"DR. GIBB'S LITTLE ARMY!

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 145, 23 June 1930, Page 10

"DR. GIBB'S LITTLE ARMY!

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Your leading article under the above heading irresistibly reminded me of an episode in the life of David. When the King was in retreat before the rebellion of Absalom, and his fortunes were low, a man.named Shimei improved the occasion by pelting him with stones and loading., him with reproaches. The journalistic missle in your leading article was aimed with force and skill. But, Sir, its effect will bo to strike and wound a worthy cause. May I suggest that the blow has been aimed at, and the reproaches heai>ed on the wrong head? The League of Nations' Union is organised on a most democratic basis. Citizens of all shades of politics, who subscribe to tho platform and principles of the League of Nations, have been invited and urged to enter its' membership. And were it worthily supported neither a "president nor a committee would havo power to drag the moyement' at the tail of an inane pacifism. But why. has the public held aloof! Does not the real reason lie in the insular and parochial spirit which controls masses of people in New Zealand to-day? But what matters? The Tace meetings are still thronged and the totalisator well patronised. The talkies are crowded and the cabarets flourishing. Tho All Blacks are on the ball. And people are parting With their half-crowns by the hundred thousand for art union tickets. So, their troubles if the League of Nations' Union is languishingl The Loaguo of Nations' Union may rejoice in one-thing: It finds itself in. good company." Por the British Union, which played a determining part in the British elections of last year, has had to run the gauntlet of like criticism. And Dr. Gibb may take solace not only from. the issue of Shimei's stones and curses, but also b^" the example of the illustrious president of - tho parent union, Lord Robert Cecil, who has suffered like affliction. Only, in ■ the case of Lord Kobert, the contumelious stone has not been cast from the leading article column of a responsible and highly influential national journal- such as the "Evening Post." —Tarn, etc., D. S. ROLLINGS. Richmond, Nelson, , 20th June. We regret to have fallen so low in our criticism of tho Rev. Dr. Gibb and his "little army" that our arguments aro likened by a fellow Minister to those with which Shimei pelted "tho Lord's anointed." Shimei's arguments were, as our correspondent points out, stones and curses. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, come out,- come" out, thou bloody men, and thou man of Belial . . . Behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. It may be that Shimei Js language would look less lurid in Hebrew, but" we should bo glad if our critic would take any version he pleases and make his comparison good. Our arguments were, we believe, logical and just and temperately and reasonably expressed, but, as our correspondent thinks otherwise, ho should be glad to quote the offensive passages. Jf the essence of Shimei's offonce can for his purpose be. regarded as the resort to abuse instead of argument it may be that in likening our offence to his, without any argument, what our correspondent mistook for a bomb was really; a boomerang.—Ed,