LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2132, 25 April 1914, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

OTACO MEDiCAU SCHOOL, 1 ' ■ AN APPEAL, ' ! Sir, —I venture t» express tho hopo 1 that you will rogard the effort that i : 8 now being niado Ui stxtire sufficient i funds m provide inereaaed accommodation and better facilities for tho teach- j inn of .pathology, bacteriology, and pubJio lieaiUi in tire Otngo Madicnl BcUool as of sufficient national iiripOrtatwii to warrant, fin expression of sympathy in. .your columns, mi<l M practical support iYfiiii ywlr district-. I would point out that as tho Otaga Medical fjchool is tho only institution of tho kind in Now Zealand, and likely to remain so i'or n good, many yoars, it •is of importance to the- wholo etraiMimj ity of tho Dominion that tho school i should bo maintained in a state of tho [ highest possiblo cliieiency. Since tho great majority of tho futu.ro practitioners i.n New Zealand will re«'eiv& their training in the M-edical School, it will ho seen that it- is directly i* the interfists of thoso who will b<> tho sick and ailing among ths residents of tho Bolainien that the school should he cquip(i with the. latest appliances in medical science, whereby the medical practitioners may bo aided in thgir work and medical students may ho educated n.pott modern and lines. Tliero is no o-fte in Now Zealand who ' can fell the day when .bo will require ■ the. servicEs of the physician or tho sur- 1 roqii, and when, that day comes it will be tho Services of tho most up-to-date and skilful practitioner ho will want. I suggest, thcroforoj that it behoves tho whole Dominion, as far a* lies iii its power, to make tho Medical School thoroughly efficient in ail its branches, a-iid that- it is on behalf of suffering humanity, that tho • present appeal, is made. Kverv medical man who wishes to do justice to his patients is more or less dependent upon the ojistento of an institution which will supply him with reliable data. In order that ho may obtain these, the. existence of wellappointed pathologica! and _ bacteriological laboratories is essential. The work of the pathologist and bacteriologist renders tko diagnosis $i tliseaso more certain. tliaU it can otherwise be, ami consequently renders, the treatment of disease less empirical, In the Old Country tho ' eiistenco of tbeso . laboratories is regarded as indispensable to efficients up-to-date work on tho part of tho medical practitioner. Tho total Sinn/' required is and provided £7500 can fee raised by private contribution, the Government will 3iihsidis.o the amount by £ Ito ,£. Already in Dunedin a sum approaching £0500 has been contributed,' so' that additional subscriptions t<v the amount of. about £1000 will enable the' work to lie gone on with.. In the hope that-, you will bo Interested in the movement,-—! remain, etc-.-, . JAS. RrTCnISON Editor "Otagi Daily limes,'

THE RAIL-SITTER, *' Sir—l always did havo my doubts of Mr. M'Laron's genuineness, palitieally, and after his reply to your appeal for order at.his meetings, I am new mow than satisfied. . I will just tell jou wiat I'know about tho matter. Nbft',. I am, or railior ; was, a special; con* stable. About two or three Saturday : cvoninßS ago, in company with ttfo J other young men, . I was walking flown Cub:i» Street, wheti both Mr. Holland and Mr. M'Larcm were . addressing jr.cc;ti.:ißS. Mr. Holland was accorded a perfect bearing, while Mr. • M'Lareii could hardly obtain a- bearing. My . Wood . boiled a.t. tho injustice, and I ■thought at ti'i® . tteo- : bero'an oiit-aud 1 - mit Socialist, whom nobody wants, call to listened to 111 peace, white i'lift representatiTO of the. ' United Labour Party is denied a, bearing. Tb.© thrco ■ of us went over to see who was distmbins Mr. M'ljaren's meotinp, and, just as we thought, it turned oui> to be "Federationists, led by _ a sharf ' orator, whose name starts with a "D" Mr. M'Larem himself will remember telling this individual (in reply to an interjection) that if ho dewu tho road in his present condition bo would seo two fish markets—not one. Mr. M'Lareu says bis meeting wag interrupted by "specials," That state- . ment is absolutely ■ unfounded. Of i -coiHse, we can all see his Scot tjift-t ho 'tries to be. So is try--ing onco moro to bo "Dave" to the 1 "moil," but they evidently wiTi liayo none of him. If tho TJ.L,!'. would only put up Carey or M> J- Reardon [ wo should have a chaiicc. "Mac." is , too much of a rail-sitter.—l am, etc,, A . ■ DISGUSTED.

