Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 45, 25 November 1925, Page 22

Current Topics

The Christian Brothers’ Concert Those Dunedin Brothers’ boys are hard to beat at whatever they take in hand. On the athletic campus They have proved their prowess time and again, as the Public School teachers well wot. All Dunedin knows what “hot stuff they used to be before they scared the State Schools from playing against them. In the class-room they constantly give evidence that they can work as well as they can play. Probably the concert they gave on the evening of November 16, at His .Majesty s Theatre, was the most successful of its kind over given in the southern capital. “It would bo hard to imagine a more pleasing amateur juvenile performance than that presented to a packed house by the boys of the Christian Brothers’ School,” was the generous tribute of the Otago Daily Timex, and the boys deserved it. The various parts of the programme earned prolonged applause. The singing, the elocution, the acting were eloquent of the zest with which the young performers co-operated with their devoted teachers to produce a. u oil-balanced and high-class entertainment that did credit to the whole school. All were worthy of high praise, and K. Toomey and -J. Hall wore particularly brilliant. Our Exhibition In beautiful weather, with flags flying and bands playing, the Dunedin Exhibition opened on November 17. Some forty-five thousand visitors passed through the gates, and everyone who went to Logan Park was eloquent in praise of what had been accomplished. -It was a big undertaking, but Dunedin people can do big things, and their courage was already rewarded by the fine promise of the opening day. The GovernorGeneral spoke well, and his voice carried wonderfully. Mr. Coates may not be an orator but lie lias the knack of saying the right thing and of striking the proper note. We heard several people refer in compli- . mentary language to his speeches both at the opening and at the banquet on the following evening. The latter function was a happy gathering. Two Bishops' graced the board. -Sir Joseph Ward was there, looking like bis old self, after his victory over the forces of bigotry in Invercargill. Good fellowship and bonhomie marked the event, and the evening passed pleasantly for all. "Visitors are already in the city in large numbers, and, given a spell of dry weather, all roads will load to Dunedin during the coming months. Certain parts of the Dominion have been asleep and their pavilions are no credit to them. However, the example of Dunedin may stimulate them to play their part well later on. The success of the great venture seems already assured, and a headline has' been set which will have a good effect on future exhibitions in New Zealand. The Irish Republicans It was reported by the Irish cress, early in Droller, that informal negotiations 4ad taken place between representatives of the Dail and of the Republicans, with the object of securing an agreement that would enable the latter to take their seats as Teaehtai, Dr. Maunlx is mentioned as the intermediary responsible for the movement. A couple of weeks ago we told our readers that • we had found in Ireland- many Republicans

who had come to recognise that such a step was the best thing not only for Ireland but also for their own party. Hence, wo should not be astonished to find that this report is well founded. In the meantime, we must wait and see. Irish in the Schools Although, as a natural, result of all the trouble, enthusiasm has waned among the masses, the Government is not losing sight of the Irish language, and Dr. MaeNcill is uncompromising in bis altitude. He is determined that the children shall learn in the schools the longue of their ancestors, and the clamor of West-Unions and their pseudo-nationalist imitators is making him all the firmer. Like the Editor of the Leader, like Davis, like Pearse, he holds that the native language is the inspiration of the national spirit, and, as Minister for Education, he is going to have it taught in all the schools under his control. More power to him! Protestant Bishop Refutes Slanders Addressing the annual • meeting of the Ferns Diocesan Synod, in the last week of September, Dr. Day, Bishop of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin said: “Before he closed he would just say they had reason to be thankful that the country was now peaceful and quiet under firm Government, and that men wore able to get on with their business without interference. He believed there were people in England who still thought that Ireland was in a state of unrest. In a recent report of an English Religious Society, ho saw it stated the other day that the South and West of Ireland was still disturbed and that outrages were frequent. He did not know where the writer of that report got his information. He had . been grieviously misled. “It seems to me;” concluded his Lordship, “and I am in touch with people all over the • South of Ireland, that in all this disturbed and restless world, there are few quieter corners than that in which you and I live, and our duty is plain— not to hold aloof from the life of the country as if wo belonged to different castes from the rest of our fellowcountrymen, hut to throw ourselves wholeheartedly ami enthusiastically into the life and work of the country, making the best of things as we find them, co-operating with men of all creeds and classes for the welfare of Ireland and the service of our fellowmen.” Free State Finances Since we wrote in rather despondent tone about the financial outlook in Ireland matters have improved considerably. There has been a splendid harvest which will mean general prosperity for the farmers. And the official figures published at the end of September are said to disclose a more satisfactory position than was anticipated. The revenue for the first half of the financial year was £12,389,296, and the expenditure was £12.043,161. With- the host half of the financial year, from the revenue point of view, to come, half the estimated revenue has been obtained, whilst the expenditure amounts to about half the estimated “normal” expenditure for the year to be met out of revenue. Total receipts into, the Exchequer up to September ,30 (including the balance in the Exchequer on April 1, of £1,681,192) are

