LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 593, 23 August 1909, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE REV. DR. GIBE'S INDICTMENT. Sir,—lt was with' pain that I read tho impressions, of the Rev. Dr.. Gibb-in The Dominion of Monday, August 16, regarding the apparent ■•ladle'of culture observablo in the New. Zoalandcr. Being a New, Zealander myself—and as yet (unfortunately) an un- ' travelled was sorry '-to; see such an indictment of my fellow countrymen—and still sorrier to havo to admit, that in substance, and in fact, so far as the avcrago of the generality ; of New Zcalandcrs is concerned; it is a pretty accurate summing up of the position. It has for long been borne in upon-me that a great number ql New /ealanders are, unhappily, most sadly wanting fn—well, in ordinary "polish. , / . But I am persuaded that their • in this respect are liko the shortcomings of a child who-commits-an .error', licit-knowing that he is in the wrong,- so;with tho New Zealander: ho does .not intentionally or knowingly misbehave; it-is tho fault of his upbringing that' causos him to run hill tilt against tho very bedrock of the canons of good taste and tlie proprieties, and ■ also creates a sad spirit of general parochialism. Then overdressris a concomitant feature. Tho poorest strut about in: their'five-guinea suits; are told that "the ■ dress makes the man," and, .therefore, all and sundry believe that-there «cnn bo nothihg. else wanting so loiig as ..they -appear to- the' outward eye a pliwsiiig .and 'a pleasant' sight I'. (Oh, undevelopcdr narrow' minds I)- Tlia one evil (with an insular., or mentally -undeveloped .people) creates'•Pγ-evolves the other, which,- in.turn, bolsters up its mate. Kill cither—tho other will- lie. : ■.Otherwise they'may become', a part of the national :life-^if-they.are ' riot- so a '.lt'.were surely futile for any man to deny .the asseyeration of tho reverond gentleman that some :are' indeed .deficient in- manners .out'here: People'may query:,"How is it that' you, a self-admitted, untravelled New Zealander, daro, to speak of things beyond the pale;of vyoiir; experience? But I 'have met so many men from other, climes—England,/ America, Africa," Australia, and India's coral strahd—that I know, tho stranger at , our gates almost' as , if -I had. lived ;with; him o'erseas. However,..the bitter.!regret that I, a'•'loyal;' New -Zealander, ftel. on having- to admit the truth of', statements, liko; the a ) )oVo _and I,all, the more honour'; Dr. Gibb for-iiot; having'shirked bringing unpalatable facts' forward—is tempered;somewhat by the UnoWledge that there are.'.at/ileast .a.;-.few, claiming this country as theirJbirtlli)laco, .who.'dp-hot , come under his .bail.- Yj '.loyalty •to my dear country, makes' no see that-'to destroy this «vil one must speak and point it out tb all men. .It is a-cancer in tho national,«xistence : .of .our yoiing : uatib'n'tliat must bb'extirpated. To remain inactive and irresolute were .a'"national crime, and-'nothing. : lcss. •''■■ Especially'-is ii the vyounger generation of New Zealanders that this, evil is apparent. !.:, -. .- ~ . . ■*,"'• ' '■ But!-onevoak full woll understand, where for .years'it.country .has-experienced a period of.."unexampled prosperity," and during it olovated'.tlio status of even .the poorest .of her soris,sO much'that.the'very •'."umblest". among us may live in splendid m'aguificeucei b'ow some 'baser, stratum in man's composition,', .happily dead .ih-- ! : England, and.iolder rcouhtijies, •; niay bev' brought again .;> into:; life; •depicting''men as , less-:coiirtly : (or,'-.even- liko j tho New Zealander,. not'.conrtly. at 'all I)' thaii their, forbears -weffi Teputod.;t6*,be, and.'un.-'l doubtedly.. werei ; : for ..that-' ..matter, V thank goodness. .But it 'is a "sin of ..the' flesh," ■ this. .--It! -would- arise even':in-, heaven .under; similar •conditions^;-.-And:if we must-ileploro the: unwhplesome, , facts' adduced,.'then, (para'dox though it -rhay>'seem)-"deplore wo' also the cause, thecondition'sI—too''.much-,1 —too''.much-, .prosperity..'■■-. 'No; "it , : is ; 'lii6t < 'th'atjV not: ■tho:'cbnditions,';' so i much'y.as it' is .the fault •-.of ;tho. people'therhselyjes^ '■'. fathers-, and motners .in., a young- teaph'..their children , decent: . ■7/,;, : --: ' .. * .'. VSo far , , as. general, health and .other social.' conditions to .--those. .enumerated aro:; con--ccriied,''.we ■ • stand.far and ■away aboyotthe)' majority 'of .tho Mother- , . ] land's people; ;.