THE EFFICIENCY BOARD AND PROHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3162, 14 August 1917, Page 6

THE EFFICIENCY BOARD AND PROHIBITION

Sir,—When the Hon. Herdinan brought down his anti-shouting regulations he said, in effect: "The mature judgment of the few is of more value than the opinion of the many." The few accordingly gave us anti-shouting regulations, and —sent us home. Let us grant the principle that "the mature judgment of the tew is of morS value that the opinion of the many." The fen- must at least bg-imnartial, disinterested, courageous —qualities not always found in politicians. Wo can hardly ' nay, for instance, that our Myers, our Vigor Browns, are disiuteristeti whore the Trade is concerned. There is something distinctly piquant in the finding of the Efficiency Board in the light of Mr. HeJ'dmau's attitude. The few, specially chosen for their comprehensive grasp of commercial affairs, free from Was, independent of politic-inns, careless of votes, actuated solely by a desire to increase national efficiency for the keen competition of to-morrow, recommend total prohibition! No wonder Isitt chortles!- No wonder Sir Joseph squirms! No wonder recommendations are oonfidontial! No wonder Parliament must rule! No wonder politicians want time to get their second wind! But wo will not got Prohibition. Priests, politicians, pnblicrfns—that trinity of power blocks the way. .Priests, who require wino for ceremonial pur-

posts (unaware, perhaps, tliat such fISSV monies have evolved from, and are qui>vivals of, Bacchanalian revelries of pi*Gliristiau times). Politicians, :uany actuated by self-interest and dominated by publicans. Publicans, fighting r'or the continuance of their monopoly. They have on thoir side wealth, fighting funds, influence. They can make it worth a man's while to support them, and they do. Their opponents can show that thij community would be better off mentally, morally, ptysically, and Snanciallr without liquor, but who caves? Sixpsnco nr.d a pot of hops wins all the time. We must expect this in our comparatively low state of culture. But α-iav will sunty come when the well-being of the nwny will be our chief concern. While, hownvw we as a people are content to let Ihose in high places do our thinking for us—and tlit-mselves—we must expect then, to have a lordly scorn <>f our wisues and intelligence.—l-am. n*..

IHILITARY AGE Sir,—As a member of the crew of a NewZealand transport I wish to say a little on this reduction of age to nineteen years. I think it is very unfair, as I know several young men on transport service, especially amongst the stewards,, who have been granted conditional exemption for transport service >wliile other young men have to go away and fight for them, while they Temain in these soft jobs. Further, T know (hat some oi' these men hare joined the marine service since the war nrnte out so as to> escape going to the front. I hope the Minister of Defence will consider theso stewards with exemptions and see that (hey do their bit like other meii before ho send? hoys away.—T nm. etc., ON' TRANSPORT SERVICE. Sir.—Aβ I see by the papers that the (government are thinking of calling up. the boys of nineteen, T verr strongly protest, as T think it is a'disgrace to fend lads who are not matured and not nhysicallv fit for the severe ftrain of the I'ltr.lcfipM. Surely it is no<r time for the majority of our inemtfTs of Parliament tn come forward and protest emnhaticallv against the intention of reducing tho age limit from twenty.—l nm. etc., SOLDIER'S MOTHER.

