LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2664, 8 January 1916, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

| GLADSTONE AND HELIGOLAND. Sir, —Your "Englishman" makes sohio very disparaging remarks about Mr. Gladstone's policy in ono of your last week's issues. Now, iirst, something about tho man. He never signed a- partition,treaty for Asia an 3 Middle Europe. It is not known that he over gambled oil the Stock Exchange; and it certainly is known that no company promoter ever succeeded in getting his name on the provisional directory of a new company, though many a one would have been glad to have tendered cheques well into tho five figures had they had any hope of acceptance. Such was tho man, and his policy was like him. Ho ever remembered that his country's rights wore limited by tho rights of other countries; and we believe that he honestly tried to carry his principles out as far as possible. when, in 1870, the neutrality of Belgium was threatened by France, he did not rush blindly into war, as certain others. He negotiated a. treaty with both belligerents, which had- the effect of saving Belgium. Now about Heligoland. "Englishman" seems to have forgotten tho circumstances. England stood alone at Che time. France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium each wanted a say in the partition of Africa. Will anyone tell us how the Government of tho day, with such a combination against them, could have acted .otherwise than they did? And hero is a clear case that shows Gladstone's foresight. The territory involved was of no special merit, but' there was always the strategic danger to England's, trade routes. Consequently, Gladstone insisted on keeping Whalfisch Bay, about the only natural harbour'on the coast of German West Africa, and Zanzibar, the only natural harbour (or at any rate the best) on the coast of German East Africa. In other words, he allowed Germany to occupy the two houses, but ho kept the keys in England's pocket, and thus prevented these harbours being submarine Bases. But under the circumstances it would have been quite impossible to have done so without some sort of com-' 1 pensation. The quid pro quo, then, was Heligoland, a barren rock in the sea, •at that time of very doubtful strategic value, and said to be about half a square mile in extent. Curiously enough, this represents ' the whole, area of territory acquired by Germany in Europe since the Franco-Prussian War. ■ A very poor performance (tho Imperialists would. say) for the most powerful military State in the world. I would remind "Englishman" that this Imperial policy that seems to appeal so much to him is none other than tihe old maxim: "He may take who pan, and he may keep i who is able." This policy has ruined reputations, wrecked Empires,.and brought untold misesry on the' nation that adopted it. It brought Athens, to Aegospotamos, Sparta to Leuctra, Carthage to Zama-, the Ist Napoleon to Waterloo, and the second Napoleon to Sedan; and where is it going to take us?—l am, etc., - . H. CI THOMSEN. Waingawa, Masterton.

WAR PROFITS. Sir,—There is 110 disputing tie fact that large 'profits lave been made by many people during the past two years; or that those profits are due to the war. Owing to the grave mistake made by our Government in not directly and heavily taxing war profits, whether made by people with incomes under or above £300 per annum, some of us with tender consciences find a difficulty in justly disposing of these ill-gotten gains. It is true that Parliament recognised thff; principle: of taxing war-profits," unfortunately, : ; owing" to"•' i our : politicians having either not the ability or the desire to carry out this principle in a far-reaching and practical manner, the individual" is left to his own devices as to how best to get rid of his share of profits which he feels are tlie price of blood. One would have preferred, by paying a heavy war tax, to feel that ono was helping to carry 011 the war and make the necessary provision for the fighting men and their dependents through Government channels, But one has to fall back on other outlets. With regard to the Patriotic _ Societies and committees for the- relief of sick and wounded Soldiers, these are undoubtedly going good work, so far as they are providing for immediate press-, ing needs and comforts, hospital ships, and tilings of that sort; but when they undertake supplementary pensions and the permanent relief of dependents, 0110 cannot help feeling that the necessity for doing these things/means that the Government is not doing its duty by making an adequate and generous provision in these matters, such as is undoubtedly desired by the people of this country, at whatever cost to themselves. Now, one has ;a strong objection to meeting public obligations by what is 1 practically private charity,' not only because the: obligation is general and should bo met. by a tax to which all must contribute, but also becaitse it places the dependents of the men who are giving their lives for us, and I tlie men. themselves, in the humiliating position of having to 1 accept as a charity what should be theirs by right. The fact,, also, that the patriotio funds are not administered on a uniform system in ell parts of the Dominion is another stumbling-block in the way of subscribing to them, because one feels, and is, under precisely the same obligation to the men, whether they come from the North Cape or the Bluff. ' , - One is therefore left with the choice of various outsido relief funds, of which tlie Belgian is the chief; and those excellent societies, the Red Cross and Y.M.C.A., which have the organisation and means of doing good work at the front and whert it is most needed. All of tfheso'are, T think, channels through which, in the meantime, one can conscientiously get Tid of all one's war profits, knowing that the good _ work such societies are doing is only limited by the funds at their command; and believing that eventually the Government will como to a clearer perception of its obligations to provide, adequately for our men and 'their dependents by taxation which everyone worth his salt will bo proud to pay.—l am, etc , R. D. FELL. Nikau Bay, Pcloru's Sound.