-i It we -keep 'prosp'erous ; ; > then j 1 we shall.cbntinue: to;bo arrogant,,'unmannerri! lyjltb-h'aye;. the. :' , Vqiinder"-'element'-e'm bedded' in us--bnt if-.-poriditious iget -less '.bright and; approximate,.ytcf jihdso'of^older."lanas"..(like.. England's,"-.though, -'■ let, vis}., hope,!'.', not: and' 'suffering '.we. shall' evblvo-i'a.-'iJe'ople^whicli; '.sliall'Vheve."no 'sympathy.' witli the bad, man-'! irtris'msy- etcelra,\ so , rampant ..among"us'.to-; j'.day'j ;'!and ;• worthy '.'only' of tho^worst■: of 'the < slums' of the worst city ort-tlie -fa'ce.-.'of this! 'eartb\'of, ours... v This .unless'jtho workingrtian • (aiid every :'man)' 'be educated' to tram tho 'children . he..'may, begets into v a,loftier;. .appreciation of.tlio gloriouSnianlincss of life, "but'.who .would otherwise)/'.ofA'course,. carry oil the' despicable. and:,depreeable : habits' and customs -of :thos'e./.whp hayeicaused; oiir: reverend friend' to : tako.iip his.pen .artd..;slay' (figuratively'speaiiingy-'sir).'-'■■■' .•■..-, "■"-' : ~ : , ■'.A'great'.point-is. that the youth of'this' D6mini6n ; .liayo;-far .too.;.much, liberty,,: too ■ ln.iiclv of; their' own/.sweet ; ';vyay;, at ■fifteen ypars 'sbmo are", qiiile .men !qf . si\{-taught-in this'-habit', by! contact :witlr other's:older,:' but; none-."the 'less'.;wisci';-than!"'thoy; "no .one'..says., them''.nay;' nor", dare,;' Thus, which'tis if , to.be--ricbes?—manners;?. It is, of course,,"feasible"■.ty..-.possess --both of : j these ■ desira.ble.' adjuncts v'.iii life; but when •yoii make a : poor'man ■suddenly ,and unexpectedly' rich,: what does 'history ."teach,us that ".hdj 'too, ■often' becomes—^they ! ■sneer,. at him .as : ,:a' ."new-rich":'of,; the _Chioagp >pork-) ; packing' order;; and, alas 1. this! is. frequently .(inly .top ! true.-; ■■;. : -(What, is 'the old sayingIt takes three; generation's to. make a "gentlemiin!).,; Wo in "New.Zealand must'either bo welT-to-flp and' , arrogant .(as deplored 'by .Dr. Gibb') j or "poor but polite"—or, as the hap)>jpst, of," alternatives,' .well-to-do, .with father* aiid.}mothers -..not.-, as :.:they '-now. aTe", blind .to'.'tiio .'fact .that their 'off spring ..must have incujcated. in them from ■earliest"youth ,the .'riidimcrits' (at least) .of. .good -nmnners, if ( they. wpiild;not.deserve..thes'ee.nsure of .Gib'bitesyvvhich,-.-. in i the present state of. Deiiuiarli,.;is indubitably, "I' know I .'; (regretfully)) etc.) : ' "' ■'.-,■", ■ ■ '■h ■■■' ■:'•■•- ' ' :: v. ;r ' v .v'hQUIP. ':,*A'ugiist : 17. ' ■■> :,';• :••-..; ;->!'? ;'y!>- ■ ' .■■J.Sir,—lt-was with surpriseiand regret'thnt I*'read Dr.. Gibb's-severe critioism.•of, tho Welljiigton tramway ,<;pnductbrs r .,-As7one who ■ probably, uses th rtrainf-cars'fluite' as frequently, as Dr. Gibb does', I. anvbound'in all fairness tp say that my experience has been quite, ".the; reverse of'that-; which Dr. Gibb describes./ It..has been the: rarest;- thing in my'experience to find a. conductor otherwise than most civil and. obliging..,•; I have often been led to admiro-tho patience and courtesy with which they, have carried but their duties under what sometimes are very trying 'condition's.: 1, ; too, know something of, the. ways of those conductors' in Sydi/oy arid' 'in Lon;don.wliom Dr.'Gibb lauds jto the skies, and I am bound to say that I have , found norio of them .more, prompt arid iindly .and obliging than the tramway-men of-''Wellingtp'n,'i There may be' in the- servjee■'■the'-rudei discourteous' ■men-'.that ■Dγ. Gibb on,.his keenly.critical pen. ; I can;onlyVay.tb'at as a New-. toiyn resident for ( thd las't'^'years,usingthe trams almost every day,-I have-not had the misfortune to meet them:—l'ami etc., . • ; "■-.-■•!•■ ',-'/. ' Wi'-J: WILLIAMS. : August 16) 1909. ,:\: ' ---' "' ■ ' f< • : r-"— <•■ .-■ ,■"' ■':'■:■■"■ have read with interest and surpriso •Dr. Gibb's.long article in The' Dominion on points of comparison between tho Dominion and tho.Motherland., Audi alfceram partem: Tho reverend gentleman appears to take delight in the' uncongenial task bP' decrying New Zealanders, and trying, to teach them their manners. I am not a New Zealander "by.birth, but I see much to admire in New Zealanders,, yet I do not intend to convey tliat they have .not some faulty as indeed what ix»ple have not? I do not.think that the averago New Zealander boasts as ftiuch about his country, as the revorend doctor does about Scotland. . ' He says that : tbo average colonial "seldom, sees' abroad anything nearly as good as it is to Be found hero." , Dr. r Gibb seldom sees here anything nearly as good as it is to bo found abroad. I am constrained to ask'what kind of people dons our reverend critic meet? People who ceaselessly brag, about New Zealand and nil things animate and inanimate, ■which it contains, "such a ono as returns" without having once- been moved to -admira- i tion of tlie scenery, tho cities, tho institu-1 tions, nnd mnhifold.developments of civilisa- j fcioa' in tho lands thiough .wbioh ho ' haa \

