Citizens Say-

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 59, 1 June 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say-

To the Editor,

BATHS AND LOCKERS

Sir, — I crave your indulgence in a matter I believe to be most important to the welfare of one section of men, a valuable one—the waterside workers of Auckland. I refer to the question •of hot showers and lockers for change of clothes being provided by shipping companies and the Harbour Board for the use of the men. We are living in the twentieth century and witnessing, as I did to-day, men working bunkering ships and unloading guano, superphosphates, etc., my mind was filled with indignation to know that these men had to travel to their homes- near and far to the discomfort of themselves and fellow-passengers. Cannot something be done to clean up this mess? Surely, yes? Then play the game to the men. CLEANLINESS.

A CORRECTION—AND SOME PRAISE

Sir, — A mistake occurs in my letter on “Home Work,” printed in Tuesday’s SUN. I wrote, “My experience as a teacher was that home work, except for preparation involving no written work and lasting for only 30 or 40 minutes, produced no benefit.” As printed the sentence is distinctly misleading. I shall be glad if you will make a correction at your earliest convenience. I take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of vour very fine newspaper. The fearless attitude it is taking with regard to manv flagrant wrongs which have existed too long in this Dominion, and especially in this city, will surely have a beneficial effect. Your impartial and non-parti-san policy is a source of comfort and enlightenment to your readers. Long may THE SUN prosper. ZEALANDIA.

BRICKWORKS FOR SWANSON

Sir,— Swanson years ago, like many other places on the Kaipara rail wav was regarded as “No Man’s Land” inhabited by a few wild, wandering gumdiggers, with no future before the district. The prospects were not very bright. But, owing to the enormous growth of Auckland, similar places nearer town are becoming rapidly filled as the people get squeezed out of the city. But what is the position as regards Swanson? There is .little or no industry, men having to seek work in town, many walking long distances to catch the 6.24 a.m. train, while we have the making of a most useful industry close at hand. I refer to the brick and pottery business. Why not follow the example of Sydney and establish a State works? In addition to convenient Government land I have no doubt more can be acquired at reasonable rates to make the thing a success and the contemplated Government works in Auckland alone should absorb a lot of material. This is not an idea for the temporary relief of unemployed, but a solid consideration and fair to employer and employees as many of the men would be residing on their own properties handy to the work and at the same time would have more chance to improve their holdings which would mean

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

a healthy, happy and more contented people. And this work might he carried out without disfigurement or elimination of any beauties 6f the place. Now, sir, if you feel any genuine interest in promoting the welfare of any district wherein your paper circulates I think this question deserves attention. With the proper handling of one of our natural products, Swanson, with its healthy sunny climate, would become one of the most prosperous localities around Auckland. SETTLER.

NEWMARKET’S HAPPY POSITION

Sir, — I would like through the medium of your valuable columns to reply to some of the critics who have so often written through various papers explaining why Newmarket should join the city. I will take this opportunity to explain in very few words why we should not do so. In the first place, we have no desire to shoulder the burden which the city carries through bad administration. They use the argument “the cost of administration, and as a ratepayer of Newmarket for many years I have no complaints with regard to the cost of the same in our borough. I think our mayor and councillors are an object lesson to the City Council and that the larger body should send one or two delegates to interview the gentlemen who so successfully run our municipal affairs. In the past we have had loans, but our rates have never gone up and we are in a very sound financial position today, and I think we are as up-to-date as the city in every respect. In conclusion I would refer all critics to the leading article which appeared in the issue of THE SUN of May 27, and I think that will explain why, at any cost, Newmarket should remain independent and I think leave -well alone. H. WINTERS.

Sir. Though apparently I have satisnea your correspondent, Mr. Burton, on many points, he still leaves the issue clouded as regards one. I might state that a principle is one thing, the practical application of a principle is another. I reiterate that Catholics the world over act on the principle: “Catholic schools for Catholic children”; the complete application of this principle, for reasons already indicated by me, cannot always be attained. The minimum application allowed by the Church is that Catholic children should be taught their religion by Catholic teachers approved by Catholic bishops, but the church ever strives for a fuller application of the principle as stated. Can Mr. Burton point to any country in the world where the Catholic Chuch does not provide Catholic schools for Catholic children to the utmost limit of her resources? Where the money of Catholic taxpayers does not provide a system of education in full accordance with the Church’s ideal. Catholic people have never hesitated to provide private schools wherein the principle in question may be fully realised; and this, too, in countries where religious instruction of Catholic children by Catholic teachers approved by their Bishops is possible, and, furthermore, is guaranteed by treaty with the State. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that after Mr. Burton had distracted your readers’ attention from local conditions, and had extended this discussion to countries so distant as Poland, Italy, Spain and Serbia, I

brought him back to the whole point of my statement which was confined to conditions in New Zealand. To be perfectly fair I asked him a question propounded by Mr. John Caughley. a Presbyterian elder and Sunday School superintendent of many years standing. Mr. Burton declines tc answer that query. He complains it is “a leading question,” that is to say, one admitting only of a Yes or No answer! The question forms part of evidence wh.ch the late Director of Educaiton, in iis official capacity, gave before a Select Parliamentary Committee last year. Yet, Mr. Burton says it is unfair, and is a device of rhetorical controversy. He further says it would not be allowed in a court of law, thereby admitting that he may make such statements he pleases, but that he will a#* submit himself to any cross-examina-tion. I will leave his refusal to answer my question at that. Many times have the heads of lh® Catholic Church in this country pi b " licly offered to meet representative* of the Bible-in-Schools League in conference, and to give them the freest hand in the matter of religious exercises for Protestant children, subject to tn e recognition of proper equality of religious consciences before the law, and the due safeguarding of the conscientious beliefs of Catholic (and other di s " senting) children and Catholic (and other dissenting) teachers. Tie®® offers have ever been ignored. T “ e League says, in effect, that it will iaxe the money of Catholic and other objecting taxpayers towards providing* form of religious instruction acceptably to some members of some denomin a ' tions, but it refuses to consider ti»e application of a fair proport t** taxation for education provided D > those conscientiously objecting I;a *' payers towards the maintenance u? t® Government standard of schools wnpr " in the faith of such objectors na*3' taught. Catholics have never for the return of any money but tna which they themselves have proviaeaThe League will take everybody money for the provision of religion exercises of which only some a P p *?\. I leave it to the fair-minded New lander to decide which is the just of these propositions. “Fair P‘ - is bonnie play,” both on the field sport and in the matter of the appb tion of taxpayers’ money. L. T. BUXTON-

FLOWERS AND SOULS

Sir, — “Country Teacher.” who wrote a the souls of animals, helped , work of preventing cruelty to anno But to me the reality of the thins simply this: Plants, animals and may have souls, we do not know, no man can prove that even he h soul. We know we have “I-am-n or consciousness, just as plants animals, for they exhibit a most ing intelligence, memory and ° faculties. The great point, it ® y to me, is that if we hurt th en ? suffer, just as we do—plants Therefore we should endeavour to . all “lower creation,” so calleddue respect and loving-kindness golden rule obtains in the realm . dumb just as among the speaking ment. Perhaps if we practisea attitude, a just Creator would tn that we suffered less ourselves. CLARKE lIA