THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1894. ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2625, 24 February 1894, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1894. ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS.

There can be no doubt that the position of the farmers of this colony at the present, time is anything but enviable. They have, we believe, succeeded in Baving their harvest fairly well, although the weather has been anything but good, but ot what use is it 'i The prices are so low that it is impossible for them to defray the cost of production. This is not the fault of the farmers; they have worked hard and done their best, but they cannot control the markets, and neither can any power or influence in New Zealand do so. There is one way in which farmers could be assisted this year, and that is by. lowering the railway freights so that the grain may be taken to market as cheaply as possible. Indeed, we should not object if grain were carried free of charge this year, for we think it would pay the colony to assist to that extent so deserving and industrious a class. Protection is given to certain industries, bonuses are given to others, and as the farming industry is " down on its luok" this year, it would be doing nothing out of the way to assist it. Farming has in all countries and at all times received State assistance. In England at one time bonuses were given for the export of wheat, with the result that it stimulated production, and caused vast traces of land to be broken up and brought under cultivation. At another time the British Government came to the assistance of farmers by providing them with cheap money. Political economists are, of course, opposed to anything of this kind, but we have never allowed ourselves to be influenced to any great extent by their theories. We do not believe in being governed by dead men's ideas ; we believe that every age is better able to find out its own wants than the age which preceded it, and besides all the accepted theories of political economists have proved delusive, and no man of practical common sense is noW guided by them. It would, in our opinion, benefit the colony if the farming industry could be stimulated, and this could be done in two wayj, viz., by cheaper railway freights, and cheaper money. We have advocated both for years, but never was there greater necessity for them than now. We are glad to know that the Government contemplates providing cheap money for farmers, and if they added to this cheap railway freights, they would only do justice to the moat hardworking and industrious class in the colony.

WOMEN IN CHURCHES

There is an amusing discussion going on at present between a writer in Southland who calis himself "Auld Licht" and the editor of tho Oanwa Mail. Tho Mail insisted that women had a right to a voice in the management of Churches, but " Auld Licht" reminded him of the pmsept of St. Paul, viz., " Let your women keep pjlpnce in the Uhurches." He continued to say that the Church is not a democracy, where everything is decided by the popular vote, «ft js a ilirocracy, a loving despotism." The profane editor replied that if St. Paul had lived in Oamaru it would not alter his opinions, end fceliaved if ho hnd an hour's conversation with the paint it would result in his removing the interdict concerning women. Tho editor proceeds to show that St. P.:" 1 warns womw og.ftinst braiding their hair and woanng gold; therefore no woman should wear a wedding ring unless it was made of bras?. Then Auld Licht gives us the following biographical sketch of the sa£ut :-*-

" Paul wa3 a native of Tarsus in Ciiicia, and inherited the privileges of a Roman citizen. His descent was wholly Jewish, his education of the highest order, under Gamaliel, a distinguished Rabbi, a doctor of the law, for 32 years president of the Sanhedrim. According to the national custom Paul was taught a trade—tentmaking—the Talmud saying; 'He that does not teach his son a trade is as bad as if he had taught him to steal.' His mental powers were of the highest order) a&d

were assiduously cultivated and discplined. Tarsus—his birthplace—was famed as a seat' of diligent culture. Paul had the advantage of a double education Jewish and Grecian. He was trained after the strictest sect of his religion, and versed in all its subtleties. A highly educated and accomplished gentleman, his character is one of the most conspicuous in ancient times. Softness of spirit was allied to firmness of purpose. He spoke the truth in love. Every one must admire that disinterestedness incidentally told in Acts, chap, xviii. v. 3."

He winds up this by repeating again St. Paul's injunction that woman " keep silence in the churches." Now the question is, What is the meaning of the words " keep silence "1 When the police in our .courts of justices cries out " Silence," he means that the people in the body of the court must cease talking, not that he mu*t not talk himself. On the contrary; he may next moment be called on to give evidence, and talk a good deal. Lookiug at the words " Keep silence in the churches " in the light of their present day meaning, we should say that what is meant is that women should keep silence, that is, compel the men to hold their tongue. There is another view of this case. We presume that women in those days used to carry their babies to church with them, just as they do now-a-days, and also that babies had the habit of waking up screaming in the most interesting part of the sermon then as now. Probably this is the silence which the women were ordered to keep. We must commend the egotism of the Oamaru editor who asserts that if he had an hour's conversation with'iSt. Paul, he, would convert him to a belief in admitting women to a share in the management of churches. This is .really good. The discussion is amusing, bnt we cannot compliment either " Auld Licht" or the editor on having exhibited much Biblical learning. St. Pauld did command women to " keep silence in the Church," which is a very diberent thing to "keeping silence," but it does not appear that this injunction has been very strictly adhered to. At any rate there can be no doubt that but for the women the churches would not be so influential as they are; for women are ten times better supporters of them than the men. Women make far more use of the churches than men, and therefore, as those most interested, they.ought .to have a voice in their management.