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT. Sir,—Being >1 recent arrival in this country, I woftld like to aslr you a. question regarding its politics. I understand that at present there are two parties. "A"-*-Tho' present. Government, • the; Reform Party, assisted by tho -genuine WorMng wail. >, ' "H"—The remnants of the Liberals, assisted .by 'J].ia.ngerS<in., w ofiie.eseekerst and tho "Bed Feds." Am I correct in arriving at this ton- ■ elusion P And hers is- another point I nm not sure .about, I hhve been _ informed that in order to improve their ehaitces of re-flfcetiofi, no true Liberal allows Ms name to be prefaced by the "titles o.f "Mr." lam told that it would not slo (tho Socialist. would not like itt for tho member for Ncison to be called Mr. Atmore, or the uictatier for Hutt to be. called Mr. Wilfortl. It has pot to he "Hftrry," or "Our Harry'' this, ■and "Tommy" that. Even the ex--I'rimo Minister, Sir Joo Ward, Burt., is not exempt from this rale, and I ajii informed that the toughs and roughs know jiini, and j'reet him as "Joey." On tiro other hand, I ant told that even il»-bitterest enemy of the Minister of .Tiisties, for example., when referring to him in conversation, gives Miii his full title, tho Hon, Mn Ijerdniaft. And the same applies, so njy iuforniaiit tells me. to. other Cabinet Ministers. ■ Tlnvo T understood the position accurately?—l"ani, etc., DIGNITY. fOur correspondent is Hot very _fa.r Wfotig in summing up the position. It is not (Jtii'te as he puts it—there are three parties t>o-v!;iv —but as election day draws nearer the Radical t.lcmout in the "Libert}!" Party and .the Ktd Federation element in the Labour Tarsy will probably draw together, While tho uiodenttc' liberals and Labour •will vote with lleform.]

LICENSING LAW REFORM. . Sir, —Your correspondent "Kiwi'' brse'ly ovolves a wliomo for til© "reform" of tlio licensing system. At pres<mt he says "licensinc" is not qnYte .satisfactory, mid Prohibition, another scheme, is only, a tyranny, Stay' people will iigrco wiili "ffiwi". that Ptx\)iilutioii is a tyranny, and that in a £r< o coAntry. Prohibition rule svilt. create widespread contempt for law, iind it is this contempt for- law and order tlvat is ltw provocative of so much discOi'iteufc and evil spertlnng in'liitmy sections of tlio community, not tli.6 least being among tlio Prohibitionists mid. by them. ... To niitiiiiiiso tIiPSO coiiuiiiOiis "Kiwi" propounds a Public House Trust scheme, under which, rifer .{saying 3 .per c.eni. oil the capital invested,, the- profits shall accrue. to tko local kidi.es for tlio Rood of ! all. Tlsn.t is tli« basic principi" of tire ; schenie, and it bus tho support of isifci) ■ eminent iao.t as Dr. J.ayiie, Bishoi't «'f Chester, who elearfy see that .tYohibilieu is not ; reform at all but only a

wilicy of negation and worse than less. I think "Kiwi" should go a stop further. Why not make tho Public lJouso Trust a State 'frost, absor'amg tibo wbol<? and 1 placing it under a. board of control elected liv the people, or vestod in <•<>! tain public men for the tiffin being in office? Supposing the whole trado was capitalised aiid State boad*, bearing interest at S per ecnt., given o.n valuation lor all breweries ar.d lieo.nsiyl premises, tim bal/uieo of profits to acorue to tho State, a great reform would be Msti» tuted.: and as ijianagorg would have up interest in sales of alcoholic liquors, there would be no inducement to violate tho law for private gain. Tho Jtcform Government should sub' iriit iliis question to tho people at tho next election, lam euro thousands who are now forced to vote for Prohibition or licensing, <?r who do not vote at all, woy'd support a Stato Trust of the liquor business. At all events, tho issue .(should 1)o submitted to' popijlar voio. It is o. business proposition. It is. a reform. It is not. a tyranny liko Prohibition, atiti people would; ho free 'to jobroniso t.lio State Trust houses or not, ap. they had « mind to. If Mf. Slassey does not take 'ftp wis "reform," tho Liberals and Labour people ■ will., and will have the honour of carrying it through.—l am, etc., fa REfORM.

THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS' DEFENCE LEACUE & ITS CRITICS. ' Sir,"The Rev. Robert 'Wood*.? cri- • ue.isra of our National Schools' Defence League is in the reverend gontle.man's chara.c.'.or:.slica.Uy .fcßt.at.ian and intolerant vein. It may he summed up thus: "This is a Christian and Protestant com'mumty f Protestant Chris* t'ians arc in a majority< Protestantism ■ami the BiM>> are symbols and an expression of oiir nationality) There is, therefore., nothing unreasonable in demanding that I'rotostantiun a'nd tho Bible, should form part and pared of "our Staio scliool cufric.uju.m!" As for Catholics, ..Tews.,' Protestants .foutsids Wie combine forming the Bib'.e-in-' I SchooV T'artv) and nodescripts iii - religion, they sftould consider it a privflegij to linve to conlribiito toward tho ! cost of providing rcMgj.ous instruction for the c-iiililren belonging to -the. religious deilominiitions forming this erciesiartical combine or holy alliance! Of coursc, it .Mr. Wood vo.ro iii. Ireland, it Would afford him the greatest possible. pleasure to have to contribute, or demand, to a fund for the celebration of Mass in the Staio schools there!' Tiio Kev. Mr. Kegy apd Mrs. Coleridge indicate tho possibility of the dismflmhorment of our national system ■(should tho Garland crusade fail) by a movement on the part of the churcbcs te, provide rival schools of their own. w»5 "'threat" Has bee.n repeatedly'..indulged in-ail over the Dominion by eertain, leading occtesi.astics, who af.e., Br * ought, ts be, painfully conseious of tho fact,that more than half the clergy of their respective denominations are not. Hi receipt of a living wage (for their profession). What will become of tks» 'w.lien chr.rcli schools are est'ablishcd? There can be r.o possible doubt, howover, that tho establishment of denominational schools is the only honest and honourable course open to thoso who wafii luxuries (religious or others) in education!—l am., etc., Hrail JfACKEXZIE. April 2ij lOli.

