PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22460, 22 September 1944, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

CURRENT VIEWPOINTS BISHOP’S STATEMENT (To the Editor) Sir, —I cannot enter into argument with anonymous correspondents. If “H.G.V.” will sign his name I am prepared to reply.—l am, etc., E. W. G. THORPE. CHURCH AND DANCING (To the Editor) Sir,—There is no commandment saying “Thou shalt not dance,” says “Advocate.” This line of argument is not good enough for the out and out Christian who is under the law of Christ and prays daily, “Thy will be done . . . .” Nor can dancing be compared with the game of tennis, which has a set of rules and is played in the open air in daylight. Could dancing be confined to waltzing for recreational purposes? Any recreation that does not recreate is impracticable nurture for both body and spirit.

However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. A certain denomination is considering the opening of its Sunday school halls for dancing, and it will be interesting if a record of young people lost or gained was kept. A similar record could be kept by those churches which are not so dull and use the special youth services, the young peoples’ fellowship, the prayer and open-air meetings as sufficient not only to gain but also to hold their youthful members.—l am, etc., PETER ARNOLD. SHAREMILKERS’ RETURN (To the Editor) Sir,—As long as farm owners had the sharemilkers slaving for a bare living they were content. Now that they are to have a fair share of the returns, some are starting to squeal. This increase is likely to cause trouble between the two parties unless the owners are big enough to recognise a fair deal for the ones who do the dirty work. If not they have the remedy in their own hands, that is, to do it themselves and keep their own families as the help, while our chilldren have the easy jobs in the towns.

The sharemilker has the work, worry and responsibility and has to have his wife and family working to manage at all. Sons and daughters are doing work they dislike, whereas they could be earning a good wage at a clean job, not slushing around knee deep in mud, minus gum boots. The man works harder and twice as long; the woman does the work of two people, spending from five to seven hours daily in the cowshed in addition to the ordinary duties of every wife and mother, making life an endless drudgery. Yet after expenses there is only the same amount left for living expenses—quite often less. . Where would dairy farming be if it had not been for the wives and children of the sharemilker? It is they who handle the big herds. If sharemilking is done away with on account of this increased share, it will be a good thing for them at least, as the farmer will then have to pay each worker he has to earn the money for him, and pay well. Here is one allready for city life again if any bother arises on my horizon.—l am etc., ONE OF THEM.