Dear Sir

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 32, 14 December 1945, Page 4

Dear Sir

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side ,of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used the name of the writer musi be included for reference purposes. The. Editor reserves the right to amend or withhold any tetter or letters.

WHITHER BOUND HUMANITY

Sir, —I see that Mr Gilmore has now come to light (or is it light?), under his own name in which he complains, 'that my "ignorant and laughable statement" accuses him of owning most of this world's goods find the capitalist newspapers etc. I am afraid "'hat lie did not have n very pleasant laugh from the tone of his letter and wha'l I really sa'id was "statements such as these men are circulating are merely examples of wishful thinking by the small minoritv, who by owning most of this world's goods etc." I did not intend to imply that Messrs , Gilmore and Ardath personally own most of this world's goods ? but that they are dishing out ihe propaganda of those who do. They- may not realise 'it but the principle result of 'their slanders against the U.S.S.R. that is if any number of people take them seriously ? is to create suspicion aod ill-feeling between us and our ally in the recent \var_ with whom Mr Churchill made a twenty years and to help in laying the foundations of ano'ther war. They remind us of those who by spreading scandalous rumours set neighbours against each other. As to Christianity and Communism those interested in what they have in cQmmon should read the booklet "Christianity in the Class Struggle" issued by the Council of Clergy and Minister for Common Ownership in England. The foreword is by the Bishop of Bradford who says the following: "Our present economic system is immoral and unchristian. It's appeal is nakedly to self interest; its technique is economic comrpetition. It leads to exploitation of the weak by the strong, it promotes mass selfishness class division and international war. It is a worship of Mammon and as such is a moral outrage." , This being so it is part of the ■ , Church's duty to God to say so at whatever risk of antagonising those whose vested 'interests lie in the maintenance, of the system. The Dean of Canterbury has said in one of his books that the U.S.S.R. is 'che only place in the world.where; Christian ethics are being put into practice by the people generally. Of course the U.S.S.R. does not 1 pretend to be practicing Communr ism yet but preparing for tha't by a period of Socialism. As to a public debate on these subjects I am prevented from taking that on by an impediment -in my /peech but I am seeing what arrangements call be made iov somet one. to act in my place. Mr Gilmore did not refer to my main criticisms of his letter viz. that he bad misquoted from "Soviet A New Civilisation" by Sidney and Beatrice We'bb. Perhaps that was 'the principle Ipause. of his laughter and the fact that we found ; 3Ut who it was that wai scattering nisleading propaganda thirough country papers under the pert name; of Britisher.' I am sorry that Mr GiH nore objects to having his letter .criticised in his absence. He says: t is not a usual British practice. Well, had he signe.d his own name o his letters and advertised ip those japers just when and for how long le visited each place ? we might lave avoided upsetting him in this vay. Anyway what about the libels le has been publishing against the J.S.S.R. when there were no Rus-» ians here to refute tlieifr. Should ve send his letters to the Soviet Representative who is no>v in New Zealand for refutation ? Yours ctc. i C. j'. HALLETT.