passed) impertinent tram conductors, patronising policemen, and—now the picture brightens —','tho candid opon-minded colonial," but —back again to. tile original gloom—"thoro aren't too many of him." Thank! God—and I do not apologise, for I do not believe that Dr. Gibb is correct when ho .states'"that it is not quite the thing to namo a Being with whom bo many of ushavo merely a bowing acquaintance, if we havo even as much as that" —thank God, I say, ,t!iat it has not been my lot to meet so many 'unpleasant people as seems to bo Dr. Gibb's sad experience. Of course, Dr. Gibb is correct when he states "that some of our leading citizens are sometimes affected by a bombastic temper,'-vulgarly known as 'swelled head,' " but surely that impolitely-described complaint is not peculiar to the Now Zea-land-born? / : . • • ■ It seems to me that the whole matter rer.olve's itself into this: Does not a. person m New Zealand, as elsewhere, very often receivo the treatment he- deserves? If courteous, retiring, and gentlemanly in demeanour, ho Willie treated with civility; if aggrossivo .ind always looking for respectful treatment, he will arouse antagonism in the minds of those ho meets; and, in this way, every man •who exhibits humility, respect for his elders, deference to the'opinion of others, tolerance-, charity, 'and all the other' Christian graces is oroating. an ■• atmosphere that is the best means of promoting a growth of the same virtues in everyone with whom he comes in am, etc., , ■.August 16. ' . ' v LICHT AT JACKSON'S HEAD. Sir,—l notice- in one of your'late issues ■a statement to the effect that the Marino ■Department- had the uow light ready for, ■'installation at Jackson's Head. As a master i .mariners I am, highly pleased to hear it. I Wo have put. up with "the light that failed long enough; but lam anxious,to know- it Lour Minister for Marine is going to perpetuate the error-of his predecessors am place the new light on the Beacon, instead ofiWalker Rock. ..I only assume _ it was placed on the- Beacon in tho .first nistanco . so as to save- tho expense of erecting a new beacon on Walker Kock, and also for the benefit of ,tho Picton-Nelson steamer,' .which, I besides the very small'coasters, is tho,only ship' that: uses the passage between tho |; luner Rock and, Walker Rock. The Admir-

alfcy Chart distinctly states, "Passage dangerous," yet ouf Government, in. its wisdom, solemnly lights ; the baacon to induce tho mariner;'.to tempt Providence, by, using; a "dangerous-passage 1 Who over heard of a light for this-purpose being placed in such a position that'another danger lies beyond it? -'-It is manifest -to the most ignorant in /nautical matters; that'the light' should .be placed on-the "outermost obstacle, to navigation,vthat,'of course,; yv Walker's Rock.,. A good ■■light—such ; as presumably is tho one thp" Department: vis about to erect—on Waltter Rock' will servo; the' same' purpose aV'tlio' present' light (?) and. be far more useful to' colliers, etc., who are proceeding through the "Strait' and, round .the; Brothers. 1 For, every ship that" finds-tho'present light useful, a dozen ..will' find tho Walker Rock light more useful, and I hopo tlio Depart;nient"will- not "spoil the" ship for a ha'por.th |l of'tar;" and put. tho , light on • the Beacon, but will do so on Walker ltock. I might :montioli';that pur .largest,, company has ab-•soltiloly-iri-ohibited'.the.master.of any of their I ships—exce'pt full-powered ones—from working, this, passage', This shows' in itself the light'.ought fo bo on tho outermost danger ;'and .•whero ,]t will bo .most' useful to .all classes of vessels; If ( this is /done, tho fiillnowered steamer 'will still have the same lighting facilities,. but would, pass tho new:, light on'the. opposite'.sido to that on winch shp does' at present..,., That "the..expense of erection wilt lie.a- little greater, I;am pre-' •pared.to admit,. but .the advantages gamed will far outweigh' the trifling cost of a new or iron, tripod, for carrying, the light. —4 am, etc., . ■•:; '.'