Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 76, 21 June 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

TRAM EXTENSIONS Sir, — , In view of the prevailing unemployment, why not make an early start with the proposed tram extensions? In a few weeks we shall bo in the middle of winter, and these extensions would provide these unfortunate unemployed with useful work, and would also be reproductive. We residents of Point Chevalier have long been promised the trams, which are the only satisfactory method of transit, and the progress of the district is bfmg delayed by the present unsatisfactory bus services. Trusting the council will get an early move MR. SCHMIDT AND MR. SKELTON Sir, In last night’s issue of your paper Mr. Skelton admits that he is not a member of the club; therefore he admits that he had no more right to call a meeting of the committee than a man from Timbuktu. Surely Mr. Skelton knows the elementary facts of club rule: It is necessary to state the name of a member of the club so desiring a meeting. This his demand did not state. Further, if he and his nominees formed a majority of the committee, why did they not attend the regular meeting, where the executive and minute-book were to be found, rather than hold an irregular meeting. And what right had the banker to attend this meetin? As for Mr. Skelton and his nominees electing and deposing duly-elected executive, such a fiasco is altogether too silly for argument. HAROLD SCHMIDT, President. “TWA AT A BLOW” Sir, — Having read a report of the Police Court in your issue of Saturday, June 18, headed, “Got What He Wanted. Irishman Seeks Fight,” I thought I would mention that I had several nephews, Irishmen’s sons, who sought fight in France. They got what they wanted—victory. Some returned, one with his right arm off. Three more paid the supreme penalty. They got what they did not want. When at home in the Emerald Isle I saw a case similar to the one with the above heading. This Irishman was nine stone weight 4ft. lOin. high, 34in. chest measurement, full of “XX’XX.” And wanted to fight a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary when on duty. The policeman was 6ft. 4in. high, 16 stone weight, and 48in. chest measurement, and wore size 10 boots. He promptly arrested the miniature Irishman, and the next morning at the court of Irish justice he was charged with attempted suicide. When the policeman was asked how his prisoner had attempted to end his miserable existence, the policeman replied: “He wanted to fight me, yer honour.” He got off with a caution. Strong drink has a tendency to make some men look for fight, no matter what nationality they mav be. With your permission I shall just quote to you one verse by Bobby Burns, in his cry and prayer to the Scottish representatives in the House of Commons: But bring a Scotsman frae his hill Clap in his cheek a Highland gill Say, such is Royal George’s Hill An’ there’s the foe. He has nae thought but how to kill Twa at a blow. -—SUBSCRIBER. “EL DORADO AND WIRELESS” Sir, — Munificent! El Dorado! Who wouldn’t be an Announcer? He must “devote his whole time . . . have a good education . . . adaptability and initiative whieh will enable him to act in any emergencies which may arise during the progress of a broadcast programme.” “He is required to carry out all the duties usually carried out by announcers, including keeping books and records and preparation of returns.” He must “arrange for all spoken matter, including news, market reports, lectures, addresses and instruction and entrtainment generally, but excluding, musical monologues and humorous recitations.” His duties also include “arranging and delivering entertainment and instruction for children; compiling and delivering of official announcements”; and it will be an advantage “if he is able himself to provide some form of broadcast entertainment or original instruction.” And the remuneration?

