SINCEREST FLATTERY.

Observer, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6, 16 October 1915, Page 3

SINCEREST FLATTERY.

A Cleric and the Huns,

IT is rather characteristic that a certain proportion of Auckland clerics, who are deeply depressed at the wickedness of their own kith and kin, should express admiration of that truly Christian nation Germany. You may have observed that since these clerics have decided mot to aid the "gamblers," who are raising thousands of pounds for the best object in the world, these gentlemen have done nothing except (leery these workers. They have worked nothing but their trained chins, jand expect to be loved of God and man for doing it. If heaven is a place set aside for these gentlemen, then it will be an unpopular resort, full of long faces and daily complaints. Why these people arrogate the right to chide humanity one does not know. What right that fiery advertising apostle Mr J. J. North has to be sorry about the attitude of the R.C. Church one does not know. He has precisely the right' to butt into the R.C. business as the R.C. Church has to butt into his private affairs, and J. J. North is typical.

That is by the way, however. All ihat the public is interested in is in seeing these people do something—

practical, physical and useful—and since the Rev. H. Steele Craik has expressed his admiration of the Germans' power of organisation, maybe he and his "co-workers" will be able to show equal powers of organisation. Here is what the reverend gentleman is reported to have said: "All sorts of means were being used to raise money for patriotic funds in New Zealand, but no such methods were required by the Germans, who were organised, and had a set determination to come out of the war victorious." One is entitled to analyse this clerical statement, "All sort® oi means are used in New Zealand to raise money." As Germany does not use these means, the New Zealand means are wrong. "No such methods were required by the Germans, who were organised." Therefore, to copy German organisation is the logical method of raising funds. The Germans "had a set determination to come out of the war victorious," therefore New Zealand, because she raised money by "all sorts of means," had not a set determination to come out of the war victorious. It unfortunately occurs that clerics who so deeply appreciate the superiority of the enemy are merely accusative of their own people, without being in the least helpful.

We will concede at once that Germany has a pleasant and most admirable way of rafein/g money, the chief method being simply to take it. We will admit that their powers of organisation are so remarkable that for several years prior to the war they carefully marked off ranges in two neutral countries, and got ready for blasting civilian populations to fragments. Their power of organisation is so remarkable that specific instructions were issued prior to the war in relation to crucifixions, the slaughtter of women and children, and other agreeable little diversions. The reverend admirers of German organisation are invited to read Lord Bryee's report and various other documents showing how very excellent the oirganisataion of the admirable country is. The lotteries to which the clerical thumb-twisters take advertising exception are common in Germany and every other European country, are often State organised and State assisted. If Rev. Steele Craik says it is wrong to raise money for war by raffle, then it is wrong to raise loans for war by gambling. Every loan any country raises is a gamble, a lottery, a raffle. The gentlemen who, without any intention whatever to assist, deplore our lack of organisation and admire that of our detestable enemy, must show cause for the people to accept some other way (the parsons' way) of raising money. Can you, a com,mon everyday man, imagine the result if the magnificent working committees engaged in patriotic campaigning, resigned and gave up the job to these protesting, self-advertis-ing men who live entirely by blaming others. Why not, for instance, "sack" George Elliot and give Mr Steele Craik a chance as "organiser"?