PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 18898, 29 May 1936, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but for whose Views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. it. is essential that anonymous \\‘l‘ilers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear,

l THE FREE cnuncnss. ' (To the Editor.) Sin—l protest against the Stxgges« tion of the itev. 11. l’i. Grant Suthcrv land that the words “nonconformist” and “dissenter” are terms or reproach. The history of religion, I venture to say, proclaims three things: (1) The conformist-s of the day are always wrong; the only military step they know is "mark time." (2) The nonconformists are likely to have some. even it a limited, vision; they know the meaning of “quick march." (3) The non—conformiats of to-day are the conformlsts of to-morrow. This is a solemn and a disturbing thought. ‘When I begin to conform I shall begin to ask {or euthanasia. The conform—ists may feel a little superior about their momentary conformity, but Mr Sutherland has probably met with foolish pride. even among the “Wee Frees."—l am, etc., NON—CONFORMIST. Hamilton, May 28. PLAYERS 0F PROMISE. (To the Editor.) Sin—An interesting feature in the class for Dress quartettes at the musical competitions held in connection with the \Valkaio \Vinter Show was the number of young lads playing. Naturally their clTorts suffered by comparison with older and more cx—perienced players. The obvious remedy for this would be to have a Junior section in this class. rl‘hey would then have competitive effort amongst themselves and not run the risk of discouragement by having to compete with seniors. After the contest 1 discovered that one of the groups of very young players consisted of four brothers. A combination of this kind should do well. having the advantage ‘ot' being in close touch with each other. The quartette oi‘ trombones was another feature of interest, and this combination only just ‘missed a higher placing by the usual difllculty in the production of very high notes by the instrument taking the highest part. The tone was digniiled and the blending good. A class i'or trombone trios would cut out the necessity of having,r a very high part at the top; and why not trios consisting of two tenor horns. .and one euphonlum‘i ' . i The brass band outlook in this disltrist is quite bright, judging by what Iliad the privilege of hearing on Tuesday evening—l am, etc., , . JOHN TAIT, ’ Vocal and Instrumental Judge. Waikato Winter Show. _ ' Hamilton. May 28. . i . l REGIMENTAL COLOURS. .—_.._ (To the Editor.) Sin—l wish to record my agreement with the ilev. 11. Grant Sutherland concerning the Episcopalian monopoly last Sunday. No doubt. the regimental authorities acted in accordance with custom and no criticism can he made 01' those who accepted the invitation or the Regiment. it is not so very long ago that there was no such thing as a Free Church commisi-soned ofilcer in the British Army. for no “Free Churchman was considered a gentleman." Custom-s based upon social. sectarian or historical prejudice are made to be destroyed, and to perpetuate them in New aniaud is Without justifica—tion. .\lr Sutherland seems to base his objection on the absence of a State church in New Zealand. ’l‘hat arguIment seems to me to be sound. 1 would personally carry the argument further than Mr Sutherland and 'dedicate the Colours to the purposes of peace, international goodwill and col—icctivc security, without the interven—tion of Protestant or Catholic, Non—cont’ormist or Episcopalian. it is not; without significance that, within and beyond our Empire, many races and many religious have now an equal claim to any devotion or prowess which our arms possess.—l am, etc., F. A. DE LA MARE. llamilton, May 28. . (To the Editor.) Sir,——lt is to be regretted that the Rev. Grant Sutherland has seen ill. to raise an issue of sectarianism in regard to the presentation or the new Lloloul's to the Waikato Regiment, in your issue or Wednesday. 1 think he should understand that denominationalism does not. enter into the ceremonlai ot‘ the Regiment as such. The members have all taken the same oath oi" allegiance to the King. M the Colours were consecrated by clergy of the King's Church as part of the ccrcmony there can be no affront to members 01‘ other Churches in the ltcgiment if their representative clergy are not present. lt would conccrn the reverend gonticnmn more if the some intoler—anro were shown by the Roman liatholic clergy, whose spiritual hold U\'t'l' their Uhurch members is far greater than that 01' the Free llliurrhus, and \\liusc members in thc Itogimcnt conform unquestionably to thc prcsrrib'cd scrvicc of thc Ulllll‘i‘li ut‘ England in such military ccrc~ monlal. ’l‘ln: Dunn and other tihurch of England clcra'y therefore were there as clergy ot‘ the King's Church, to carry out the rcqulrctl cercnmn}. and not as rcprcsvntuli\'os oi religion in gcncral. in regard to the term "noun-ow l'ormisl," this is usrtl so little now that It docs not sovm worth objecting .aboul, and is of use only in tlnnomi~ lnathmal nrgumcnl to distinguish thosc ii'cligiunisls who do not conform in tin: illilifll'lllt‘ of tho Ilhurt'li of England. 'l'llcso can hardly uhjm'l ii' illt‘ll‘ tt.hin‘rhes lain: this stand—l om, rtt: , i .\xutmmx. l lianllu'iilg’l‘, May 28_

l A comma-non. (To the Editor.) Sin—ln my letter published in today‘s i'Ssuc. an error occurs in one sentence which makes the sentence without some I am made to say. “The Problem is unemployment for displaced man power.” This should read. “The problem is unempaymeht for displaced man power." This word “unempayment” is not commonly used. but it was coined by Professor Soddy when dealing with men, machines and money. Unemployment is not a. problem, but a. beneflcent result of the inventions of iman. A system of absurd economics ‘llas made this a curse, like so many or our improvements, so we must adJust 0;” thinking to fresh terms.—l am, e c., HUGH CLIFFORD. Hamilton, May 28. WAGES AND PRICES. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l will deal with Captain Uol— last paragraph first: “if ‘Equity‘ ‘ can evolve a scheme of raising wagesi without raising prices he has solved all our difltcuities.” If that is all that is necessary it is easy. Simply re—duce interest by the some hinount as you increase wages, and it would solve some of our dinlculiies. It the Government is going to allow increases in interest (in fact. 11' it is not going to reduce interest on old loans at least) then I agree with most of what Captain Colbeck says. I was under the impression that the Labour Party was opposed to the money—lenders who (especially the banks) get. something for nothing or 6 per cent. for guaranteeing a farmer's debts when he has at least a 50 per cent. margin of security for the ”lean" or guarantee. In the case of the sale of boots the mortgagee should not get 10 per cent. more for interest, and the farmer ‘shoul-d get 10 per cent. more on the ‘wages part only of the cost or the ‘hide. The factory should set 10 per cent. more only on wages and not on factory rent or bank advances and overhead costs, not should the shop—ikeeper get. 10 per cent. more for that Ipart or overhead costs accounted for by rent, interest on overdraft, and so on. Therefore, whatever the, amount of rise in prices may be it is not 10 per cent. (prohgbly 2 to 3 per cent.). land the worker with a 10 per cent. rise in pay must benefit, unless the shopkeepers pronteer because people can pay. But the Government intends to prevent that if competition does not. I think Captain Colbeck and 1 disagree as to the size of the interest and wages bills, or otherwise he is evading it as if interest takes a very small proportion of cost. The success or failure of the Government's programme rests on this one point. if I understand the principle of the legislation, which is admitted to be social—istic.—l am, etc., EQUITY. Te Kuiti, May ‘26.