Hold your breath, if you have any after reciting this list of qualifications ——“Six pounds a week.” Yes, truly, it is so nominated in the bond, six, not sixteen! I have been trying to think of any university professor, out of work, who combines also the genius of a railway president for organisation, with the plodding patience of Charles Lamb as a routine book-keeper. Behold, I cannOk name him. As far as voice and the provision of instruction is concerned, I thought of the esPrime Minister of Australia, but the salary might embarrass him. And. mark you, this super-man is to have all knowledge, all faith (the chief thing he would live by), and inexhaustible humility in devotion to his master’s service, since he cannot be trusted to arrange “musical monologues and humorous recitations, but however- unsuitable and discordant with his artistic sense they may be, he must suffer them gladly, at the dictation of a superior person—“the programme organiser.” Lordly how I rubbed my eyes and laughed. And this is what is asked of, and offered to, “an announcer for the Auckland Broadcasting Station, IYA! ” Oh la la! - NUFF SAID. A QUESTION OF DEGREES Sir, — I hasten to assure “Disgusted R.S.” that the degree he suggests would doubtless have been conferred had those responsible for the “graduation ceremony” been aware of the facts he mentions, and had they been able to see anything funny or useful in the conferring of such a degree. University students, as a rule, have other employment besides the reading of police court news. Perhaps “R.S.” finds his intellectual fare in such morbid channels. His insinuations regarding the college might easily be turned upon him. If all students are to be judged by one erring member, perhaps the logic of all “R.S.’s” is of the strange variety exhibited by your correspondent. I hope not. In conclusion, may I state that the joke about the college tower is neither new nor original. INGENIO. UNIMPROVED V. CAPITAL VALUE Sir, — The principal opponents of ratine on the unimproved values will mainly consist of speculators who dread any increased imposition on their “precious preserves” that are occupied by noxious weeds instead of human beings; thousands of whom, as ratepayers, are needed in this admirably attractive marine suburb to keep ratings within reasonable limits. And, the only alternative to obtaining that very desirable objective, is “rating solely on land values” instead of the iniquitous dual system that is so severely taxing industry, and also seriously hindering progressive settlement on the waste land. The opponents of the proposal will cautiously approach, or more likely, avoid altogether the crucial question of what would constitute equitable rating. Rather they will emphasise the danger of a reduction in improved land values if the proposal is carried, taking good care to ignore the fact that only the value of unimproved land will be reduced. It will also be suggested that the change may affect Takapuna more injuriously than it has affected other boroughs where the unimproved rating has been adopted. A “lucid explanation” of that “theory” will be interesting. They will also deal tenderly with the fact every pound expended on public works in the borough adds, in some instances, enormous values to the land held for the “unearned increment.” Why should the improving ratepayers allow any such iniquitous state of affairs to continue? If rating on the unimproved values is increased, then it is certain the same increase will have to be levied on the unimproved and capital values system; and that phase of the subject matter conclusively shows that self, instead of public, interest is the only consideration of the principal opponents of the proposed rating innovation. RATEPAYER. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS SUN Reader.—The names of the 16 semi-finalists were published, as you will have seen, in yesterday’s issue of the paper. There will be no further newspaper voting. The public will be asked now to record its votes at the picture theatres concerned.

KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM Sir.— Mr. Norman Burton gives us some amazing figures, and facts alleged to prove that the Bible, and its teaching, are rapidly assuming front rank in thr.s world's affairs. The Millenium should soon be here. No doubt Mr. Burton's figures are most carefully accounted: but the facts? Alas! There must be something wrong or surely with such an advancing tide of Christian believers, we might reasonably expect to find a world becoming more Christlike, and more, as the numbers grew? There is little need to point to the wars, and horrors of our time; the grinding poverty of the people, and the apathy of the Church, for proof of how little an effect the large stack of Bibles has had in directing the lives and actions of the professed believers. And why introduce the Book into our schools with a compulsory Authority ? Personally, and no doubt I speak for many others, I have a strong objection to having my children’s immature minds subjected, formed, and moulded by the views, and “mental slants” of various school teachers, on religion. School is the place to acquire knowledge. Wisdom is a later growth; not teachable. R. ROGERS. “CHRISTIANITY AND SCIENCE” Sir,— As a reader of THE SUN and as a Christian man. I must acknowledge, though with regret,* the truth of the statemetns made by “J.S.” in his contribution to your columns under the heading, “Christianity and Science.” as to the numerical declension of Christianity in nominally Christian lands. Further, I believe there are many fairminded Christian men who would also admit this. Permit me. however, to draw your correspondent’s attention to the following passages in the New Testament Luke xviii: 8; 11. Thessalonians ii: 3; I. Timothy iv: 1; 11. Peter iii: 3. 4; Jude 17-19, etc. These all show that our Lord and His disciples foresaw the falling away from Christianity of our own day and forewarned those who “have kept My word and have not denied My name,” that their faith fall not and that they be not deceived as others would. Thus the facts sc clearly stated by “J. S.” which to him are an unanswerable proof of the failure of Christianity, actually are to Christian people a source of comfort and confidence alike. Let your correspondent only reflect that none other but “the God of all the earth” could clearly and correctly foresee and foretell future events, and he will assuredly acknowledge that the Founder of Christianity is Himself the Author of all Truth and Knowledge and that Christianity when it has run its course must fulfil His sovereign purpose even as also must the works of His Own hands.

