CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1922, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

STRATFORD RAILWAY STATION. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I noticed -u paragraph in the Taranaki Daily News of the 20th in reference to the lighting of the Stratford railway station. As one of the many whose business took me to the station, I must say that the reference was not made without due cause. The night was particularly dark and people were stumbling over barrows and bumping into each other on the platform. I would like to know. Sir, if this state of things is part of the Government’s economy scheme, or is it railway mis-manage-ment? Whilst touching on this matter, why is it that a goods train with cattle trucks should be allowed to pull up right in front of the station, whilst tbe mail train must take second place?—l am, etc., SUFFERER. ANOTHER PLEA FOR TOLERANCE. To the Editor. Sir, —‘I'am a Protestant and a staunch one. My greatest friend, my pal, is a Catholic, but not an Irish one. We are j both loyal Britishers, and although we ! were born to embrace different religions we agree therein to differ and get along quite happily. We have viewed with i interest the correspondence in your paper anent the above, and we now view with concern the manner in which the utterances of this Irishman have been fanned into a conflict between Roman Catholics and Protestants. Because Dr. Liston, who is an avowed Irish rebel, prays for deliverance from the British yoke, surely your correspondents do not . think that every adherent of his faith believes that such a subjugation as he describes exists. Unfortunately the Roman Church in New Zealand is crowded with Irish priests, but it doesn’t follow that every Roman Catholic is trying to injure the power of Britain. As one who is very intimate with Roman Catholic people, 1 know that many of his people diglike Dr. Liston as much as they do the Rev. Howard Elliott, for they have the sense to see that a display of intolerance on their church’s part will only give rise to the formation of further societies similar to the P.P.A. and the Orange Lodge, and perhaps foster an intolerance on the part of the easy-going Protestants. I believe, as does my Catholic pal, that Dr. Lieton should be’punished and upbraided for what he has said, but we do wish that people would remember that what he said he said on Ireland's Day as an Irishman to Irishmen and that his utterances do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Church of Rome. 1 would like to remind those who are bringing the religious dispute too much into this question of an incident which happened during the landing of Australian troops at the Dardanelles. The

thing actually happened and was record- | ed in the columns of your paper sometime in 1915: — It was on one of the barges which were landing men from the troopships. A man was shot down up the hill; the chaplain made a dash to rescue and bring the man back to safety, but a Roman priest standing near caught hold of him saying: “You must not think of it—it is madness; you are going to certain death.” The Protestant shook off the restraining hand, replying: “I have got my orders and they come from a Higher command; lam going.’ He i went, and was killed while in the act of beginning his • service of love and | mercy. Instantly the priest sprang up, ; but the officer in charge of the landing | party called out: “Stay where you arc. I forbid your going. We are losing too j manv men.” The priest calmly went on saying as he passed: “Did you hear what my Protestant comrade said? I, too have got my orders from the Higher Command.” Within a few minutes he lay dead beside, his brother of the Cross. . . 4.UIn begging you to again repeat this story in your columns I do so not to I foreshadow Dr. Uston in the light of “the bravest man I ever saw,” but to remind people that Dr. Liston is only one Catholic, and that whilst it is unfortunate that he is a rebel Irishman the Catholics cannot help that. For man?

years the Protestant and Catholic people of New Zealand have lived side by side in peace and happiness, and if we leave religion out of our national and political struggles I think we may do so for ever. Let us, and let Dr. Liston and Rev. Elliott, not forget that though we may belong to different regiments we are still brothers of the Cross, and that there is a Higher Command. As a British subject I am very pleased that there are so many loyal people, but I do not think that anything is to be gained by calling each other names and by references to ancient history.—l am, etc., PACIFIST. Opunake, 20th April, 1922.

KAWAROA PARK. To the Editor. Sir, —The residents of New Plymouth are very fortunate in the possession of the numerous parks and places of recreation which surround the town. It must have been most encouraging to the committee of ladies and gentlemen who have for some years past given so much of their time and labor at Kawaroa Park to see the crowd of people at their annual fixture on Easter Monday. This went to show that residents appreciate the efforts made by the committee to provide them with a fine seaside resort. Only nine years back this park was a wilderness of sandhills, gorse and I lupin. I think the committee who have labored so strenuously to provide such a fine resort for both young and old deserve the hearty thanks and support of the people. At any rate, the financial result of Easter Monday’s gathering proved that the people do appreciate the work that has been done. When one considers that it is only within the last five years that the committee has had any* available revenue it is certainly surprising that a fine substantial tea room, band rotunda, swings and sundries, together with footpaths and lawns should be in evidence. All this has been willingly undertaken by a number of young men and women who have freely and gladly given their time and labor for the people. Don t for one moment think I wish to detract from our other fine parks and reserves, but Kawaroa is young and growing, and some day he hopes to be as big and strong as the other fellows, so please give him a helping hand. In a very short time the committee will have .to face a very serious matter and one involving considerable expense. This is l the erosion beginning to show on the beach near the baths. No doubt the committee will take hold of this at an earlv date, and try and stop the ero-siom-I am, etc., RATA.