■■' '•.'.'• \f:.- ■.:.••/■•' :■•-.■ ';••'■ ''.;'■■■ NEPTUNE. ■;, August 20.. v ■ : : - ■;•'. ; ■■.■:" . ; ■' ■• '- : K■': LAND-NATJONAIIISATION. , Sir.—Mr. Ashcrbf t niust ..labouring under tho. delusion ,tbat air land reformers wish ■to get-;'tho State,' to' buy up '■the land and 'work' it ; by- State control. Nothing could bo 'further, from tho .'truth... His criticism.;inay apply to , many who,'.without': giv-. ■ing any idea of how' the change is to be effected,. advocate ,<tho,,. socialisation. of both the land and the of production andt.distribTltion, making tho State; everything,;, and/tho individual nothing. But tho "laiid , value tnxers are fully alive to the fact .that the Vprivate possession of land , is tho "best'way to. got the greatest production out .of'-the'land) and,they arc all opposed to tho jpur'ch4'so.,of ".private . lands, by the State. .The: ritter,.failure of-/-this system of/'settling •tho -land .'question . has been fully- demonstrated' in.'tliis country, and the.sooner.it \% abandoned to make way for the.taxation!, sys-,-temtho Jbetter. .- If our social system is 'to 'eridnre ; it'will be necessary for us to compel, those who hold useful land to; pay such a tax , :oh it that,it.will be cither put to, use by'the-, owner or passed on to someone who ■ will use am, etc., : ..-■ '~.,. ; v ; u ; ■■'-..,'"--• ;. '..' E, STEVENSON. •'■ Hastings, August 15. ■■''-.' - ■/■ :■"■:' ■ 't: .!.'- :: '■■■'■ : ■ -■. /, ■~ ; ■ ■ Sir, ; —llr. James Ashcroft, in' his second articlo.updn land nationalisation, which ,ippoars in' , your issue of August 14, conveys tho ,idep,' that he. is either attempting .lo ■ mislead tlie people, or'that he knows no more about tho subject with which he attempts lo deal : than" a child. 'As '.I tako . it. from tho' latter'portion of Mri. Ashcroft's letter that that gentleman is ,of a kindly and sympathetic nature, I will opine to tho 'atte'r view,:-and thoreforo will endeavour ■to . onlighteu . Mr.. Ashcroft upon several ' points 'upoii ; wiiioli he seems, wilfully'or otherwise, to be ■ in ignorance ■ - - - . ' In, the first place, Mr. Ashcroft professes to have some .'"little difficulty in grasping fully'what is meant by land natioiiali'sation,', and then goes .on to.state that "in ,avsense l our'"'land' is : ;'already nationalised. -. Let me endeavour to.enlighten Mr. Ashcroft upon this point. The nationalisation of the land obviously means the freehold of. tho .whole..of tho lands of tho country being retained by the whole people and leased m suitable* areas to. such individuals as may/losire to. , occupy the land', both in town, and country,', and tho. rents thereby derived ■ to be di.vided in an equitable'manner among the-whole community, including those >vho have obtained leases of the land. But under existing social conditions, a free title to a large'portion of the. lands of tho Empire originally belonging te .the Crown is granted by the King to-private!individuals,.'occasion-ally for services rendered, but .usually .in consideration of a-lump sum te:-the S,t'ate, which'in amount seldom exceeds the rental value o'f the. land for a period of ten to fifteen • years,;;and for this miserable pittance u, - e Crown relinquishes possession of the land-for : air time. Variation is- made of this- cash method of payment by easier'terms, such, as deferred payment, or occupation with right to purchase at.the original valuation, when iVe occupier is in a position to pay: •'lt will bq seen, therefore, that- land nationalists insist that instead .of tho Crown, or rather-the ..Constitution, thus parting with its lands outright, tho occupiers should be charged a fee from year to year for all time, equivalent 'to the market rental value of /the land, exclusive of the rental-value of improvements effected by tho licensee, unless ;the State advances < the money for .'improvement,' which" advances could bo repaid with interest in instalments. Thus it will bo'seen if the lands of the. country woro 'really nationalised, as Mr. , Ashcroft avers "thev are in a sense," tho rent and .interest which now go into the pockets of a fow private ■individuals would bo, available for division among the 'whole, of the people. of the Dominion in an equitable manner. Then in paragraph 2, Mr. : Ashcroft.asks: "But . . . what evil is if sought by land nationalisation, to eradicate? What good for tho workers to bo gained?" I will endeavour to explain the benefit te bo ■ gained. 