A. H. S. CHURCH-GOING AND CHRISTIANITY Sir,— Your correspondent, “H.R.H..' misses my point entirely in regard to the “Water Babies,” Fairy Tales,” and Grecian mythology being read in schools. Nobody could object to this, but the point is that they are not given to the children as being literally true. The Bible, were it read, would be. May I ask “H.R.H.” if he believes in the historicity of the New Testament conjuring tricks? And. if so, does he also believe in Santa Claus .’ Another point: When I said that Christianity meant nothing to 80 per cent of New Zealanders, I did not mean church-going, which is a different matter. A person may attend church regularly, and yet not be at heart a Christian. I went to church myself fairly regularly last year, and I should be very hurt at being mistaken for a Christian. By “Salvationism” I mean that part of Christianity which teaches that Christ can “save souls” and is willing to shoulder the sins of any who wish to be rid of them, as apart from the purely ethical teachings of Christ, e.g., the Sermon on the Mount. I have no quarrel with Christ’s moral teachings for the most part. The only thing is that they were set forth just as clearly by older religious philosophers. As regards Russia. I am not aware that I mentioned that country in my letter, as “H.R.H.” would appear to suggest. I cannot argue on the subject of religion in Russia at the moment, as I know exactly as much about the actual conditions there as “H.R.H.” does, which is to say nothing. But if the suppression of religion is responsible for any bad effects there, I think I can parallel it with a case from the opposite extreme—the Spanish Inquisition. RATIONALIST. RATIONALISM Sir, — “A.E.C.”, who has rushed to the assistance of “Rationalist,” begins by asserting that my “whole letter aims to prove what a small body the Rationalists are.” As my letter did not “aim to prove” anything of the sort, all the deductions which “A.E.C." draws from this false premise collapse completely. This disposes of more than half of “A.E.C’s” letter. “A.E.C.” has ignored the all-important fact that j was replying to “Rationalist’s” assertion that the purpose of the Bible-in-Schools Bill “is to back up a declining Christianity.” I pointed out that the Christian Church is far stronger today than it was a hundred years ago and I quoted figures to show the wonderful and ever-increasing demand for the Bible —the great Christian classic. I did not prove “what a small body the Rationalists are.” The census does that. “A.E.C.” Ought not to be angry with me because the 1921 census shows that there are only 430 Rationalists in New Zealand, a decrease of 189, or 30.53 per cent., since 1916. “A.E.C.’s’ efforts to prove that 430 is equal to 48,164 are enough to make a cat laugh. He makes a fine beginning by raking in the 38,591 people who “object to state.” He argues that a man who "objects to state” has “ceased to rely on arbitrary assumptions of authority,” therefore the majority of those who “object to state” must be Rationalists. “A.E.C.” ends up by annexing th* whole lot. It is queer logic to argue that the fact that a man objects to state that he is a Rationalist prove that he is one. Then by some wonderful process of reasoning “A.E.C” asserts that everyone who declares in the census that he has “no religion” must be a Rationalist, also everyon' of “no denomination,” also all who are “unspecified,” also all Freethinkers. Agnostics, and Atheists.” “A.E.C.’s argument may be thoroughly “rationalistic,” but it is certainly not ration u NORMAN BURTON.