PUBLIC OPINION.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1928, Page 1

PUBLIC OPINION.

SOCIAL CANCERS. “ Slums anywhere are a blot on civilisation ; a canker near the heart of society ; a grim tragic exception to the advance made in the past fifty years in the housing of the working classes ; the outward and visible sign of evil forces too potent to be easily overcome and too persistent to be quickly undertaken. But slums in close proximity to streets of large houses, or to squares where ostentatious wealth displays itself—quite naturally—or to the great dwellings of those in high places, become the mines which some day may endanger property and government, the well-to-do and our ministers and magnates in an explosion. Society cannot to leave these slum problems to solve themselves.”—The lit. Hon. Walter liunciman, M.P.

WHAT THE HOTEL-KEEPER. SEES. “An hotel is a swing door through which the world walks—princes and peers, celebrities of Society, the turf, literature, art, sport, finance, the the atre, notorieties and those men-and-women-in-the-street who although their names are emblazoned on no roll of fame, are the backbone of the country, and full of interest to a student of character and human life. The man who keeps this door sees from behind the scenes changes in fashions, manners, in life. He stands in the centre of a little world which reflects faithfully the great world outside, stirring, surging, changing, fighting, living. He sees, if he lives long enough, men before they rise, when they have risen; and sometimes lie sees them—when they lose their grip—falling, and after they have fallen. He sees, too, many novel aspects of people about whom the world has formed opinions often the reverse of accurate. Also, he is occasionally privileged to see a facet of character which a man, and especially a celebrated man, rarely if ever, shows to the crowd.”—Mr Harry Preston, proprietor of the Royal York Hotel, Brighton, in his “ Memories,”

SLUMS. “The housing of the people, despite the erection of over one million houses since the Armistice, remains, one of the most vital of our domestic problems. No other issue, social or political, more intimately affects the life of every citizen or more is closely interwoven with economic theories. It presents a trinity of vexed issues—urban housing, rural housing, and slum clearance: all of whicln have clamoured for attention. The deficiency of houses during the last few years has forced the last of these three phases into the background; the slum has long been housing the Cinderella who has yet to leave her cinders. Yet no matter from whatever angle we consider the question of housing, sooner or later we are hound to find ourselves facing the grim realities of the slums. They are a standing commentary upon and condemnation of the inadequacy of past legislation and still constitute an open sore on tfle body politic. Man’s finger has long been pointed in accusation against the supreme examples of ill-housing they represent, and to-day thinking men and women are . asking whether these conditions are to he tolerated indefinite-ly.”—-Mr. Harold Bellman, in his book, “ The Silent Revolution,

IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH. “ I'h‘s is an age when youth enjoys almost unexample license and authority. With these come responsibilities and 1 think that they are being splendidly fulfilled. I have not the slightest sympathy with the petulant attacks Liat are made upon the young men and women of to-day.”—Mr. John Drinkwater.

THE SEEING- EYE. “ The Creator of the Universe has endowed man with physical faculties—the senses— to serve him in his observations of Nature. There is no embargo placed upon the free use of either the raiscroscope or telescope.

'I lie works of God are open for examination by any and ,all ineatps.”—Mr Arthur A . White, in the “Wonderful World ” of Canada. ARE CHRISTIANS MINDING THEIR JOB?

“ It is said that there are over three hundred million Christians in the world. It is a little hard to know where they all live. If but a fraction of us had flung ourselves into the struggle for peace as enthusiastically as wo gave ourselves to war, the condition of things would be vastly more satisfactory than it is.”— Rev. Dr. H, R. L. Sheppard i« '-‘'Goodwill,*- 1