£14,490,988, or £2,556,379 less than last year’s total of £17,047,367, which however, • * . included a balance of £3,394,512 in ’ the , rExchequer on April 1, 1924. Although the *j total expenditure this year is slightly higher - than last year, total issues at £12,575,361 are £228,839 less than last year’s figure j of £12,804,200. This is mainly accounted for* by the fact that amongst the other issues last year was £814,000 for the payment, of Irish Free State Hills. The balance in the Exchequer now is £1,915,027, as compared with £4,243,167 a year ago. The total revenue at £12,389,296 is £395,059 less than last year’s figure of £12,784,355. The biggest falling off is the Customs and Excise duties'. The abolition of the tea duty and the reduction in sugar duty would probably account for. much of this. . That '< the income tax collection is still being swelled by the collection of arrears is clear from the fact that the total for the half-year is oven greater than last year’s abnormal figure. Other receipts include £30,000. repayment of temporary advances under the Unemployment Insurance Acts (last year £10,000). Money raised by the creation, of debt includes £IOO,OOO for capital expenditure issues under (he Telegraph Acts (last year, nil), and £290,500 from Savings Certificates (last year, £171,500). On the outlay side, total expenditure, at £12,043,161 shows an increase of £294,761 on last year’s figures of £11,748,400. Other issues include £IOO,OOO, under the Shannon Electricity Act, 1925; £94,000 under the Unemployment Insurance' Acts (last year, £104,000); and £IOO.OOO to meet capital expenditure under the Telegraphs Act. Saving Certificates paid 9ft’ figure at £49,200 (last year, £47,800), and ways and means advances repaid to public departments are £189,000, as against £90,000. Ne Sutor Ultra Crepidam * • “Let the cobbler stick to his last” is an old ’saying and a wise one. It has recently been said in America, by a man who is appalled by the results of secular schools, to the Federal Churches which are busy about many things. There are certain ministers of religion who rely on their weird tales about Romo to fill their tabernacles. In the same way, it has been said, we know not with what truth, that many Protestant divines took up the Prohibition campaign when they found that what they had to say on religion, failed to fill their churches. If that be true, the following letter is a. blunt hint that it might bo better for all if they left not undone many things that are undone within their own professional sphere: Mr. F. Ernest Johnson, Dept, of Research and Education, Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, 105 E. 22nd St., New York City. San Francisco, Calif,, October 13, 1925. Dear Mr. Johnson: The Prohibition Situation. Though lam not in accord with the policy / of any Religions Organisation taking any "X pait in political Affairs, I wish to compliment m you upon the fairness of the presentation ' you have made of the prohibition situation in your recent booklet. , ‘ / No doubt, all of the six publications you advertise on the back cover of your prohibi- - tion booklet are of great interest and im- •' portance, but none of the subjects you name-* a

