Citizens Say-—

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 24, 20 April 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say- —

To the BROADCASTING POOR STUFF SirMay I be permitted in good temper to protest against the inferior entertainment that is so frequently flung into the air by the Auckland radio broadcasting station? The stuff really is not worth a licence fee of 30s a year. There would be more profit and more peace to one’s soul if the money were given to the church. I listened in to the local radio programme on Monday evening, but was glad to shut down on the wretched thing—there being no chance of “ ’eaving ’arf a brick ” at the caterwaulers and alleged comedians. Some time later I switched on to Sydney and was compensated for having an expensive receiving set. Who arranges the Auckland programmes? Are the contributors paid for their mediocre efforts? Are they the best artists available in this resourceful city? One should like to have answers to these questions. Who knows? Meanwhile IYA needs inspiration. RADIO FAN. LOANS—AND A ROAD Sir, — I would advise any residents of adjoining boroughs who have thoughts of joining the city, and also ratepayers who are going to vote for city loans, to come and see Lillington Road, Remuera, if they wish to see how the City Council keeps to its promises. When we joined the city we were promised that our roads would be maintained and improved, and when the last loan was polled about two years ago some £1,500 was named for muchneeded improvements in Lillington Road. What has happened? The council has allowed our road to go into complete disrepair and its present state would be a disgrace to a bush township. The footpaths are broken away into the gutter and there is scarcely a continuous yard of asphalt remaining. The winter is coming on and we will have only clay and mud to walk on. We have petitioned the council in vain and have been told that there is not much traffic on this road. Well, as far as the footpaths are concerned, I do not see how the traffic can be much greater, as every section except one is built on. As far as our road is concerned, we would have been much better if we had not joined the city and we are unlikely to vote for loans if we cannot trust the council to spend them according to plan. We would be fully justified in refusing to pay our rates, but the law places us at the City Council’s mercy. The above refers only to the old part of the road, which was formed and occupied before Remuera joined the city. H. R. HYATT.

CHINESE AND RECIPROCITY

Sir,— My last letter on Chinese problems does present “the Chinese viewpoint,” as “Right and Reciprocity” should have observed and know. It is not “Pharisaical” to say: “China must realise her condition is justly merited.” The true Chinese, who is justly “patriotic,” as all worthy citizens are, believes his country is ruled by Heaven; and Heaven makes no mistakes. He knows very well that he deserved all he got in the misnamed Opium Wars. We know the “facts” that fully justified Britain then, as she is justified now. Like the Chinese, the Hindoo believes himself to be on the wheel of Fate; and, “the wheel is just.” So the Mohammedans believe that Allah is supreme and just; and “Islam*” or submission to the Almighty, is wise. Jews and Christians taught much the same, but the pseud, anthropocentric philosophy of the Occident has corrupted our religion; in spite of science, which is rigidly necessitarian. The Oriental

Editor. Is justified in repudiating those unBiblical dogmas of self-determination and anti-evolution which certain missionaries are attempting to foist upon him. Responsibility does not demand freedom, as is wrongly supposed, it renders it impossible. Freedom and government are incompatible. Praise and blame are rational because necessary. The Occident must jettison the whole ssytem of its philosphy which rests on the fiction of freedom. And the Orient must be converted. John Chinaman must turn round; for, so long as he looks to the "Golden Age” of the past, he will not progress into the better age which lies in the immediate future. Those who look west must “go west.” To be "master in his own house” is his right. But, he must not disallow the rightful interests others may have therein. He must pay interest on mortgages and loans, and pay what is owing on furniture, etc. And he must not harbour thieves and murderers, and in other ways be a nuisance to his neighbours. He must prove himself capable of autonomy, without prejudice to the welfare of others. If he is wise he will define his objections more clearly to himself and the world, and not fight for impossibilities (I refer to, “Full indemnities; complete reparation; and effective guarantees”), as the Allies did in the Great War. RECIPROCITY IS RIGHT. ANTI-EVOLUTION AND COURTESY Sir, Your readers cannot but be charmed with the calm dignity of Mr. Reuben PL Dowle’s controversial style, and I am sure that his co-religionists must be proud of the white flower of Christian courtesy that he wears when replying to A.E.C. But surely Mr. Dowle errs on the side of modesty when he neglects to name three living authorities who are anti-evolu-tionists since he has sheaves of them up his sleeve. I have just read that book by the Rev. H. C. Morton with the high-sounding title “The Bankruptcy of Evolution.” Mr. Morton skims literature to give the “verdicts” of eighteen eminent scientists whom he can quote as saying something which he thinks is against evolution: but with all his research he can only give four anti-evolutionists, and these four are all dead a quarter of a century, and were the products and representatives of another age. Mr. Morton’s book is much affected by good people who oppose evolution merely because they are afraid that it is dangerous to their religion, and if Mr. Dowle can succeed where Mr. Morton fails, and can find living scientific anti-evolution authorities, his fame with these good people is assured. ' J. SBM. Takapuna.

THE MAYORAL ELECTION Sir,— It can be claimed for the mayoral election in the city that it provides comic relief for a situation which in some respects is tragic. Mr. Baildon has little to say in favour of the city, but considers that all neighbouring local bodies should join, although he must recognise that there is no great inducement at the present time. Mr. Warnock provides much more fun. He tells us first that the committee which set out to provide a new mayor called on three other applicants as well as himself, and that he is standing because they would not. Mr. Warnock goes on to say that it was a deadheat between himself and Mr. Baildon as to who was nominated first and should therefore be the one to stand. Accordingly he asked Mr. Blood worth to act as referee, which Mr. Bloodworth was doubtless quite willing to do, as his best chance of success lies in these two opponents splitting the votes. Mr. Blood worth, of course, pro-

nounced Mr. Warnock’s claim to> the better one, and no doubt that Mr. Baildon as the sitting _ considered his claim to be greater Mr. Warnock’s. Mr. Bloodworth P tests that he never injured anyon . and never will, and that he is a b ness man of wide experience, 1 Q believe that Mr. Bloodworth would n deliberately harm anyone, but ne some peculiar views. The onl y » these gentlemen agree in is tna• local bodies anywhere in their neig bourhood should join them. The j record is not enticing at presen » opinion which is based on what c cillors say of it and of each ’ and it is certainly no argument C. enlarging the area and increasing duties of such an un^£pEpAYERANOTHER SMALL BABY We have had beauty competitioiß and various other competitions, it is a question of the smallest •• I am too old to take part in any o&w \ competitions, but my eldest boy • feel sure, go very close to being smallest baby born. His actual w was 19oz, length lOJin, circumferenct of thigh 2in. Apart from that his “ were not properly formed, ana just like a small piece of blottme, v stock on the side of his b ea h; doctor gave him two hours to bv • could not feed him with an ora % spoon but had to use a small m t 0 spoon and feed four drops of w one part milk for the first mont ' prtiweight and measurements were c fled by Dr. E. B. Pickersfill, Shero in-Elmet, Yorks, and this is thereion no fairy tale or feat of lniagi The boy is now 15 and stands o He was wrapped in V ssu . liv er five years and had pints ot co jj* oil rubbed into his chest and doo*however seemed to grow stead y his birth and weighed 41b. when months old. He has had pne aS ie? diphtheria, scarlet fever, mumps and every complaint tn could have. He has i. ncrea cam* height by 13in. or 14in. since . in to to Auckland. I will bring him see you one of these days. p^gß.