PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20910, 15 September 1939, Page 7

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. “STRAWS IN THE WIND” (To the Editor) Sir,—'What is the significance of the announcement that German planes have been dropping Polish currency notes over Polish towns? Does this statement not lend colour to the belief of many thoughtful people that behind the present folly is “ a currency war”? The thought occurs to one, that perhaps Herr Hitler is not the chief villain in tho piece. Time will probably prove that lie and his Government, like others, are mere pawns in the hands of international finance. —1 am, etc.. R. G. YOUNG. Gordonton, Sept. 14. TREATMENT OF ALIENB (To the Editor) Sir,—l think that a thrill of pleasure and approval was felt by the entire British Empire when it was announced that England’s first act of war had been to drop six million pamphlets over Germany declaring British friendship for the German people, with whom there is no quarrel. Since the Great War we have learned much about the Germans. We know they are a peace-loving, industrious, simple and above all kindly—extremely kindI ly—folk. Their greatest fault is that they have allowed themselves to he dragooned, misled and hoodwinked by unscrupulous leaders. Therefore Britain offers them enlightenment and the hand of friendship. We have a few of these people living among us. Many of them are here because they dared to protest against the deeds of their rulers, and yet we do not always show’ them the kindness that might have been expected of U 6. I have heard of cases where our people go out of their way to hurt and insult men and women of German origin, and even of a case where the telephone had to be taken out of a German household because of the insulting calls the family were receiving. Women and non-combatant men are the chief offenders in this respect. It is never the attitude of the soldier. An illustration of this came to my notice the other day. A German refugee came officially to a certain country district and was welcomed, only one man voicing a protest. Shortly afterwards the two men—the newcomer and the resident who had protested against his coming—became very friendly. “Oh, of course,” said the resident in explanation. “We found that we had fought on the same sector on the Somme.” Remarkable irony of war! That is the combatant attitude. There speaks the true soldier, one would think that women and those who do not do the fighting would at least refrain from making the quarrels or from deepening the bitterness of the quarrels. The British War Office is making it abundantly clear that the Empire (including New’ Zealand) is not at war with the German people but with the Nazi regime, and that an honorable Deace can be concluded whenever there is a trustworthy Government in Germany with which to negotiate. Surely then it is our duty to back up this British effort for peace by showing special kindness and consideration to the refugees among us.—l am, etc., HELEN WILSON. Pio Pio, Sept. 14. ARTIFICIAL MANURING (To the Editor) Sir, —We are well aware that most of the New Zealand soils, being of volcanic origin, lack lime, which is a sweetener and which should be used in quantity, particularly in the Waikato district, where heavy artificial manuring is being carried out twice yearly. Unfortunately, many farmers do not yet realise how very necessary and valuable lime is both to pasture and the health of cattle and sheep. Milch cows particularly require large quantities of lime, and if they cannot get this naturally through their food they draw upon their own constitutions and thus lower the resistance of themselves and their offspring to disease. Lime is, of course, not spectacular in use; indeed, it takes three years for its value to become openly apparent in pasture. There are now wonderful new grasses, including the pampas grass of South Africa, which grow astonishingly rapidly and which if ploughed in once or twice will make splendid green manure, which will he better even than many artificial manures from a health point of view, and health means wealth. When the fertiliser companies take the new vision of what constitutes wealth, they and the farmers, to say little of the real of us, will soon he putting our hands in our pockets, actually to find something there!

Our market gardeners could also use lime to advantage, as this will soon eradicate so many of the posts which keep our noses to the grindstone. We New Zealanders have the most brittle bones as well as about the worst teeth in the world, which clearly shows how greatly we require lime on our pastures, and how necessary it is for us to take stock of how to grow healthy foods. Artificial preservatives too should he dispensed with.—i am, etc., MADAME WELL. Hamilton, Sept. 14. PACIFISM AND THE NAZIB (To the Editor) Sir, —In a gathering of public men recently the question was asked, What section of New Zealanders might be expected to raise internal trouble in this war time ? Few were cited, but one man suggested pacifists. We are compelled to ask why? He has nothing to hope for under Nazism, in New Zealand in time of peace he is allowed freedom of thought and speech. In times of peace he has religious freedom. Under Nazism the pacifist is beheaded. Under Nazism religious freedom means freedom to

accept that peculiar anti-God dope which is handed out as the only belief permissable. In New Zealand in time of peace the individual can tune in to any broadcast on earth which his radio can receive. Under Nazism he is denied the right to hear anything but that which is doled out to him. Surely any intelligent resident of this land must realise that any obstruction that assists Nazism means forging fetters for his own body and soul. We look for no such obstruction in this democratic country from the pacifist section of our people. There is to everything a season, and a time for everything under heaven —a time to keep silent and a time to speak; a time of war and a time of peace. This is a time of war and in this time of war we ail adjust ourselves to the changed conditions and become one people in defence of that personal and religious liberty which is now ours, and may only be retained and defended by supporting the Umpire in this great struggle for freedom.—l am, etc., METHODIST. Hamilton. Sapi. 14.