1 happened te be staying at a farmer's tho 'other day, and the conversation turned upon tho number of unemployed at the present time. My farmer friend, argued that tho unomployed did not want work, and would not come out into ■'tho. country if work, were offered to th'ein, and in proof of his contention said he. hadibeon wanting a good, ,"1rountl man for some time, but.could not got one. I asked what, wages ho was offering, and he replied £r per week "and found. "But;" I replied, "how could:any man posfsibjy keep. & wife »nd family; ai town and

himself in clothes, etc., on ono pound per week." The farmer retorted that ho was not going to tako upon his own _ shoulders tho support of any man's wifo and family. A married man would not' do any more wovk for him than a single ono, tliereforo why should ho pay a married man moro, and this no doubt represents the general feeling among employers of labour. Now,,, if the lands of tho Dominion were nationalised, and I had my way, out of the rents each femalo would bo allowed 7s. 6d. per week, and an additional ss. >por. week for every child, she had, so that a married man would not necessarily be finder any greater personal expense-' than a single man, and thus could afford to accept tho current rate of wages. This is one illustration of tho benefit the mass of tho people would derive from land nationalisation. Wo hayo heard a good deal of late about tho declining birth-rato, but if the aboro scbemo wero adopted, in less than fifty years wo would bo looking about for means to check tho too rapid increase in tho birth-rate. This could easily bo dono. by "henceforth only granting an annuity for children conceived during leap, year, or ,every other leap year, as circumstances demanded. ■ From what Mr. Asbcroft says in paragraph 4, one is entitled to assume that the writer believes that a strugglo for existence is ossentinl-to the highest type of physical and intellectual development. ' Nothing could bo more contrary to tho truth than this supposition, for wherever we look" in Nature wo will find that invariably those human beings, animals, or plants which have after all had tho least strugglo for existenco arc the ones which survive Henco instead of saying, "in tho struggle for existence tho. fittest survive," it would bo far moro humane as well as -nearer truth to . say t'.iat ..' "when tho struggle for existence exceeds a certain intensity,, suffering, disease, and death fa 1 upan those who have boon most hardly dealt with in the struggle, eithor.on account of having had ,to boar a greater snare than others, of the burdens of the struggle, or from natural inferiority, usually brought on in tho first place by generations of intense Gtruggle," but this does not prove that if all had had amplo and there had been no, excessively intense strugglo that .oil would not havo survived and, moro than that, have been all healthy, happy,, and long-lived. I make this original observation witlr all due deference to Charles Darwin, for- I think Darwin was altogether too great, a thinker to have ever maintained that a strugglo to the death was. essential to liumair'progress. All he did was to point out'that throughout Nature there was-a struggle "or. perpetual warring of life : upon life, but it was always those who had the least struggle which survived and became, most perfect.: ' In the latter part of the first paragraph of Mr. AshcroftV articlo, the writer asks, supposing land-nationalisation would bo boneficial, how could it bo possibly brought about. ! In reply to this question,, as my letter is already getting long, I would recommend Mr Ashcroft and any other persons interested to aet a copy of my latest-pamphlet on the "Solution of the Social Problem" Messrs. S ami W/Mackay, Wellington, publishers), and they.will thoro find a. practical metUod 6f dealing witlr the matter, • whereby, every laud-holder would recoivo value for his property as certainly as if ho/had received payment in golden sovereigns.