SOCIAL TOLERANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1922, Page 7

SOCIAL TOLERANCE

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Tn perusing the letter of an ‘‘Old Colonial,” appearing in Monday’s issue of the News, permit me to express my appreciation of his • courage in disapproving of the speech of one of the elders of his church. Being a cosmopolitan in religious matters, T certainly thought it was anti-Christian in sentiment and character. Unfortunately “Old Colonial” did not pour oil on the troubled waters. He is wrong in aseum-

ing that the political failure of Sir J. Ward was due to religion. Attending the Imperial Conference was the cause, and hie acceptance of his title. Expense was no barrier in attaining such. He overlooked the fact that he was the representative of one of the most democratic little countries in the world. Sir Joseph Ward departed from the liberal and democratic ideals of his late leader, Richard Seddon, which eventually caused the disunity of the Liberal forces, for I believe the present member for Patea, though an old supporter of Richard Seddon’s principles, twisted to Conservatism through the autocratic propensities of Sir Joseph Ward. It is obvious the Massey Party made political capital out of the same cause. I am now nearing the twentieth year of my sojourn in thia fair land, and the ideals then propounded by Richard Seddon and carried into effect were sufficient to meet the requirements of all glasses. Then why recede from those democratic principles? In every organisation, whether friendly, political, industrial or religious, they have their paid pilots, and no doubt the Rev. Howard Elliott is carrying out the dictates of his organisation in battling for the religious liberties of mankind, but he goes beyond his sphere in attacking Labor leaders who do not embrace his pet faith. The Welfare League is another organisation following in the same trail, endeavoring to cause disunity among the factors of our social and industrial fabric. Why not direct their attention and inculcate the co-ordinating principles vital to the social and industrial welfare of the community? The sociological aspect of this Dominion is far ahead of any other country, ae evidenced by the American orator, Colonel Bell, who toured these shores some years ago. He said Nfew Zealand promises to present to the world a higher type of civilisation than the world has ever known. So it behoves every citizen to appreciate and protect that social and industrial status we have attained and enjoy. And any pilot of the political, industrial or church organisations that seeks to pollute or .engender creed or class hatred ought to be ostracised. Let me commend Macaulay’s stirring lines: “Then note was for a party, Then all were for the State, Then the great man helped the poor, And the poor man loved the great; Then lands were fairly portioned, Then spoils were fairly sold, The Romans were like brothers Tn the days of old.” There you have the true ideal—the ideal of co-ordination.—l am, etc., A. J. RICHARDS. New Plymouth, March 28.