1. The Wage Question; 2. The Coal Conte- troversy; 3. Twelve Hour Day in the Steel -V - Industry 4. /Social Aspect of Farmers’ co- , operative Marketing; 5. Prohibition Situalr tion; 6.- Contract Labor in Prisons — g are. questions so concerning Religious AVor- \ ship that our Churches should involve them--91 selves therein. To my mind, the great and continuous increase in our country of crime and all other delinquency, is the direct result of preachers and parents relying upon legislation, police-force, and prisons to accomplish what can be done only by home and religious training. • Recently I- made a survey of the religions of men and boys committed to the California State Penitentiaries, and found that the greatest increase was jn those without religion, and the least increase was in Catholics. Please do not assume that this comment is one of partisan religion, because I am a Protestant, • Please pardon the suggestion, —if the Ministers comprising the Church Federation !■ should conclude to divorce themselves from all public political activities and devote their energies to educate parents to begin the religious training of they* children from babyhood, and to continue the same actively till they are old enough to Avant to go to Sunday School, then our young peoine will be on the right track, and our crime wave wih rapidly decline; otherwise, conditions arr bound to get much Averse from year to year Politics and religion do not mix successfully. The attempt to mix them is disastrous not only to the Government but also **to the Church. '■""x Faithfully, E. Cue mens Horst. A Shameful Confession In a letter to the London Nation and Athenaeum- , the Right Hon. Arthur Ponsonby, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the late Cabinet, has confessed the guilt of the British Government and admitted a course of conduct that is a disgrace to any nation, however savage or barbarous. In a word, his confession comes to saying; “We were liars and libellers, hut our own interests justified us in being so.” Protestant England used to accuse Catholics of mental reservations, and the Jesuits of teaching that the end justifies the means ! Now comes the frank confession that lying on a national scale is sound policy when England’s interests demand it. But hear Sir Arthur’s own words; “All governments must lie to their people • when war - breaks out in order to secure national unity and enthusiasm.” Note at once the candid plea that the lying is justified by self-interest. It is not the Catholics but the British politicians and pressmen who lie; as it is not the Jesuits \ but the Protestant statesmen who plead that the end justifies the means. But let us get on with the sordid confession of dishonor' y and demoralisation : V- “Our Government denied having made any f agreement with France before the Avar. Yet 1 ' an agreement not only existed but turned out to be a binding f obligation of honor/ “Our Government , knew that Germany alone was not solely responsible for the war, and although this fiction, had to be put into the Treaty Qf Versailles, there is no responV sible Minister who ' would maintain it now .

“Our Government knew that Prance and Russia had been expecting and preparing for war. . . But they represented the outbreak of war as coming from the enemy on innocent and unprepared nations, “Our Government knew that if-Germany had no( violated the neutrality of Belgium Franco would have done so. . . “Our Government knew during the course of the war that the Serbian Government were directly responsible for the murder of the Archduke at Sarajevo. But they never told us. “Our Government knew that the Russian general mobilisation preceded and caused the German mobilisation. . . ... “Our Government knew that there were no corpse-factories in Germany, “I could multiply instances had I space, but these may suffice to show how war makes it necessary to suppress truth, which is the most insidious method of spreading falsehood.” Readers of the Tablet, friendly and otherwise, ought to remember that there was not one of these lies' that we did not expose at the time they were told. Just as we wore the only paper that stood by Ireland in her dark hour, so we were the only one that fearlessly put the truth before our readers and protested against the shameful propaganda. of calumny with which the enemy was being fought. For this we were denounced as seditious, until we became convinced that to be seditious was to be a. lover of truth, and to be patriotic was to co-operate in calumny or else to preserve an ignoble silence where truth was at stake. We can smile now as, day by day fresh proofs are coming to light to justify the stand we took during the Avar; but it is not a matter for smiling when one looks back and thinks of the nerve-racking storm and stress of the strenuous years when we refused to become liars and to believe that the end justified the means. No. It is rather a matter for sorrow and pity for a people so deceived by unscrupulous and dishonorable guides. In the Orange Parliament All is not well with the Wee State Parliament. The loss of trade is irritating business men. Orangemen are tired of being made tools for politicians. There is a general feeling that the incompetence of the Craig Government has gone beyond all endurable bounds. Hence, when Air. Devlin attacked the Prime Minister and exposed the dishonesty of his tactics, the Nationalist speaker had many sympathisers among the non-Cath-olic members. The question of the hour was the election scandal whereby the Nationalists were penalised through the bungling—wilful or otherwise— of somebody. It was introduced by Air. McAllister who (says the Irish Weekly News) made his case in a speech excellent in tone, well restrained, closely reasoned, and carefully phrased. It was a balanced presentation of all the facts, fully documented, and convincing to all but those who were determined that they should not be convinced. Mr. McAllister read out the interesting correspondence between the Speaker and the Postmaster-General, which he fittingly described as revealing “an officonfusion that was unparalleled and inconceivable either by the staunchest friend or the bitterest opponent of the Government.” The House, he said, had in its hands the honor of the Government. If they persisted in depriving the Nationalists of due representation the dishonor would Itift theirs.

