LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2714, 8 March 1916, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

■ A VETERANS' CORPS. Sir,—All will agree that up to date our fining men have responded magnificenty to the call to arms, but as wo all liope to make this year the final round, New Zealand could further assist iu tbo following manner: There is quito a largo number of men, liko myself, between the ages of 45 and. 55, who would .willingly enlist in a corps composed of 'that type. A number, by making false 'declarations, Jiavo been passed into the present contingents, ancT no doubt will .give a good account of themselves. But jn any job that demanded activity, tliey jivould quite likely b6 moro of a drag !tban othorwise to their, younger mates. j\Vliereas they would* be leaders in the -older class.. My idea is that tho offi- ■ rials of the' Legion of Frontiersmen, the * .Overseas Club, and the National lle- • serve should combinc to x >u t tho following scheme into force: — i 1. To call for volunteers between the teges of 45 and 55 to servo abroad. 2. To call for volunteers among the ' farmer's and any other class consifaed advisable to finance the cost. ™ 3. To arrango for transport and out•Btting. ' .4. To arrange with the Government that the whole management should be left in the hands of tho officials above mentioned. _ 5. To arrango with the British Government to accept the services of the Men, and undertake their 'training and outfitting at the cost of the New Zealand guarantors. The onlk of the men would come from the country—navvies, miners. Trash-fel-lers, scrub-cutters, fencers, etc., and judging by tho reports of tho different styles of fighting that is going oil, it is in. Prance that the older men would be of most uso. , We havq no direct representation ill that field of operations, and it would : give a personal interest if wc had a ■ body of men. however small, on tho M'estern front. _ It is moro than likely that if New Zealand gave the lead, Australia, Oanada, Africa, not to mention the smaller portions of the Empire. would follow suit, and a quite respectable body of men could be brigaded together. They could be called the "Overseas Vets.," or any other Suitable name. My reason for suggesting that the carrying out of the idea should he left to private enterprise is that 'tho Government seein to have their''hands full looking after the present, forces. There are men, like Mr. E. D. J). . M'Lean, at present in England, who should relieve or assist the High Commissioner in making all arrangements with the War Office re transports. Now regarding finance: The London "Times" recently stated that there could be no greater disgrace than for a man to he better off after the war than before it started. Well, according to recent figures, New Zealand banks arc holding £11,000,000£11,000,000 better than they were this time last year. Of course' the loans from the Old Country must be taken into consideration, hut even allowing for these advances - it is notorious that we arc incurring the stigma of making money out of the Var, and this scheme would be a gaod opportunity for those men who are holding strong through big wool, butter, ana grain cheques, not to mention those merchants and storekeepers who passed, and arc now passing, on their fctoeks held before the war started on „ to'the public at war prices, to relieve 'i!=«msplves' oF some of the "blood wonev" (as Mr. M'Hardy rightly calls it) now in their possession. 'I say "now in their possession a<3visedlv, because it may be only a '"Castle in Spain," for two reasons: First- we might lose, and the Boscnes s-ould take it, or, second, conscription of wealth in the form of penal taxation- might wipe it out. fa as Tee Doanxio>" pointed out, the right or taxation is always in the hands of the I'am sending a- oopy of this. letter to as many editors as I can, and would nsk- them to do their best to see that < the right people take the matter in "Moron.." Alfredton. . February 2fl, 1916. p.S.—I can wear an "unfit' badge (teeth and eyesight), hut it is no good to me. 1 would rather be doing something. [While the spirit bshind our correspondent's suggestion is to be admired, we fear that his idea is not practicable. In. the first place, the limit in Britain for service abroad is '40 years, though it may be found necessary later on to raise this. Then the nuestion of successfully financing such a. scheme bv volimtary subscriptions, assuming that tho recruiting response was at all substantial, is open to grave doubt. But the greatest objection probably is that the men over 45 years of age, however anxious, they may he to serve in the fight-hip; lines, wilt, # ir the war continues, he fully occupied in maintaining the productive industries of