Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 931, 26 March 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

LONGER WORKING WEEK

Sir, — 1 think the heading of yesterday’s news item "Longer Working Week. Australia’s Economy Plan” is wrongly worded, and will be read by most workers in Australia and here as “Big Reduction In Wages. Australia’s Economy Plan.” It looks as if the working week will still be a 44-bour one, but that the pay envelope will contain less than forms-, 'Sy. SAMOA Sir, —■ I have listened a good deal lately to meetings conducted by speakers who have protested against the methods that have been employed in administering our Samoan mandate. Now, Mr. Editor, the question I would ask through your columns is this: If the statements that have been made are not true, why do Ministers of the Crown not come forward and repudiate them and not allow such a stigma to remain upon the Dominion. Will some of the Ministers of the Crown come into the open and say “Yes” or “Xo” to the serious allegations that are made from time to time? t-, . . J- GRACES. Edendale. ON RELIGIONS Sir,I am a comparative stranger to Auckland, and strolling through Queen Street on Sunday evening. I noticed a crowd outside the closed doors of a theatre. in curiosity I joined them. The evening’s proceedings opened with an address by a fairly young man who stated that a clergyman wanted to debate publically with him the questions that formed the matter of his address, but he (the speaker) had refused. This ought to be a matter of congratulation to the clergyman—for I really cannot conceive any person of good taste having direct or indirect association with such insulting language as that used by the -speaker of the evening. II e commented adversely on the Roman Catholic religion; the Protestant religion, and the Jewish religion and (evidently to his own satisfaction) knocked the bottom out of Christianity, of revealed religion of every cult of spirituality and every form of Higher Thought and morality I am a Jew and have sufficient knowledge of my faith, with its traditions, wisdom, and doctrines of morality and health to make me, I hope, a better man than I otherwise would be —but listening to the speaker, my blood fairly boiled with indignation at the gross, and malignant caricature of Hebrewism that he portrayed to his audience. I am certain that if the speaker uttered the same remarks in the presence of a Jewish schoolboy, he would speedily find himself turned inside out, upside down, and knocked flat and out—in argument, knowledge and good taste. If the speaker himself is a renegade Jew, he probably would know little of the deep spirituality of tha cults oi .Christianity. It

not a Jew, he may be a Protestant, and consequently have little real knowledge of Roman-Catholicism and Jewish religton and tradition. If neither Protestant nor Jew, he may be Roman Catholic, and be very ill instructed in that faith. If he is, as he claims to be. “Nothing,” let him be reminded that “nothing from nothing leaves nothing” and if he be so content, let it remain at that. His flounderings in questions of ancient measurements generally were ridiculous. He denies that Noah’s Ark contained the germ life of the present human and animal kingdoms. It may or may not be so, but, the lecturer must admit that from a single acorn can grow thousand upon thousand square miles of oak forests. H. KIESCHENBAUM. PARNELL Sir, In recalling my old Eltham days, and with a knowledge, of Parnell’s member of Parliament, I anticipated that Mr. H. R. Jenkins, if he became a politician, would have been a staunch supporter of Richard John Seddon’s principles, some of which are now embodied in the Labour Party’s platform. By Press reports Mr. Jenkins now boasts his political and financial independence. If national progress and the well-being of the community are to he maintained, the political party guiding the destinies of the Dominion should be united. If the Cabinet’s laxity in carrying out the political programme promised the electors becomes manifest, then there arises the opportunity for the individual member to press for this essential service. By such action he would merit the approbation of his whole electorate instead of, by twisting, causing unnecessary expense. A. J. RICHARDS. Otahuhu. WELFARE LEAGUE’S OBJECTIVE Sir, — “Britisher,” in your issue of the 20th says, ”1 he W elfare League is purelv and simply a name under which antiSoviet propaganda is issued on behalf of and at the direction of associated financial institutions of this country ” This is so contrary to fact that I have been instructed to ask you to permit me to explain, briefly, the league's objects. E .j 1 ?, 1819 there were grave problems which required unity of purpose and action by all sections and parties. Instead of unity, disruptive forces were at work. Politically, Reform and Liberal Party divisions, largely artificial, were revived; socially, a doctrine of class hatred was being preached; industrially, an atmosphere of unrest was being fostered by extremists, often disloyal to the Empire, and a vigorous revolutionary propaganda was circulating throughout the country and doing much harm. Some organised effort appeared necessary to wake people up to the of this position. As a result tne Welfare League, which has a large membership, was formed with the object of exposing the weaknesses of extreme Socialism and the dangers of class war, to organise moderate opinion | and induce people tp take a national

rather than party interest in politic matters. We also try to induce m to stand for Parliament who v.'ill P la national Welfare before party Today the position is in many wav similar to that of 1919. and there a most dangerous campaign the Empire which we do not hesitat to fight on all occasions. This eman ates from the Third International practically a department of the Government, but we always make as certain as possible of our facts, an“ fo_r that reason draw on the Sovie official publications. . If '’Britisher” is really desirous or meeting our official correspondent, a visit to 39 Johnston Street, Wellington, will he very welcome, and a dtscussion would be of interest to us ana perhaps to him. ARTHUR P. HaRPER. Secretary N.Z. Welfare .Leagwfll