CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81843, 8 September 1906, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

RELIGIOUS WORK AMONG THE MAORIS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—The Rev. T. G. ilann-ond need not trouble himself about 'he inspired statements which from time to time appear in the newspapers on the subject of the revival of Christian ministrations and practices among the Maoris of this coast. The impudent pretensions of those individuals who choose to ignore the valuable work carried on for so manv years by Mr Hammond and his colleagues of the Mcthcdist ministry are a continual cause of regret and irritation to many earnest members of the Church- of the Province of New Zealand, while there are others who do not treat the matter seriously, but regard with amusement or contempt the misleading reports published in the /.ocai! papers aiid the "Church Gazette." As an old resident of Taranaki, and intimately acquainted with Maori life along the coast, I say deliberately that 't is largely in consequence of the consistent efforts of he Rev. Mr Hammond himsetf and the still cherished memories of his Wesleyan predecessors of half a century ago that the new fanjrled cult is able to got a hearing at all.—l a m, etc., A PROTESTANT CHURCHMAN. 7th September, lyob. P.S.—I would also express my appreciation of the good work of the French priests'of the Roman brand. There is little brag about them.

THE RECIPROCITY TREATY/, (To the Editor.) Sir,—l road your report this morning re your interview with the business men- re the above, and, reading' between the lines, could not but observe that you took their statements with the proverbial (Train of sal:. Some time past pow yoni treated your readers with some leading articles on the subject of Protection, which, if reproduced just now, would be a most'opportune tipie. You will readily admit that you interviewed the wrong man, for the "merchant" as you call him, is not likely to agree to a free trade policy. That wou'd never suit his book, for the higher the tariff the bitter his profits. The ether fellow is the man" you should have interviewed, viz., the buyer, not the seller. Why should ninety nine out of one hundred be compel.od to fatten the already fat man ? Why should the fat companies have a pull of 20 per cent, over the seller and. the buyer of his goods? What is good for the miller should be good for the baker, and if the baker, why not the people ? What have the people done that they should be 'served so scurviiy, and that by a democratic Government, who survives by the people's vote? Did it never strike you, Mr Editor, that it would be a first class investment lor the people to pay the salaries of all the employees of the sugar refining company, and lei them stop woik, and be gentlemen at huge? That being done, there would be some chance of getting better and cheaper sugar. Perhaps when the people realise they are slated to the tune of 6,<S in every pound's wciih t:f drapery and mercery they buy, they may think some. The monopolies in New Zealand, though little is said of them, 'are a terrible curse to the peop'e. 1 need only mention a few, such as the insurance compan ies, milling combine, shipping combine, coal ci-nibine, and others. The late Mi Seddop knew what he was about in Australia when advocating reciprocity. The howl by those interested wiil, 1 assure you, be long an.l loud. Hut if the Government of the day do their duty to their con slituents, to those who, are responsible for putting them into power, they will let them how', and prove themselves true to the masses.—l am, ONE OF THEM.