiful idea spoilt by that uncommon and trivial thing known as law. Certainly, the spirit behind an idea can be large and bountiful; but it is often stifled before it reaches practice, because of some trivial obstacle —such as the law of the land. Just as the old philosopher said, the bottle might contain a fluid which looks nice, tastes nice and feels nice. Indeed, the fluid is a beautiful drink; but its use for this purpose is hampered by a miserable little trifle; it is a deadly poison. All this recalls an episode in English history. In the year 1605, in the reign of James I, there arose in England a man with a great spirit who, with all the intensity of his soul, desired to better the lot of his fellow men. But, because this intensive love for mankind caused Guy Fawkes to roll a little gun-powder underneath Parliament House, he suffered an unnatural death —a fracture of the cervical vertebrae caused by a rope with a noose on its loose end. Thus, the world did not resound with the practical application of Guy’s joyous idea. In passing, the New Zealand Legion is not advised to try this idea for abolishing party politics. Its execution would make an unholy noise and stir up too much dust. But, as a child is liable to play with fire, the Legion should bear in mind the neck-breaking experience of Guy Fawkes. Now, stamp scrip possesses a few flaws. It is a pity to mention them, and so shatter a beautiful dream. It is not really necessary to say that stamp scrip would be a tax on the unemployed and the impecunious, in order to help the unemployed; there is scarcely any need to mention that the stamp scrip unemployment cure is like the aboriginal boil cure—just rub it with sandstone. Indeed, it would be tedious to dwell on all the frailties vf stamp scrip. Like its sponsors, let us strictly ignore its disadvantages; let us sing its uses. Stamp scrip would be made in nice oblong shapes, and this shape would facilitate rolling the notes into long cyclindrical quills. Now, if these quills were used in conjunction with some glowing red Bolsheviks, the citizens of Timaru would not require matches or cigarette lighters—and this would automatically eliminate some aggravating Japanese competition. So much for the advantages of 1 , stamp scrip. “Nota Bene” remembers an episode connected with a certain town in Germany. Stamp scrip was issued in that town, and one traveller through the town thoughtlessly accepted a quantity of stamp scrip when he cashed a draft. The traveller noticed that the notes had backs like that of a tortoise —covered with lines and spaces—but beyond that, he took no notice of his money. On the same day, he continued his journey, and in the afternoon of the next day, he was three hundred miles from the stamp scrip town. He pulled out his roll of notes, and proceeded to pay for his hotel accommodation; but painful to relate, nobody would touch his money—it was “taboo.” Happily, the traveller was able to obtain assistance from his companions, but nevertheless, his stamp scrip experience cost him considerable in time and money. It was subsequently discovered that nearly all the money circulating in that town was stamp scrip. Most of the ordinary notes were hoarded and many more had left in the pockets’ of travellers and unfortunately, stamp scrip was beginning to leave in the same way. Thus, because of their irregular currencies, and because they were creating considerable inconvenience in the land, stamp scrip towns became a problem for the German Government. These reasons, among other reasons, finally caused the Government to prohibit stamp scrip. It can be added that the towns possessed of stamp scrip, did not enjoy any real prosperity. There was a temporary movement in local trade, but external trade ultimately diminished. It was almost impossible to trade with a town which possessed a jumbled currency and uncertain price measures. Trade cannot be safely undertaken with a town or country which does not possess a reasonably stabilised and simple exchange rate. Indeed, currency juggling and tinkering, has meant disaster in many countries; but, even with all these practical example of its havoc, the idea of currency juggling seems to continue to give pleasure to foolish people. It is a great pity that the stamp scrip investigators in Timaru, are so thoughtlessly wasting their time and energy. If they would only raise their eyes, they would discover that the law of New Zealand will not permit the use of stamp scrip. Indeed, the Central Bank Bill which has just passed through the House, gives the proposed Bank the sole right to issue notes. Dr Fea and his investigators might just as well try to emulate Guy Fawkes; they might just as well propose a scheme for blowing up Parliament House. Really, when everything is considered, it is good that the law can check the reckless and Joyous spirit bubbling in the breasts of some of our citizens; it is good that the law can restrain their blind emotions—otherwise, the compressed ardour would probably burst forth and blow up the whole country.—l am, etc., NOTA BENE. Timaru, November 6th. P.S. —It is significant that the Legion has again disappeared into a shameful silence. It has become as dumb as a drum with a hole in it.— N.B. MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING. To the Editor of “ The '"maru Herald ” Sir, —Thanking you for past favours, I again ask to make further observations. Certainly the plot thickens, and the atmosphere bears an overpowering odour. Firstly, “Misty Optic” lends added interest to rumours which have rapidly gained credence. Then follows C. Blackwood’s letter, but beyond making public a few facts, in connection with his unwarranted disqualification, and the unsatisfactory and partial manner in selection of the representative team, we are still in the dark groping for light. Next follows a letter by “First Counter,” and if his first counter was registered as a centre bull, what a parlous state our rifle shooting is in. I do not intend to again refer to existing rumours, which are growing day by day, but what I do

ask, is that the Association gives publicly a prompt denial, or admission, with reasons for same, of any occurrence for which they are directly responsible. Why this secrecy? Surely honour is worthy of some defence? Members of clubs have a right to know the finner workings of the Association, and do not the members of the Association recognise their responsibility to affiliated clubs? If not, it is time they made a graceful exit, if it is *rt all possible for them to do so. Why no reply from these gentlemen? Are they imprisoned under the iron heel of one mind, one master? Do they not know that once confidence in the parent body diminishes, and rumours and allegations are allowed to exist, it materially follows, that interest in this fine sport also diminishes, and encourages all sorts of illegal try outs oy younger clubs? I am disappointed in these gentlemen, as I have always considered them true sports, but if only half of what one hears is true, then it is apparent, that some at least, of those who should be setting an example to younger shots, are sacrificing their finer sporting instincts in favour of their own personal gains. It is not yet too late to admit or deny these rumours or justify the action regarding the disqualification of C. Blackwood. By so doing, they will purify the air, that is at present encircling the clubs connected with miniature rifle shooting in Timaru. This would give us faith to respect the members of this Association some of whom have done so much to further this sport, which may, some day become a national acquistion, but first of all Association, break clear. It is up to them. —I am, etc., SIGHTER. Timaru, November 3.