LOGIC VERSUS SOPHISTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 619, 23 September 1909, Page 4

LOGIC VERSUS SOPHISTRY.

was with'.'great pleasure and satisfaction, that ;I read,: iii. your issue .of' Scptbmbor 14;. an* extract ■from an address given, at Fotonc' by.the: Rev. V Williams, Baptist minister,, condemning. iii forcible, langua'go the action of bar Acting-Premier' and 'the .Minister for Kailways, who'were present at Hie opening' of a .bookmakers'/club in Wellington, And I'.would, like to offer a'tribute of praise and respect to the .various..gentlemen who, having thb-'conr-'ago .of their convictions, have raised their, voices' against this outrage to tho consciences of thousands of New'Zcaiandcrs.., '

■'Not only did our Ministers countenance tho ovilsi of .gambling . by.' their" presence,. but by their'/speeches, .they would lead anyone to; believe they., wore/doing, something, of which Now Zealand might',bo pro/fid;,soiuc'thing'to;hand down to./posterity/.something.,'far more', conducive to tho well'-being of tho rising generation,than,a military., training '■ school or".a ; naval, /college. TJio'.libn. Minister, for Hallways' suggested that tho/club should -,bo called a'/proSressiye jschool. I/.;WOuld/ljke ,/tb offer, an amendment, and', call it retrogressive—a place.' men 'may b'o. initiatei] into ~the nobleAt .'of- gambling. ahdVcan ,bo educated/,up. to tho'-sfandard of sonle' of oiir. Ministers/ lie further r €aitl that he could .hot' see 'the 'difference 'between/'insure ing a, house'against firb and betting on a racehorse..- •'.I do not--know- in which 'School-.,the lion.', gentleman. loarnedh.is logic, which;,by. the way;-savours ..'strongly of .sophistry', but, as I ftm* only a' woman, I cannot go vei-y deeply:info. the ('matter. '..Common sens/o-tells., me, however, that when yon: insure your house you'do so to, protect'.yodrsclf' from. misfortune,' and each one,,who"'.pays- the. premium will get .recompensed if'fire breaks out.. Not so'.with horse; racing, although many bet on winners/get -tho'money... I ■-..'■' t l ' " ; /'■•' ./yVc (ire told Dreadnoughts aro,b'oipg built (ivhioh,wo aro'proud to know:)'to protect our country from jnvosioh .by a foreign: enemy, but .'there qr6:cvils at, bur. own doors'/and eii'e;niies.in .out .owl camps'(thougfc/they may' be in ambush), in the-.formof gambling'and other, vices that' necessarily follow.' in . their train. Don't you .think, sir, it is quite as.necessary to fortify our „ country, against, these'.- moral enemies,, which, if not checked, .will demoralise our young, men and women, and. overwhelm ourcountry' with shame, and humiliation. ' .. I do hope the women of Now.Zealand; especially ..mothers, .will rise to tho occasion, when opportunity ...offers,- to oxerciso;. their privilege at the ballot-box, and .vote for men of integrity. and-, sterling,.worth,-'.who- will' try/and raiso the -moral standard' of the nation.- : Then can we,.without any doubts : or misgivings,, apnropriafe the/name which v .has often been, apolied to ■-. New. Zealand, namely—"God's Own -C<mn- • try."-Thanking-yon.very.mueh : . pir, in antici'pation- for space in your- widely, circulated paper,, and Icnpivihg.that,yon always give a fair nnd impartial hearing to, all. sides of opinion,— .I-am,: etc:,. ■'..-.■ ,• '-.-:-. ■;•-.■'-.'■■' ••— : - ■•• [.-.;> /ONLY A WOMAN/AND A MOTHER. '•; j. Mangatainok.a, Sept. IS. - ' : .-;■','...