—l am, etc., ■■■'■■■ 0, P. W. LONGDILL. i Taibapc; August 16. ; ■:'■■':... Sir —I' have read Mr. Aslicroft's articles in The Dominion on f'Land Nationalisation and Values," and > it strikes me very forcibly that practically ho knows very little ■ about the matter. Allow me; thoreroru, to tell him, and your many readers, that not more'than 60 or 70 years ago all tho antis in the colony of Victoria'wore nationalised. Almost every acre belonged to tho Victorian Government, and it was found to impossible to'/make any progress whatever in population' or development, as long as tho land belonged to the .State. Tho ■ Govcninient'was simply compelled ■ to • part with tho land,''in. order to obtain; a revenue population and- development. . ■• The,, same, applies to Now South-Wales ■ exactly and' in-every-particular. ' These; Governments obtained, at the time, full value for the land, which had not cost them even the survey fees, and much' of' this land cost tlie in addition to tlie purchase money, from £o to £10per acre 1 to clear it-of the'heavy timber. There are, at .tho., present time, hundreds'.;of millions of:, acres of Rationalised 'land in Australia,, arid, while ;it is so it is of. no use to .anyone. ■: ' \\,,.', ..-■''•' Mr. Ashcroft also writes of the high values' of land in Wellington, and puts the incrcaso down to speculation. Tho increaso in value that ho quotes in his table,, and on:, which our heavy ■ rates and taxes aro levied is merely a paper value not more than one in l a thousand land-owners •lias_ been, ablo to realise them or turn them into solid gold. Let me also point out'to Mr. Ashcroft the fact that ho and so. many, people seem to forget that' the best and most valuable half of tho' land .in' the city is nationalised, .or municipalised already (this, ..includes , . the Town Belt, of course), and cannot, therefore, bo thrown ''.on/the,land market for sale; as it belongshto tho Government,/' th'o" City Council; arid the Harbour Trust, and,is also thereby, exempt from' all rateV and. taxes'. Tliis fact ''alone' will very materially add to the value of the remaining half of city lands, and also of land in tho suburbs... People! who. write,of.tho high- values also conveniently forget the large, number of laws and 'by-laws': passed in recent years, compelling owners to make the. roads'and streets with drainage,, footpaths, kerbing,- and channelling, etc., before they are allowed to sell it in building lots. '.All this is very exponsive work in tho hilly suburbs of the city especially. ' Our land reformer also suggests, a tax on what ho.calls the "unearned increment."'. I confess I donot know what that is. I know., what profit and loss means, and have'had my share of both. He'seems to think /that.land is not taxed heavily enough, and, that it can carry an unlimited amount of taxation. Well, let him £0 to the Borough of Karori, and practise Jesse Collins's ideal of four' acres , and. a" cow;, Ho will have to pay £100-per year in local rates alone-on his four acres, and these.,rates are rising iby.leaps and bounds.every year. The rapid increase of the rates and taxes in "and around tho. citj? ia fast making tho ownership and occupation of land a luxury for millionaires only.r-1 am,' etc., ■ : vi ' 7 ■"'■ PRACTICAL. . August. 16,: 1909. , ' ,;.' '/ DEFENCE AND CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES. ; Sit,—ln your issue of Saturday, , the: 7th', which came to hand last evening, there is a reply by "Layman" to mine on the above. He ' makes several citations from tho New' Testament,, none of ■ which- are relevant to the point at , issue. Taken seriatim: The first is from Luke xi, '21, 22, with its corresponding in Matthew xii, 29, and Mark ih, 27. "When a.- strong; N man"armed keepeth his palace, his 'goods are in peace. But 'when,a stronger than he shall como ; upon him, and overcome him, , he taketh-from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." Christ had.just cast out a demon! He was twitted by.the Pharisees of doing this, by Satanic'power. Ho' replies by the above statement, teaching -.- that Ho : is stronger than Satan, and that Satan could not cast himself out. "Layman" says: ."This is a:final and authoritative defence of the two-Power standard." So it is, if "tho two Powers" are the forces .of Christ aJid Satan,..which is'.tho sole point' of the: quotation, aind'there, is not a shred of support for.the modern doctrine-of antagonistic national forces. ' : ■ • . ; Tho 'second quote is from Luko xiv, , 31, 32: "Or what king going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth' whether ho. bo. able with ten thousand to meet him that comct-h against him with twenty thousand. Or else, , whilo theothor'is yet a preat way.'off, he sendeth a.n