the country, which are necessary to the successful conduct of the war. The time mav come "when men over 45 years ' (of age who are physically fit will be required in the fighting ranks, and many i>i them no doubt are capable of giving n splendid account of themselves in that capacity; but that time has not yet.arrived.l . - !A SUGGESTION FOR THE DEFENCE .AUTHORITIES. Sir,—Could you inform me if there is Siuy distinctive badge' for soldiers who have been honourably discharged from the Expeditionary Forces, and on recovery have again enlisted? I have met many of these men in camp, and we consider wo have as much right to a badge as those who are unable to reenlist. If the Defencc authorities would .prevent Territorials wearing their Badges in camp, and allow returned soldiers to wear their regimental badges, it would answer tho purpose. Or they could Wear their badges over a square of red cloth, and all other soldiers prevented from doing the same by an order from the Camp Commandant. Many soldiers and N.C.O.'s. have purchased light khaki uniforms, and are mistaken for men who have seen service. Then again, as regards leave, some concession could be made- to these men/who hare been already trained and discip-1 lined, and therefore would not hinder the training of their unit. The men on the Permanent Staff and Quartermaster's Stores have practically a permanent pass, so why not returned soldiers, [t would bo only just to allow them iveek-end leave when we consider that they havo done their bit, and are still prepared to face the dangers of another Gallipoli if necessary. It is well known at camp that returned men get lio favour shown them. Hoping you ■will publish this, and perhaps the Defence Minister will order some such recognition for returned men as I havo suggested. Thanking you in anticipation, —I am, etc., RETURNED SOLDIER. THE CURRENCY OF THE HALFSOVEREIGN. Sir, —May I comment in your columns an the unrestricted circulation of fiio half-sovereign in New Zealand during the present time of gigantic European war, iu which all British folk arc charged to conserve as best they may all -. valuable supplies and commodities, including gold? In .{.lie neighbouring Commonwealth of Australia the ten-shilling note has for some time past taken the place of the half-sovereign. '"In the great commercial country of Great Britain a ten-shil-ling note has for a long time past, silica early in the war, taken the place of the half-sovereign: and there, indeed, jt has lately been brought to my notice

that there is in circumstances a rcstric. tion even in the circulation of silver. In New Zealand, as I understand a toil-shilling noto is not issued, either by tho banks oriby the Dominion treasury; and yet perhaps tho circulation of specie is somewhat increased by reason of the increased stamp duty on cheques, a duty that has been raised from Id. to 2d. There would probably be an increased use of cheques, and a corresponding diminution in the circulation of coin, if the duty on the cheque were removed altogether. Ido not ask for that. ,111. I think that we should remember that Now Zealand is not entirely removed from communication with tho Orient, which at all times seeks to absorb gold, though no doubt tho- communication from Now Zealand with the countries of tho Orient is not as direct as it is from ine port of Sydney, in New South AVales. Neither havo wo in New Zealand an uneducated, credulous set of people, such as tllo Kaffirs .111 g Oll^1 Africa—a circumstance that in South Africa apparently may have made it unwise to displace the gold currency entirety by paper. I assume, however, with some confidence, that' throughout tho Doniinion of Canada the new gold coinage of fivo and ten dollars issued at the Canadian Mint has not of late, since the war started, been muchin evidence. The amount of gold in circulation 111 New Zealand in the form of half-sove-reigns at the present. time appears to bo so substantial, and to be so much at variance with present experience both in Australia and in Great Britain that I venture to ask in your columns why tho circulation of the half-sovereign is continued.