Then came the -Prim© Minister. His whole speech was imply a flat refusal to take a single step to right the wrong that was committed, It was couched in his best “not-an-inch vein. Ho meandered along with a stream of not very lively irrelevancies, that iecalled the famous phrase of a former Tory 1 rime Minister of Great Britain about “the dieary drip of dilatory declamation.” Ho shed crocodile tears over Nationalist nonrepresentation, and talked sanctimonious homilies about the need of getting rid of all party feeling. In the most solemn and lugubrious tones he assured those, whom Mr. Devlin subsequently described as the “Party hacks, that they were “a judicial tribunal”; pointed out the inability of that alleged Parliament to control a single postman, and declared that it would be “illegal” for the Northern Parliament to do what Mr. Devlin asked. He instituted a number of bogus paiallels that had no relation to the wrong perpetrated in connection with the Senate election. Mr. Devlin’s opening sentence was a facer for Sis James Craig. “I have never,” he said, ‘listened to a more dishonest speech than that just delivered by the Prime. Minister. ’ The Premier’s Pecksniff pose bo smashed into smithereens, and the crocodile tears of simulated regret over the fact that out of the twenty-six members of the Senate there i s not a. single representative of a minority which constitutes one-third of the population of the Six County area he treated with deserved contempt. “I do not.” said Mr. Devlin, “believe a. word of his protestations about wanting a representative of the minority either here or in the Senate. The declarations be has made have been for the benefit of England and other parts of the world. And then Air. Devlin proceeded to institute a comparison between the treatment of the Protestant minority in the Free State and the Catholic minority in the Six County <nea, over which Sir James Craig presides. It was a telling contrast, and it is only fair to say that the groat bulk of the Government s supporters sat in shame-faced silence and realised the meanness of the performance to which the Prime Minister was committing them. Look on this' Picture, etc. On the one hand .is a Protestant minority of slender dimensions and of negligible voting power, except in the City and County of Dublin, and they have been granted, not as the result of an election, but by favor of the Free State Government, nearly half of the entire representation of the Senate. Not merely that, but one of the most extreme exponents of old-time “ITlsteria,” the bosom pal of Lord Carson, and the ex-legal assessor of the famous Provisional Government of Belfast Town Hall fame, Sir James H. Campbell (now Lord Glenavy), has been chosen as the Chairman of the Free Stale Senate. In the Northern Senate there is not a single representative of that Catholic’ minority which forms one-third of the population, and which by its numbers, despite jerrymandering and stuffed registers and organised personation, has sufficient voting power to elect ten representatives to” the Northern House of Commons. No wonder Mr. Devlin’s exposure proved such a. distasteful pill for the party of bigotry and reaction, but they had to tko their medicine from the member for West Belfast, and there was not even a ghastly pretence of a smilet .