ambassage, and desiroth conditions of peace!" In tliis case Josus is warning the multitudes of the consequences of -a personal attachment to Himself, and that they would have to take up their, cross and follow Him, and Ho advises them to make' calculations'of the issues involved,.and uses the illusibration to show tho foolishness of not counting the co&ts. lie cited the case as it was in His time, and not as it must be under His 'regime. It will take a lot of ingenuity to innko this uphold modern war. "Layman's" third proof text, is from Matthew x, 3i: "Think not I am conic to send peace on I came not to solid peace, but a sword." In this case there is a speck! reference to the divisions, even in" a family, on account of'following Josus. Mori sod'uomw of tho ono. family, would . bo

divided because of their attachment to the Saviour. Absolutely iio reference hero to physical war. Tho fourth qnote is Matthew viji, 10: "When Jesus heard it, ho marvelled, .and said v to thorn that followed, Verily I say ■ unto you, I havo not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.!' In this instance, Christ commends a lloman officer for his faith in Eis power to cure his son. As the officer had authority over his soldiers, so. Christhad authority over disease. This was. a marvellous instance of faith by an alien, and Jesus compliments him, not on account of bis being a soldier, but,on account of, his faith, and to insinuate that Christ' condoned militarianism from this . instance betrays great weakness in a cause- which requires this treatment. • The. final citation js Luke xxii, 36: "But .... ho that hath no sword, let him soil hie garment and buy one." Jesus was with His Apostles in the upper room, where ho instituted His Last Suppor. Whilst there Hβ pointed to the oncoming dangers, from tho human standpoint. This is the strongest passage in tho New Testament, in support of "Layman's" position, and/ apparently, unanswerable. In the "New Testament in Modem Speech," Dr. WeymoutJi says, in a note on tnis passage: " The sword was not really for use. Tho order, was seemingly an acted parablo : to prepare the minds of the Apostles for the coming, peril." That this is .correct is evident from the command of jcsiis, in the Kimo instance, "to put up thy sword;hito his place; for all they that take the sword shdl porisii wfWi tte sword," see Matthew xxvi, 52. •Sβ what, is apparently a~ strong position, , from i , "La.Tman'e" st.andix>iiit,' is completely shattered whon the whole of the surroundings are examined. Besides this, in the account as given 'by Luke, : Christ said that two swords were enough for the eleven . Apostles. If two were onouph for eleven, and the use of-these forbidden, what becomes, of the argument that every man should be fully trained nnd fully'armed? Itseemeth unto me that this prflveth'too much.-, . . . ' ; , Consideration for your snace preelrfdoe a lengthier exegesis, but. sufßcient has been shown to prove that none of the pasfages quoted by "Layman" will bear tlio construction he places upon i .th»in. He has done tlio v<vy bent.he could, with tho materials at his , disposal. He has .induced the strongest the New Test/iment. and they. vanish KTso smoko before the only correct ojcnlanntion of their import. It mav surprbe "Layman" to find; that tho Scriptures teem with statements-and te.iehimrs 00-iVi-plctelv at vrT'Vjico witVi the position hM by-/Bishop , AValljs p.iid himself,' and I ftill | we it for "the citation of -Bomo texts ■n-hinb will jiistifv them at tho'bar-of Jr-sus'Christ for the shedding of human blood." If they are. prepared to stind v.pon the passages nuote'l, then T am astonished at thw tetrer-ity.-I am, etc,', J. G. PRICE. , Motueka, August 11. .. ■ In connection with this subject wo have received a letter from Mr. Colem.-m Phillips, of Cdrterto'n, in which he argues that "Layman's" letter'is the most condemnatory charge against. Christianity ' ever ■ penned. " 'Layman'," he states, "unerringly proves that Christ brought a sword and.encouraged preparation" for war as a basic principle to govern nations. .T-he.result is seen , in the present warlike state of "Christian" Europe. Ho challenges the Wellington clergy to debate with him the question of "the inutility of Christianity," ho to maintain the affirmative. Mr. Phillips continues as follows :— No one in New Zealand. has .a better right than {I. to make it, aa Christ was a Jew, and his mother Mary a Jewess. I propose a perfectly friendly argument, for the sole benefit of tho unity, of, the people ■ of ■. New Zealand, and I feel sure the. newspapers, will bo, glad if a public.discussion does take place upon, this question, as it will relievo- their columns 'of a vcry : difficult matter.;' My..wish .is to. meet representative plorics from all the . sects, not from any ono , sect, 'in order to show, that there is no bigotry or intolerance upon iny part v My object is to try.and stop the growing cleavage, between tho Roman and Protestant'. so that, New' Zealand 'may grow into a.strong and united people. ~.'