PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20743, 1 March 1939, 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.

MONETARY REFORM

(To the Editor) Sir, —Instead of being aggrieved, Mr Gallichan should thank me for assisting to clear up matters for him. I am quite correct in saying his lectures discussed Douglas Credit. I met a keen social creditor a few days ago who assured me that, broadly speaking, I was right In saying that Mr Gallichan gave us Douglas Credit. When a man throws his arms in the air and ascends in ecstasy to a seventh heaven about Douglas Credit and Alberta —well, what construction could an audience put on such words? Even if I were not deaf I would not debate with Mr Gallichan. This column of the Waikato Times is sufficient forum for me. and should be for Mr Gallichan. I do not care two hoots for either Douglas Credit or its first cousin, monetary reform, except for their tactics among farmers. I suppose about 8 per cent, of farmers’ votes went to Labour. That has decidedly weakened the solidity of the Farmers’ Union, and we do not want any further weakening.

I am against politics being taken up by the Farmers’ Union, unless it is absolutely unavoidable. The greatest need to-day is for farmers to unite solidly, otherwise the industrial unions, which are the real Government, will see that we get a mighty raw deal.—l am, etc.. W. P. KENAITJ Raglan, February 27.

BRITISH ISRAEL LECTURE

(To the Editor) Sir, —My authority for my assertion that the River of Egypt is not the Nile is a Bible map of Egypt and the peninsula of Sinai illustrating the Exodus and the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness erf Paran for 40 years. Certainly the Gentiles are still ruling Jerusalem, and will do so till the last day, when the fSentile times (years) will be fulfilled. Then there will be peace on earth and goodwill towards men (Exodus xxxii, 13). “I will multiply your seed” (not seeds) (Hosea). The context of the chapter is that the people who belong to .marriage of the wife of whoredoms will be the children of resurrection, who will all be saved, and are numberless.

The Bible is a higher authority t.han the College of Heraldry or the Russian chapter of Ezekiel by any man. I have read them all. The correspondent has not explained the German line of kings (Galatians lii, 16). Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He , saith not, as to fceeds, of many, hut-AS of one. And Pfchy s'Ptt. which 1?= Timothy i, 4). “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies” (of British Israel) (Hebrews xi). Abraham received not the promise, as it is reserved till after the last day, when all mankind (Israel) will be made perfect together, and the multitude of nations will be blessed. The little puzzle of Samuel: “Moreover, I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their own and* move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more as before time.” This la after the last day, when all the dead are raised, incorruptible, and all evil Is restrained. The Bible answers the puzzle. “Behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth, for the former things have passed away” (Isaiah) and “Behold I make all things new.” —I am, etc., HARRY GORE. Hamilton, February 28.

GALLOWAY PARK SCHEME

(To the Editor) Sir, —In reply to some of’the letters that have been published recently with reference to the Galloway Park stadium scheme, it appears there are matters of the utmost importance that are not always appreciated by some of the sporting public. One of these, I would suggest, is that the stadium will be built in a locality that will be central to both the country and town patrons of sporting events, and that the stadium will be a source of revenue to the Domain Board. One correspondent writes that Gallowav Park is too far away from the railway. The Auckland City Council did not worry about rail traffic when it built the stadium at Western Springs. It was more concerned about the £4O per night rent. Perhaps some would suggest Auckland should have its stadium in the centre of the city, say Albert Park. Recently we had a visit from the Western Springs company to see if there was a suitable site in Hamilton for one show with the American and English midget racing cars. After the writer had shown the promoters around the Hamilton district they decided the only available site was on a farm between Matangi and Hamilton, but the cost of making a track was out of the question, so they went to the Palmerston North stadium. At the motor and air carnival at Rukuhia 10,000 people attended, in spite of the distance from Rugby Park and railways. While on the question of parks, surely the Domain Board has done well for those people in the central part of Hamilton. With the Lake and other playing grounds the city folk have nearly half of the centre of Hamilton. Now ClaudeInnds. Hamilton East, and the Morrinsville and Cambridge people are promised a stadium that T hope will be both a profitable investment to the Domain Board and a credit to the South Auckland centre of sport. I am sure the patrons of sport, will attend in large, numbers wherever the stadium is erected, provided we can bring the right type of players and have a suitable stadium for the public. —I am, etc., SPORTS PROMOTER. Hamilton, February 28.

