Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 71, 15 June 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

ELECTRIC HEATING

Sir, — To enter into a contract, with householders to supply them. with electrically-heated water an! take their money quarterly, in advance, and then install a clock that automatically cuts off the current from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., might very easily be called a breach of contract, Xo doubt the object is to provide a better light, but why should the householder pay twice —once for heating water and on it being diverted to the lighting system, a second time through the meter? Also, are the hours chosen to cause as much inconvenience as possible? HOUSEHOLDER. MUTE HARPS Sir, — Your correspondent, “Sassenach,” says when the Irish became civilised they exported their pipes to Scotland and took up the harp, How is it, then, the harp now hangs so mute On Tara’s walls, and the pipes are flourishing throughout Erin? If “Sassenach” visits the Library he will see in the latest “Irish Times” a charming picture of the Limerick Pipers in their picturesque costume. Ido not appreciate the interpretation “Sassenach” gives of that touching and simple poem of Burns, where he says: “To make a happy home for weans and wife Is the summun whole o’ human life.” These lines have inspired many a Soot to high achievement in the varied things of life. As to his remarks re Irish civilisation, he should read “Curry’s History of the Ancient Irish,” which clearly shows that Ireland had attained a high degree of civilisation long before St. Patrick’s time, and while yet England was in dark Paganism. As to Ireland’s fighting powers, these were known throughout Europe. Rome respected The poet Chaucer gave expression to their fears thus: “When Scots came thundering from the Irish shores, The ocean trembled from their menacing oars.” —CLAN COXAL. AN IRRATIONAL RATIONALIST Sir, “Rationalist’s” letter on Biblo-in-schools came like a voice from the grave. I thought the Rationalist sect was extinct. But on looking up the 1921 census returns I found that there are still 430 Rationalists in New Zealand. This represents a decrease of 189, or 30.53 per cent., since 1916. So the sect is moving quickly to extinction from which it cannot be saved by foolish predictions of the early disappearance of Christianity “Rationalist” declares that the purpose of the Bible-in-Schools Bill “is to back up a declining Christianity.” A hundred years ago Rationalists were predicting that, before the onening of the twentieth century, Christianity would be a dead religion and the Bible would be out of print. As a matter of plain fact, Christianity to-day is far greater, both as regards its power and the number of its adherents, than it was a century ago, and there is widespread belief that another great spiritual revival is at hand. The latest English papers contain reports of the annual meeting of ther Bible Society. The figures are wonderful. During the past

12 months 1,136,123 Bibles were issued, 1,219,997 New Testaments and 7,771,967 portions—a total of 10,128,087. These facts and figures should give “Rationalist” something to think about. “Rationalist’s” contemptuous reference to the English Bible brings upon himself Professor Huxley’s scathing condemnation of the Philistine who can discover in a literature, which in some respects has no superior, nothing but a subject for scoffing and an occasion for the display of his conceited ignorance of the debt he owes to former generations.” In answer to Mr. J. M. Robertson’s deprecation of the literary quality of the Bible, it is more than enough to mention the names of such men as Heine, Matthew Arnold, Goethe, Emerson, Ruskin, Macaulay, Froude, Carlyle, Scott and Dickens, who all agreed with the “common idea that the Bible contains the greatest literature in the English language.” NORM AX BURTON.

WEIGHED—AND FOUND WANTING Sir. On May 30, 1925, when Mr. Gordon Coates was elevated to the rank of Prime Minister, I was one of many non-supporters of the Tory Government who cheered the appointment. To me as a plain man without guile it seemed that a great man had been chosen for the highest position in national affairs. He had made his mark as a railway administrator; his record as Minister of PublTd? Works seemed good and was, in fact, excellent. Was it all illusion? Now, 1 want to withdraw mv fervent cheer. As Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates has bee n weighed in the balance and found wanting. Time has called his bluff. He is merely another voice speaking the thoughts of Tory advisers. Tn twentyfive months he has squandered the legacy of sound administration bequeathed to him by that stalwart statesman, the late Mr. Massey. The politics of the Government lead to muddle and misery. Is it permissible for a statesman, like an unpopu • monarch, to abdicate? If so, let the Prime Minister give way to the Hon. A. D. McLeod, a strong man of the Massey type. DISILLUSIONED. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Sir,— In your common-sense sub-leader of June 10 you have exposed the failure of the City Council to make the transport of the city a success. Indeed, a loss of the tremendous amount of about £ 40,000 is enough to make the average citizen realise it is time the City Council dropped the monopoly of the transport of the people of this fair city. The trams are supposed to show a profit of about £9,000, yet their whole business results in a loss of £40.000. At present they hold a monopoly, and cannot make a success, with legislation to drive off all private enterprise. Anyone who has had the opportunity to visit the Old World and its many cities can at once proclaim that the trams are obsolete, and have served their purpose. Xo amount of legislation will bring them back to their former place. The only transport of passenger traffic that will meet with up-to-date requirements is by means of the motor-bus, and the sooner the City Council recognises this fact the better. Even if an attempt is made by legislation to forbid man to create what is wanted, his

fertile brain will defeat this law. Hence, here in a small city like Auckland, • is expressed the fertile bram of a* man who knows the law, but also sees the necessity of going on« better in the establishment of conamunity buses. These are as yet omf in a small way, but will grow as th<J grass of the fields if dogged legisla* tion prevents private enterprise competing in a fair way. The wise* thing the council can do is to get o« of the transport business at as early a date as is possible. Then they have an opportunity of taxing[j l “j™ motor-buses, as is done in LonaouThere the motor-buses operating number about 5,000, and are taxed rate of about £SO a year. Once rr» of the transport business, tfle coin* cil can divert its energies into sonmore profitable channel. The j are only making their way * scrap-heap, and no amount V ■? . will make any difference finallythe council drop the t ransport nui ■* ness as speedily as possible, and people will receive the benefit, additional private enterprise* citizens should move with the and learn from older countries. bring to bear what is the latest * best. The council should not to admit that the time has arrive® them to leave the transport of people to private enterprise. ; trams, as a private company, 1? under municipal control they proved a failure. WALTER F. DABB*WORKING MODELS Sir, — f h e I wish to call your attention to u caption that went with a picture THE SUN of models shown . Town Hall—“ The Auckland Society - Model Engineers held a show ® ‘ Town Hall.” While appreciating kindness of the members of th sociation to the full, I would n point out that the exhibition J’ a under the auspices of the Au City Mission, and was organise** the men’s guild attached to tne _ sion. The Auckland Society of ** of engineers very kindly loaned their models, for which we are grateful. * A. J. NORMAN. Foreman, MenAuckland City M NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS J.S.W.—You seem to have a g® o * case. Consult a solicitor. A.V.F. —We cannot publish you** **£ | ter without ample corroboration . I your claim. 1 l