THE ORDER OF THE STAR !N THE EAST. ■Sir,—Jor any who have been misled 'by. we claim that Tbeosophy and Christiani;ty can bo reeoneiled to oach other, I recommend the perusal of a little pamphlet entitled "Tbeosophy and the Coining Christ," by E. K. M'Ncile. It can be obtained for one penny at the Biblo and Tract Depot, in Willis Street. As Hi® Jjrefaeo states, "the writer went to India with tjifi intention of working her to promulgate the teachings of tneoEophy. As the result of a. lull investigation' of tbeosophy in Indina, she is new the head of a. Christian schbol, aiid is engaged in teaching a faith which sbo 'declares to be wholly inconsistent wtih, and opposed to, tbeosophy." Tho writer, moreover, lias a profound personal regard for Mrs. Besant, and speaks of the theosoiihical movement as "a devoted and selfless propaganda." Her criticism is, therefore, all tho mora valuable. It is worthy of notice that tho policy of the. TheoKophistn. towards Christianity varies much is different places. In England it is one of conciliation and utmost friendliness, bii't in Madras Christianity is bitterly attacked, wjiile 111 Ceylon ail organised campaign against Christianity is carried on, rival schools being run with tho .deliberate intention of ruin.ing Christian .schools. English Theosophists are quite mistaken if they think that English lhe<v sopby represents tbeosophy as a whole. Miss Catlmrinc Chqstio is surely incorrect in asserting ih.it tio member of tho Order has ever dona puja to Alcyone. Pages 21 to 31 of tho liefore-mentioned pamphlet should bo carefully read in tbi« connection. Sonjo referenco is also made there to the unsavoury incidents in connection with the, recent • lawsuit about Krishnamtirti. In conclusion, may I lnpi.vtion that : tho writer of tho •pamphlet—asleep student of Theosopby -nlefinitbly state's that "TbeosopTiy expliciii.v denies the. Incarnation, denies 1 tho - Aiotioment, ■ denies tlio death of ; Christ, and denies tho claim of Christ i to bo tho only way to tho Father."— I : am, etc., , i " ERNEST I. SOLA, i Vicarage, Eastbourne.

THE LOCIC OF PROFESSOR HUNTER, Sir,— Your correspondent, Tho.s. A\ Hunter, in Iris reply to my communication, onco mote proves my coni-eutioii no la bis illogicality. Why will Mr. Hunter not answer tity queries instaijd of beseiste tho question? Docs not Mr, ITinitor know there tiro sins of omission ? It is ijo'fc what is taught in &WP schools ih.it I object to, it Is ivliat' t* not tomto that- touches my eoivscicucoi It wc.ro possible, 1 boliero, to teach, aft :tpe arithmetic, writui2, and t;o on, bit' our children have immortal souls that sbouM bo tended ami trained, as well as the purely .mental side, Christ did not say: ''Suffer ff'ttlo chadrcu 'to eonm unto Mo on Smiaavs only." Jf tho saying of Mass at tV schools, fras, tho law of tho ljind, I .sbouid lichi aeainst it foist .as Wo are fighting *ho present CodleSs system. As. to Mr. Hunter and his personal abuse, to pararihrrrso from a psalm. ho "sit® abuse where no abuso was/-! aw, VARD j_ Brooklyn, Vpul 24th, 1.914.;

A CORRECTION. Sir, —Allow foe to., nial.to a correction iu a letter frcm jno which .appears in. y<iu'r columns. Probably the error was mmy manuscript, . I appear to my that the colleagues m" t-ho 'BislWof Cjiristrhurch would lmvo found fault iN'liilj him tor Iriij'impiXd.engc., fifhoi'wa I men ill to say his imprudence. I certainly had no intention of iuip.vit.ißix any •such ihittC. as impudence to thai prolate. ' In rot'errine to tlio policy of concealment adopted by the loader? of tlio Biblc-m-Sclmok party, i meant that tlio-fiiste'P would lib considered, imprudent bv them for avowiita thai. his crcat [ reason'for support ii>R ilm 'feraie'* .tfronosUls was that their adoption wild enabto the clcrc? to t-caejt Unroll of England doctrino in flj.o state schools. I shall bo glad, f.;*r, if you_Crt.it find iSpaco to insert this correction, as I | am anxious to avoid ftiiytlimst that, may 1 savour of olft'iisive lanc'tage..—l am., cq t„ CTTAK. J. COOKE : Kelbuvne. April 3. Wl4. ._ [Tliis letter was in publics I tion through a." oversight.!