—l am. etc., • ROBERT Deß. HOVELL. Wellington, New Zealand, March 7, 1916. THE PERIL TO PATRIOTISM AND RELICION OF PERVERTED PIETY. Sir,—By your editorial courtesy, in your issue of the 3rd inst. I lodged, a protest against the erroneous theological views of several of your correspondents, one of whom was Mr. H. S. Blackburne. I wrote that protest after much thought and inspired by a sense, of duty. As a minister of the gospel, I was compelled to sound tho trumpet against views which bring discredit on Christianity. Hugh Mmer, in his informing autobiography, "My Schools and Schoolmasters," tells us of tho mental and moral iujury\that was done to him as a young man by a prominent religious person saying in his hearing that a fire in Edinburgh, 111 which lives were destroyed and poor people lost their earthly all, was the judgment of God 011 the people of Edinburgh for their theatre-going oratorios, and such-like sins. Hugh Miller naturally saw in such a statement a manifestation of monstrous injustice. That God would smite the inoffensive poor of Edinburgh with death and the destruction of ..their homes wealthy and fashionable people of Edinburgh for their theatre-going, oratorios,credible. I am in the same state of mind regarding the theological views •of Mr. H. S. Blackburne. He has as good, as oracularly and dogmatically declared that the awful massacre iu India sixty years ago was God's special judgment '011 Britain for tho infamous and unrighteous war against China brought about by Sir John Bowriug, Lord Palmerston, and others. Such a representation makes God the minister of monstrous injustice. liowring and Palmerston tho leaders in this sin, lived, and earthly honours were heaped upon them in Britain, and in India yonder, the inoffensive and the innocent were tortured and murdered in thousands! Mr. Blackburne applies - the same explanation of the Indian massacres to I this present war. In his extraordinary letter that evoked my protest, lie declared that this war was "a judgment of God for our national sins, . and our national sins .were summed up by him in the opium war causcd by Bowring and Palmerston sixty years ago. Here, again, such a representation makes . God smite the innocents of to-day directly for the sins of the guilty of sixty years ago. 1 am satisfied that Mr. Blackburne has never been initiated into the counsels of the Most High, and has no_ right to dogmatise on such matters. We should leave such statements as that this war is a special judgment upon us for our sins to the hireling spiritual shepherds of the Kaiser, whose railing acciisar tions you reported the other day. There i 5 a- clear call to national repentance, humiliation, and prayer. I liavo no doubt that this righteous war into which Britain has been forced will be overruled by God as a needed discipline to us and to our Allies. In our humiliation and confession, it would bo well# for us to sea rhe sins there are near as well as those that are far off. I have 110 quarrel with the Anti-opium Society, whose secretary sends a-column of information to your columns to-day. For far moro than twenty years I have cordially endowed the platform of the society. I hare to thank the_ secretary for confirming my -representation of the fruits brought forth by repentance on the part of the British and Indian Governments of to-day as regards opium. My quarrel is simply with Mr. Blackburne's explanation of the providence of God with regard to this war. I object entirety to his representations. His eccentric tfieologieal views are, as far as I know, no part of the platform of the Anti-opium League, and probably no member of the league would endorse them. They were published by Mr. Blackburne as a private _ person, and not as the secretary of the league, and as a private person he should defend his views, which liave nothing to do with the platform of his society. Hie secretary is amusingly forcing an open door in 'trvincc to reflect 011 mo as unfriendly in any way to his society. Mr. Blackburne may be one-or the worthiest of men, but I object to his personal views as being a peril to patriotism and religion. Tbo religious teacher who nearlv made Hujzh Miller an infidel was one of the worthiest of men. He was Dr. . Colquhon, of Leith, an earnest evangelical in the days of Modoratism, and the minister of inf*grandfather and great-grandfather. The sm of theatregoing filled the honr-on of Dr. Colon- j lion's vision, and lie saw God's Judgment iu the fire. Tho opium iniquity ivav so fill the horizon of a mail s mind that he will see the special judgment of God in human suffering when there was vsa'lv 110 special judgment nt all. The post' hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy' accounts not only for bad reasoning, butalso for bad theology. A wrong lend--1112 of the providence of God is resiionsible for a good deal of scepticism. Professor Janet, in his thoughtful book 011 "Filial.Causes." remarks: "Such apolopies for Providence make more atheists than believers; at. the most, they mml't ho excusable when addressed to children, hut philosophy is meant to speak to men." I again express the hope that Mr. Blackburne will do justice to himself hy expressing regret for his rash explanations of God's providence, •-«- plan.itions which are fitted to bring discredit 011 the worthy cause he has, I understand, so ably served.—l. am. etc., ROBERT WOOD. Island Bay, March 7, 1910?