BIRTH CONTROL

(To the Editor) Sir,—The figures relating to the increase In births and the decrease in marriages that Mr James wishes to examine so that he can place them correctly relating to each family are to be found on page 6 of the Waikato Times of February i, 1939. Mr James can look them up, examine and tabulate them at his leisure. After doing so he may be able to show to his own satisfaction that they prove nothing. To those of ordinary intelligence the figures as they now stand dearly Indicate that, given a surer sense of security in the way of employment, housing and a fair standard of comfort under a humane Government, birth control, like all other social problems, will automatically adjust itself. Mr James appears to resent his own private affairs being inquired into on the question of birth, control, but would reserve unto himself the right not only to inquire into the private affairs of others but the right to criticise and denounce as selfish those of the community who do not conform to his high standard of thought and action. Can it be that Mr James has never heard the quotation, “judge not lest ye lie judged,” or does he deem himself to be above such quotation? It is interesting to note that Mr James in his wisdom has relinquished the approach of the subject of birth control from the spiritual angle and from the idea of right and wrong, and is now dealing with the question from the angle of natural law. By going to Nature he will find the answer to his question, is it right to kill? For Nature acknowledges neither spiritual nor temporal powers, but is full of capriciousness, killing and destroying in one day that which she has taken years to build. She is no more unalterable than is puny mankind, and is almost as fickle as Mr Marcus St. B. James.—l am, etc., ENLIGHTEN. Whatawhata, February 27. (To the Editor) Sir, —In answer to “Agnes Mac,” I disagree with the contention that we are as the animals of the field. The lower creations are for the use of man, but man is a different creation. He was made in the image of God, with an immortal soul. This does not excuse man from cruelty, etc., to the lower orders. When we are convinced of the evil of intentional birth control then the next step is to deal with the material side of the issue through economics, etc. That is the next step in the thesis. It is not necessary for me to go into recess to deal with the reply nf “Pprtinax.” Once again his letter is peculiar to his line of argument; he quotes Marie Stopes, Griffiths and Mullins for authorities on the Catholic faith. There is only one authority, the Supreme Pontiff, the Pope. The Church’s teaching is found in the “Casti Connubii.” The Holy Father writes; “Let it be repeated as an immutable and inviolable fundamental doctrine that matrimony was not instituted or restored by man but by God; not by man were the laws made to strengthen and confirm and elevate it, but by God, the Author of nature, and by Christ our Lord by Whom nature was redeemed; and hence these laws cannot be subject to any human decrees or to any contrary pact even of the spouses themselves. This is the doctrine of Holy Scripture; this is the constant tradition of the Universal Church; this the solemn definition of the Sacred Council of Trent, which declares and establishes from the words of Holy Writ itself that God is the Author of the perpetual stability of the marriage bond, its unity and its firmness.” Further, His Holiness states: “Any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offence against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of grave sin.” Finally, Pope Pius XI. teaches; “Nor are those considered as acting against nature who in the married state use their right in the proper manner although on account of natural reasons either of time or of certain defects new life Cannot be brought forth. For In matrimony as well as in the use of the matrimonial rights there are also secondary ends, such as mutual aid, the cultivating of mutual love and the quieting of concupiscence which husband and wife are not forbidden to consider so long as they are subordinated to the primary end and so long as the intrinsic nature of the act Is preserved.” Your correspondent refers to the “learned doctor.” If he is referring to Marie Stopes, then I would point out that her doctorate is that of philosophy and not of medicine. Whatever her or other authors’ qualifications are., they cannot carry weight with reference to the teachings of the Catholic faith. One authority only suffices, that of the head of the faith. Let “Pertinax” give us the examples of these other two methods sanctioned by the faith. I have asked for them on previous occasions, but they have not been forthcoming. And they must bear the official authority of the Church.—l am, etc., MARCUS ST. B. JAMES. Hamilton, February 27.

CAUSE OF PRODUCTION DECLINE

(To the Editor) Sir,—Some people seem to be exercised in their minds regarding what the decrease in dairy production is to be attributed to. The main cause is the desire of those engaged in the industry to share in some of the pleasures and enjoyments that fall to the lot of those who are otherwise i employed. If one thinks for a moment of the daily lot of land workers he will realise that they have to be out in all weathers for a large part of the year before daylight and after dark. They may have to themselves a certain time in the middle of the day, but this is of little use to them, as these are not the hours when others are enjoying the various forms of social entertainment. Cricket, football. dances, etc., arc debarred, the cows calling for attention before the completion of all such recreation*. Let anyone try a period of from

10 to 20 years of dairying and he will find that it is very different from what it is thought to be by those who sit at ease and call for more production, lt Is not everyone who can become a successful farmer after a few tips from Ruakura or anywhere else. The call of the alarm in the morning at 4.30 or so is no pleasure to the one who may be feeling a bit out of sorts, but it must be obeyed if one is to carry on. It is for these reasons that there is no rush by offr young people to take on the job. Not until those at the head of affairs realise that this is a work that must be well enough paid to compensate for the loss of social amenities that are enjoyed by others, a work that through the sacrifice entailed enables the worker to put by a sum of money that would not be possible in other occupations, not until this is possible is the reduction in output likely to stop. Times have changed so greatly of late years that the rising generation are no longer satisfied to remain “country bumpkins. Universal education and present-day inventions have given them greater ambition to take their place with others in the desire for the most congenial occupations. The time is at hand when all uncongenial occupations will have to be rewarded with a much higher rate of remuneration if the necessary work of a community is to be properly carried on.—l am, etc., E. C. ROUGHEN. Hamilton, February 28.