VARYING OPINIONS.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2777, 23 May 1916, Page 7

VARYING OPINIONS.

Sir,—Your correspondent "Silas Stark" ii 'surely ironical! First, as to tho Chief Justice and bi» I think if the Chief Justice wero asked liis view of the connection between the increase of drinking and the decrease of crime he would say that the latter was in spite, and certainly not because, of the former. Anyone, not toe distracted, may acquaint himself with the fact that the most potent factors in the decrease in crime are: (1) Certainty of identification, and consequently of pun, ishment; (2) honest employment. The observations of the learned judges quoted by your correspondent may bo largely referred to tho seoond factor before mentioned.

Coming to the assault on "one or two clergymen and others" wo are agreed as to tho "unco guid." They ai;e the limit. But can "Silaa Stark" view with, equanimity the scandalous waste in immoderate drinking ,and .tho iniquity of nationalising gambling by legalising totalfiators? I think the Eev. Dr. Sedgwick was doing liis bit. The commercial morality must be rather questionable when oven politicians ■ are oompelled to pass and enforce anti-trust and other antisocial prevention measures against captains of industry. "Organised selfishness" is an expression one often bear's applied nowadays. Its use is not confined to "wowsers" or "silly women," nor is it conspicuously aifected by "'weak men" only. The sexual morality which allows immodesty in dress, speech, and manners, and is awfully shocked only at a physical act, may be characterised as a travesty. Tho indignation of "Silas Stark" at the parsons may 1 e in part diverted to Ad, rniral Beattv (of Heligoland Bight affair), who recently wrote (inter alia) • as follows:— "This war must and will (jo on until we are awakened from our smug complacency and self-satisfaction." Verb sap.—l am, etc., STRICHEN. Wellington, May 22, 1916.