..,.-.. I'-respectfully contend-that no nation can possibly become stroiig and Virile unless it worships- God together, and is, "animated with ono:.clear -religious bent.' ,:-. -.';:.''.■■-■.■ ',i:i!-./.-■ - ■;■. .r:'!■■'■ '-, •;.: SPIRITUALISM. gi r) __sfay I, as' one of. your oldest eor'rc«poadents, be allowed to, protest, againstthe.zeal which is beings shown for^ the-ex-posure of the absurdities of Spiritualistic manifestations P There -is no sense in it, sir. I never do .anything without what I behevo is a good practical reasonI—J1 — J nm a pragmatist. Now, what practical reason is there for exposing the mediums?. Exposure will not stop their.'business. Nor wjll exposure cure the people >vho believe that the' canary came from'the Malay Peninsula in a twinkling. The believer in Spiritualism i> beyond the. roach of .argument." I see thati.-Mr. M'Lean •' intends ; to. -reply to somebody or other. I know what he will say when ho s< iy out to explain the British Museum's exposuvo of'the forgery in the clay bricks.. He will use arguments like those used by Lagunc, the enthusiast: who 'Iran" Chaffcry, the medium, in Wolls^s., "Lovo and Mr. Leiirsham.". You remember the story: Lagune was the patron, and ho also attended the leotures at South Kensington. At a seance one night ■ Chaffrey was bowled out, log, middle, and off, by gas-jet turned up at, the right moment. Lagune was absent from: the lectures for a few. days, and the sceptics laughed at and felt sorry for him. But was Laguno restored to sanity. No,' sir. Let Mr. Wells talco up the running:— •; ; 1 Everyone had expected him to return apostate, ■ but he brought back an invigorated faith, a propaganda unashamed. From some, sourco he ■liaa derived strength and conviction afresh. Thoro was a joined; battle over tho insufficient tea-ciips. . ; .-. ■ ; ' . . ... '.Lagnno's treatment of the exposure was light and vigorous. ' "The man Chaffery," he said, "has made,a clean breast,of it.- point of view—": "■ •. .--'"' . ' "■' ■-.'■ ■'. . ! "Facts are facts," said Smithers. \; . : "A fact is'a sj'ntliesis of impressions," said Lagune; "but that you will learn when you are older. The thing is that we' are' at cross purposes. I told Chaffory you were beginners— arranged a demonstration. ..•."' .' "Eo forged elementary effects. .. . '.". "You can't but admit 'that." . ■■~;.■■' "I don't attempt to deny it.- But,-as, ho cx?lained, tho thing 'is nectssary— justifiable, 'sychio phenomena are subtle, a certain Iraining o.f tho observation is necessary. A medium is a more subtle', instrument than a balnncft.or a borax bead, and sue -how long it is.beforo you can get assured results with a uorax bead! In the elementary class, in tho introductory phase, conditions are too crude.. ..." . "For honesty." ' : ' "Wait.a moment, :1s it dishonest—rigging a demonstration?" .' . / . ,- ,-, . ■■ ."Of course it if." .•-.-... "Your professors do it. .;, ."-. , , "I have done 1 with elementary exhibitions. . You must take the-word of the trained observer—just as'you do in.the matter of chemical analysis." . •• ' ■.' '';• "Do you mean you are going on w'th that chap when he's beeft caught .cheating under your very noso?" ' ..' ■"- "Certainly. Why not?" ,',-,. And Lagune went on to say that "all now scienccis elusive," and so on. You will bo amused ' remember, . sir, that Chaffory wound up by hypnotising Laguiio and obtaining a big cheque from, him. . He then disappeared for.good. And most of theso folks aro like Lagune. If tho light went lip,' and Mr., Bailey were seen receiving tho canary from tho man lioxt'tp him; he would bo'regarded as still a marvellous spiritist. Pleaso don't let anyone jyaste your space in tryng to pcrsuado the Spiritualistic belioy.crs to become as othei' folk.- They can't do it. Temperamental: ; You might as well usk an onion to grow acorns. —1 am,, etc., , PRO BONO PUBbICO.