LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2601, 25 October 1915, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

TWO MR. A. R. ATKINSONS. Sir, —It has been suggested that tho correspondence column of a newspaper occupies tho samo position as does a sat'oty valve to a steam-ongine. Accepting this as correct, might 1 bo pardoned for drawing your attention, together with that of your readers, to certain affairs that have been enacted during tho past week. Scene No. I: On Wednesday evening the Victoria College Council met £o discuss the question of Professor von , Zedlitn. In conjunction with other gentlemen, a certain Mr. A. R. Atkinson considered it his duty to cast aspersions upon those who had taken a prominent part' in tho attitude for tho dismissal of tho Prrffessor, and 'used rather violent language in connection with the National Government. This same Mr. A. R. Atkinson voted with the majority, thus giviug Professor von Zedlils £700 of public money. Scene No. 2: A recruiting meeting was held in the Town Hall, Wellington, on Thursday evening, presided over by His Worship tlio Mayor. One of the speakers was a Mr. A. R. Atkinson. During his speech he ur&pd young men to give up their lives for the sake of the Empire. I would like to ask, Mr. Editor, w-hetber .the Victoria College Mr. Atkinson is tho recruiting Mr. Atkinson, and, if so, presuming both Mr. Atkinsons are men of average fntelligence, how can tho recruiting Mr. Atkinson imagine for one moment that eligible young men aro going to accept his advice when they read in fciio papers that the Victoria _ College Mr. Atkinson had voted against the Government for forcing tho dismissal ui an enemy subject. Further than Wiis, ho also voted, in his capacity as a member of Victoria College Council, fo give this enemy subject £700 of money that did not come out of his own pocket. Now, if the Victoria Collego Mr. Atkinson can vote away that which is not his, then recruiting Mr. Atkinson doubtless can give plenty of advicc to others to give something which is also not his—namely, their fives.

Possibly I am wrong in writing a letl.er such as this, which may bo a case of "tho wrong Mr. Wright,", and the ■ Victoria College Mr. Atkinson may bo suffering considerably over tho newspaper reports of tho speech of the recruiting Mr. Atkinson; but to end t'he dilemma, 1 would suggest that tho toria College Mr. Atkinson tako the affirmative in a debate that "It is in the interests of tho British Empire that Gorman Professors should bo subsidised, and that as tho Germans aro very fino fellows, it) is not necessary to fight them." Tho recruiting Mr. Atkinson would oppose this motion, at tho same time endeavouring to get young men to givo their lives for tho Empire. Doubtless l/his would afford the public an opportunity of witnessing one of tbo linest intellectual loop-the-loop acts that has ever been performed in Wellington. . Final Scone: Yesterday I had the pleasure and privilege (I use the words advisedly) of taking some returned wounded soldiers for a motor drive. As iheso poor chaps sat. in my car, one with a shattered collar-bone—nerves all askew — another one shot in the knee, tho bottom portion of his leg being paralysed, and in very great pain, and tho other one with his foot shot, naturally my thoughts took a serious turn, and going. back over tbo history of the war, I had a sort of mental conversation with myself, somewhat on tho following lines: • Germany forces a European war—Britain Embroiled—Tho Empire Calls for Volunteers—Our Men Go to the Front— Wounded Return, Thousands Never AYill Return. Hearts and homes broken as a result of Prussian militarism. Efforts being made to raise funds to provide funds for wounded soldiers and tho dopondents of tho fallen —gallant' fellows who have fought for tho Empire, now maimed for life.

, Then another picture presented itself to me. Victoria College Council—German Professor—£7oo a Tear—Resignation Accepted—£7oo paid out of' public money to said Professor. Yet this is New Zealand—a portion of the British 'Empire. Then, as I began to remember that I was actually driving a motor-car in a Wellington stTeet, with wounded soldiers on board, I gave up trying to solvo the riddle. Possibly, Mr. Editor, you can help mo. If so, personally I shall bo obliged, for I can assure you I am only ono of thousands of bewildered men and women who are proud to call themselves Britishers. —I am, etc., H. G. HILL.