Citizens Say —

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 22, 18 April 1927, Page 6

Citizens Say

To the Editor.

EVOLUTION I have followed with interest the correspondence between Reuben E. Dowle and A. E. C., and would sug;-« gest that the latter’s proper reply to the former’s demands to publish his name would be to sign himself ‘‘Fair Play.” Reuben E. Dowle’s insistence on this point is not only an endeavour to change the subject from evolution to the desirability or otherwise of publishing: one’s name, but also rather cowardly in view of A. E. C.’s frank confession of his circumstances. Being under no economic compulsion to remain anonymous I subscribe my name to this letter and will wait with interest for a proof of Mr. Dowle’s genuineness through his answer to A. E. C.’s challenge. C. E. MAJOR. Auckland. CLOWNS IN QUEEN STREET Sir.— The writer arrived here froni Australia a few days ago and as first impressions sometimes are somewhere near the mark I will record one impression only.

I was amazed to see a man dressed as a clow'n occupying perhaps the most valuable site in. your city, namely the G.P.O. corner. He was busily engaged shouting out, “ ‘The Last’ Art Union tickets” and incidentally was partially blocking up the footpath to the station. It would be rather interesting to know just how much he pays for the privilege of annoying people and using a valuable public space. Probably no other city would tolerate this. BUSINESS. CHEMISTS AND PRESCRIPTIONS Sir,— A letter in your issue of the 11th inst., under the above heading, has come to my notice. Having recently been a victim of the practice therein complained of, I desire to add my protest to that of the writer. Why, 1 ask, do chemists persist in retaining prescriptions unless specially requested to return them? Possibly the motive is to compel the buyer, should he require further supplies, to return to the same dealer. If that be the explanation then, I ask, is this good business? Are buyers likely to be favourably disposed towards a dealer who practises such petty devirecs? Are they not more likely to resent such coercion and favour the dealer who will supply their wants and recognise their right as free agents by returning the prescription unasked? We hear much in these days Qf “service” as a fundamental principle in the science of business. The practice regarding prescriptions just referred to is the very antithesis of that spirit and is quite out of date. SERVICE. April 14, 1927. “PLUMCOTS” AND BLUE POPPIES Sir, — In response to Reuben E. Dowle’s latest letter, I would say that, in addition to methods of controversy (which I do not obtrude), I have certain principles to which I strive to adhere. One, to counter my opponent’s contentions, not with extraneous personalities, but with facts; and another to be intellectually * honest, either meeting direct and vital challenges or confessing my inability to do

so. To illustrate: In Mr. Dowle s first letter be claimed there were many scientists opposed to evolution. in reply to my challenge to name onl> three, he refused to use this very obvious means of silencing me, on the flimsv pretext that I lad not published my name. I again pressed mv request, at the same time giving him an opportunity of satisfying his irrelevant curiosity regarding my identity. Again lie has avoided the direct issue, and the statement in my last letter will doubtless find agreement among unprejudiced readers: “Whatever hid methods of controversy, a continued avoidance of this point will be a sufficient indictment of them.” His is merely an ill-conceived attempt to create the impression that there is a division of opinion among living authorities on the truth of evolution, which is simply untrue, as there is complete unanimity. Nbr has he attempted, with one exception, any logical refutation of the conclusions drawn from facts quoted by me, contenting himself with the observation that I have failed to answer him. Regarding the facts of embryology, palaeontology and comparative anatomy, Professor J. S. Huxley, in the course of a series of wireless talks on evolution in Great Britain, said: "No

one has ever advanced any other theory (than evolution) which will account for the facts, and the circumstantial evidence for evolution is so strong that it is overpowering .... The best way to sum up the view of those who have studied the facts—the professional biologists—is to say that they are driven to accept the evolutionary conclusion; that when they act on it, it works; and that they have not found or been offered any other conclusion which is even remotely so effective or so satisfactory.” These lectures, promoted by the non-contro-versial British Broadcasting Co., elicited nothing but public commendation./ The exception referred to, where Mr. Dowle doubtless considers himself on safe ground, is his dismissal of my claim that new species have been manufactured, as idle talk, and assumption that I confuse “species” with “varieties.” He is evidently far from being abreast of modern developments in this as in other aspects. Without entering into an intricate argument as to where varieties end and species begin (biologists are by no means unanimous on classification) I would direct his attention to the remarkable achievemen of Luther Burbank. This practical botanist produced a fruit called the plumcot, which combined the qualities of both apricot and plum. To call such a production a variety would be a mere quibble. Burbank also “manufactured” white blackberries, thornless cactus, stoneless plums, seedless grapes, blue poppies,* cherries which leave their stones on the tree, and new fruits, vegetables and trees of all sorts. He has shattered the old legend, still subscribed to by your correspondent, about the sterility of hybrids, and has made 179 fruitful new species by combination of different species and even genera. I have now met your correspondent on all points which his unique methods of controversy have unearthed (considering their out-of-dateness, exhumed might be more descriptive). May I now suggest that he meets my points or confesses his inability to do so. A.E.C. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS “A TAXPAYER.”—Your letter, as worded, is too provocative.