PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20262, 3 August 1937, 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 writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

WAITOMO CAVES. (To the Editor.) Sir, —On Sunday I paid my second visit to the Waitomo Caves, and it struck me how tragic it is that thousands of New Zealanders are denied access to this, their own grand natural scenic asset, through the lack of cheap train and bus excursions, and owing to admission fees that make the trip prohibitive to a large wage-earning class. The number of New Zealand-born people who have never seen the Caves is really surprising. Some time ago a Minister of the Crown stressed the need for making our scenic attractions available to the masses, and surely it should now be a reality. Overseas tourists could still be “stung” if necessary.—l am, etc. KNOW ENZED FIRST. Hamilton, August 2. EARLY DAYS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Among the very first members “of the foorce” to keep law and order in Hamilton was Constable Frank McGovern. Those were times of stirring episodes. Constable McGovern was a genial Irishman with a voice of a distinctive character —the kind which the mimic delights to hear. He was gracious to the whole countryside, and more ready to counsel the unruly to be discreet than to be harsh with them. He and his good lady (a charming personality, still alive at the advanced age of nearly a century) were loved by all. Our friend was located in Hamilton for the best part of twenty years, and rose to the position of inspector. Just fifty years ago (July, 1887) Inspector McGovern was at the head of a party of police, supported toy a number of bushmen, whose work was to capture a party of natives at Hokianga. These people had made themselves offensive to the pakehas in the district by indulging too freely in the faith known as Hau-hauism—-such faith being a mixture of witchcraft and teachings said to be recorded in the Old Book. Fourteen men and nine women were taken prisoners, but not without a severe rough and tumble. It was soon evident that the inspector had been singled out for special attention. He was warned not to be rash, and unduly expose himself to danger. Suddenly a native, tomahawk in hand, sprang upon him, and brought down a blow which luckily overreached its aim, resulting in the back only of the inspector’s coat toeing out. The prisoners were taken to Rawene, and tried. This put an end to the turbulent spirit of Hau-hauism in the island. . The constable who grappled with the native was Mr A. McGilp, who, at the age of 90, resides at Birkenhead.—l am, etc., OLD HAND. Hamilton, July 31. FARMS AND FARM LABOUR. (To the Editor.) Sir, —In reply to “Kulak’s” reference to my “town outlook,” I wish to point out that I have only resided in town for a very short time, having spent the biggest part of my life in the country, both in New Zealand and elsewhere. Since coming to New Zealand, besides farming on my own account. I have worked for dairy farmers, wheat farmers and sheep farmers, and know the conditions relating to the different branches of agriculture quite well. At the present time —or at least until recently—choicest New Zealand butter was retailing on the British market at Is 2d per lb. At the same time second grade in this country was retailing at the same price, and first grade at Is 4d; and to be anyway even in price choioest would retail here at Is 6d. To meet the extra cost of production “Kulak” says that dairy farmers require a guaranteed price of Is 5d per lb. That wo„uld mean, to meet the deficiency in the export price, first grade butter would have to be retailed in New Zealand at Is lOd per lb, second grade at Is Bd, choicest being reserved for the British market, as at present. When I ask “Kulak” who is to meet the extra cost he refers me to Mr Savage. Well, I will leave it at that and allow others to form their own judgment. “Kulak” says that a certain number of dairy farmers offer higher wages for single farm workers than that stipulated by Order-in-Council. Necessity forces them to do so. If they could get men to stay with them at the lower wage they certainly would not do it. The majority of dairy farmers must be in a position to offer the higher wages. On wellestablished dairy farms it seems that the production of butter is paying, even at its present price. If thero is a shortage of labour on the larger dairy farms there is a very good reason for that, as conditions have got everything to do with supply. Most single men are employed on New Zealand dairy farms for the milking season only, and at the end of that time they can look out for other employment or go on sustenance—a very bright, future to look forward to. The average hours for farm hands on dairy farms are between 70 and 80 per week, whereas at any other branch of agriculture, or any other form of employment, they are only about half that. Under the above conditions can “Kulak,” or any other dairy farmer, blame the average farm worker /or looking out for higher pay, shorter hours, better conditions and security of employment—a thing he does not possess on the average dairy farm? Under the circumstances the only remedy for the larger dairy farmers is to turn over to sheep or mixed farming, and cut out hired labour to the minimum. The only other lAternative is the breaking up of the larger dairy farms into smaller sections, taking Denmark as an example. With a more even distribution of the land we would have a more happy, prosperous and contented people, and labour troubles on dairy farms would very soon bocome a tiling of tile past.—l am, etc., ALEX. BOYD. Auckland, August 2.