THE CATHEDRAL Sir,—ln statin;? his objections to the , Anglican Cathedra] scheme, "Practical" quite rightly asserts that to allow the children of our fallen soldiers to become inmates of any charitable institution would be a slur on the honour of tha Dominion. He further contends—and 7. heartily agree with him—that our disabled soldiers must not be treated us paupers, but as "honoured guests of the State." But it is strange 'ihat he has failed to see that the memorial home which he suggests that the Anglican people, of Wellington should build in-, stead of < a cathedral would of necessity be a charitable institution. The inmates of such a home would be dependent upon the charity—however willingly and generously and tactfully bestowed— of one section of the community. They ■would certainly not be the "honoured guests of the State." While giving "Practical" credit for the> best intentions, J feel euro that the adoption of his proposal would not be in the Iwst interests of our soldiers _or their dependants. There is a growing consensus of opinion throughout the country that it is the imperative duty of the State to make adequate provision for 1 the dependants of our fallen heroes and! for the men who come back disabled. This duty can only be done justly an it effectively by means of taxation which! will ensure that everyone will contribute his fair share of the cost. The State : must not be allowed or encouraged to cast its responsibilities in this matter on to any other shoulders. But we also have a duty to the men who will never come back. It would t>9 an eternal disgrace to its if vre did no. erect worthy memorials to commeniorato their brave deeds and great sacrifices. These memorials mkht well be erectert by the*freewill offerings of the men and women for whose freedom and safety so niany of our soldiers have lnid down their lives. A beautiful cathedral with its war chapel would be an appropriate memorial, and I, for one, hope that the Anglican authorities will go right on with their building scheme._ In the course of a speech in the House of Representatives, Jfr. M'Calluin very properly laid stress upon the duty of erecting monuments to those have fallen in battle, fio a? to instil into the minds of future generations a due sense of tho chivalry of our,dead heroes and of their determination to do their duty at all costs. Mr. WCallnm was equally insistent on our obligations to the ( wounded and the dependants •)! the fallen. He stated most emphatically that the State must in every case take the place of those on whom they relied, and not only mate just, but generous, provision for them—not of charity, but b.r way of fair and honest recompense for the highest of all services to the State. The economic aspect of the cathedral scheme also deserves some consideration. In proof of the need for a cathedral it should ba sufficient to state that no Anglican diocese can be regarded as nroperly organised and equipped until it: has a cathedral. A diocese without one is abnormal. And if a cathedral is to lie built it is very desirable in the publm interest that it should be commenced as fioon as the war is over. Members of Parliament have impressed upon tho Government the need for taking action, in co-operation with local bodies and private employers, with the cbject ' or providing work for the men who will come back in thousands when the fiqhting has finished. Sir Joseph Ward states in his Budget that it is the country's duty to see that returned soldiers requiring work are fully employed until they settle in the ordinary avocations or life, and for this purnoFe a special sum not exceeding .£2,000,000. spread over a period of two years, will be devoted tr> public or other works. The spending of something like .£IOO,OOO on the proposed cathedral would provide steady work at good wages for a large number of men, and would materially assist the Government in tiding over the critical transition neriod between the end of tho wat 1 and the Te-establishment of normal peacei conditions.-I am, etc., _~,.,,,,, JjAl-SIAA. August 13. Sir,—There is little doubt but that the suggestions of your correspondent in this morning's issue in -respect to the building of a cathedral in Wellington by the Protestants are right. God would

l>o glorified more by the care of war widows and orphans. : There is anotho* point the donors to the Cathedral Fund would be wise to consider: What safpRuards will He possible to ensure Ihnt: teachings , and practices foreign to both the spirit and letter of our Prayer Boole contained in its Thirty-nine Articles will ,be followed out in the future. Old residents of Weilinston will only need to cast their mind's eye back to the Communion table of the city churches of their boyhood and compare them with those of to-day to see the need of cantion. Many donors to the city churches in the past would, if alive, in view oi the extreme changes in doctrine, not be contributors to-day.-I ™^ STm

SHORTAGE OF PAPER Sir,—Much inconvenience is being caiis- ■' ed to tho people of New Zealand through ! the shortage of paper May I, then, eugI cest that Bomething should be done here, ' as in England, to make use of the largo : quantities of waste paper which, in so . many cases; find their way to the destroy- ! ins; flames. ' i 4s one who daily bnrns much wasto paper, but who would preserve it for .use if enabled to do so. I ask: Can not a moans bo devised whereby tho waste paper of New Zealand could bo collreti ed. treated; and again converted into ■useful paper?-I am, etc.,' L.J . i , •