IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 227, 25 September 1929, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

WEST COAST LIFE,

A DEFENCE OF THE MINER.

(To the Editor.)

As one who was brought up and \\ VbA amongst the West Coast miners I would lit to point out to the ltcv. Mr. Gilbert that th miners and West Coasters m general practice what ho as a minister is supposed to stand for. West Coasters aro noted throughout Z Dominion for their hospitality and eraerosih? and with the miners there is scarcely a naV day passes that there is not a collection il some deserving member of their township ami I might add that they subscribe freely u reference to football and picture shows' If? Gilbert is quite right. These things do happen on Sundays. Only he forgot to mention that the pictures are run by the miners themselves and the proceeds devoted to charity. Why «o to the coast to see sport on Sundays? Has Mr. Gilbert never seen tennis played'in Auck land on Sundays ? These things happen where people have a surfeit of pleasure, so why rub it into the miner, whose only amusement after working underground for six days is a picture show on a Sunday night? The picture shows do not start until 8.15, so that the churchgoers are able to attend their church and have ample time to attend the pictures afterwards. Admittedly there is after-hour drink", ing in hotels on the West Coast, but so there is in hotels elsewhere. Lastly, Mr. Gilbert has seen fit to question the miners' conduct at burials. Having attended all-too-numerous' funerals of miners, I can honestly say that I never saw a funeral as described by him ' I have heard the bagpipes played at the grave-' side, but can Mr. Gilbert tell me what is wrons with the "Land o' the Leal" and "Flowers o' the Forest" ? These Scottish laments have been played over the graves of famous characters in our nation's history.

BLACK DIAMOND.