LEGISLATIVE LIMITS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l notice that a visitor, obviously unacquainted with the resources of the New Zealand Legislature, recently had the temerity to remark that “you can’t legislate for leisure.” Whenever I see statements of this kind they recall the comment of a very seasick passenger to a steward, who, finding him sitting on the companionway, exclaimed: “You can't be sick here, sir”; to which the passenger’s reply was: “Well, you just watch 1” While the hidebound Tory ,may still entertain doubts as to the propriety, if not the possibility, of enacting various things by legislation, it is at any rate admitted oh all hands that there is no limitation upon the extent to which our Legislature can deal with property—apart from moral issues, »which in modern practice do not count. The report on the advice ,of the borough -solicitors, contained in your issue of July 29, would probably give the impression that in the opinion of the borough solicitors a suitablyframed Act could not effectuate the desires of those concerned with the preservation of Garden Place Hill as a public domain. This view is clearly mistaken, and I am sure no advice in this sense could have been given by the borough solicitors. The point I want to make clear is that there is no legislative disability at all confronting this proposal.—l am, etc., DOUGLAS SEYMOUR. Hamilton, August 2. GOVERNMENT POLICY. (To the Editor.) Sir,— In a few days’ time Parliament will be meeting for what is generally regarded as “the working session.” It is therefore not inappropriate that one should draw attention to some of the pledges given by the Labour Party candidates at the election and as yet unfulfilled by the Labour Government. First, there is the matter of the exchange rate. It was stated by no less a candidate than Mr Savage himself that the exporters —all classes—would be looked after by guaranteed prices, and the exchange rate would be progressively reduced. So far the guaranteed price applies to dairy exporters only, and the exchange rate has not so far been touched. Second, there 1s taxation. During the election Mr Savage was very positive that this had reached the limit, and he gave a pledge that the incidence of it would be shifted from the indirect to the direct variety. So far indirect taxation -has been left where it was and direct taxation increased. Then there is the matter of radio policy. Mr Savage would “never stand by and see the B stations crucified,” and much was made of freedom of -speech, over the air and elsewhere. So far several B stations have been taken over without being allowed to appeal to their own listeners to save them, and nothing—not even the weekly talks by the Presbyterian Church or the Crusade for Social Justice—is permitted over the air without prior official censorship. Leotures on communistic subjects are also forbidden in Public Works camps. Next, there is the pledge to build homes for those most in need of them, the unemployed and the lower-paid worker. So far some -homes have been built, but the rents for the same can only be afforded by the middle-class business of professional man or the skilled unionist in regular employment at high wages. Finally, there is the matter of unemployment taxation. This was to be reduced, but so far it has been maintained at the existing level and levy books have been printed for the next three years, in spite of a considerable reduction In the numbers of the unemployed. Yes, if the Government Is to implement all of its unfulfilled pledges th* coming session will be a busy time for our legislators.—l am, etc., INDEPENDENT. Hamilton, July 31. IF ENGLAND DIEB, WHO LIVES? (To the Editor.) Sir, —It would be difficult to find two more severe opponents of 3ritlshIsrael truth than Messrs Gore and Morris. Therefore, when these two writers have a “scrap” between themselves, which does not bear on the subject, it is irregular for it to be staged under the heading of “BritishIsraelism.” In the first place, there is no “ism” connected with BritishIsrael truth. It is a federation of orthodox people of many denominations who believe the Old Book to be the inspired Word of God, and therefore literally as well as spiritually true. Since the Creator cannot change, Israel must still be in existence as a nation, literally. Only one race today answers in every detail to the Bible picture of “Israel in the latter days,” and that is the English-speak-ing race —the British Empire and the United States of America. They possess what Israel was to possess, and they are doing what Israel was to do. They will yet, introduce to a distracted worid the system of Divine economics which means plenty for every human being in every country.

The key to British-Israel truth is to realise that throughout the Scriptures there is a clearly-marked difference between Israel and Judah. The Jews are a remnant of Judah and Levi, and still expect to be reunited to Israel. We claim, then, tMat somewhere to-day there is a mighty kingdom dwelling in t4e isles north-west of Palestine which has proved herself a great coloniser, the chief of nations, a nation and a company of nations, with a daughter nation independent of her, a wonderful lender to the nations, ruling over other peoples, never conquered herself, but a mighty “battleaxe and weapon of war,” a holder of the “gales of her enemies,” ruled over by Iho “seed of David,” a spreader of the Scriptures of Truth, the protector of weak peoples, the freer of slaves, a keeper of the Sabbath. This is a very big order, but somewhere is I his people Israel to he found, and they are to endure while ‘the sun, moon and ordinances of heaven exist.’’ Although we assert that there is evidence to prove that

Britain is Israel by descent, we fully realise that we are not what we ought to be as a people. As a result, we are even now In “Jacob's day of great trouble”; but we aro also mindful of the great fact that we as a nation shall be saved out of It. For a period of 2520 years (known as the time of the Gentiles) the responsibility of world rule has rested on Babylon and the Babylonian succession of empires and powers—viz., Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome and its ten divisions. Now that period has passed, and the responsibility for world rule has been transferred to Israel-Britain. Whether we accept it or not, the fact remains; all the prophets reiterate it through the nges. in the coming conflict of nations Israel is to lead those nations fighting for God (Christian) against the combination of nations fighting against God (antiChristian). This in effect is an assertion that the civilisation ruling Ihe British Empire is distinct from that ruling the anti-God Powers. The daily Press, every day in the week during tiiis extraordinary period, is conveying the truth that Britain is the “chief of nations.” Is she Israel or is she an anti-Christian Power is a question which our Church leaders will have to face. In 1917 Britain and the forces within the Empire alone liberated the Holy Land and set free Jerusalem. If Britain is not Israel, then Jerusalem is being trodden down of the Gentiles still, if England perishes and civilisation is handed to the mercy of Hiller. Mussolini, Stalin and Company, who desires lo live? What kind of world tyranny would be in existence to-day if Germany had conquered in the last great tragedy? The manner in which the world singe is set to-day proves Hie inspiration of Hie prophecies. This world is not ruled bv accident ; Hie law of gravitation is but one example or Divine rule. —l am, etc., J. E. TIDD. Hamilton. August 1. Fatal forms of cold are rare. Rut at first, faint .«tgns nerd care— Prompt relief is always rltie From infectious forms or *nu. Aid on hand prevents delav. In the mn.Ni effective wav. When it comes snhllmelx pure In priceless Woods’ orcat Peppermint