Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 105, 25 July 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

“DOLES TO DESERTED WIVES” Sir.— It this becomes law, then marriage will be a thing of the past. We already have the Nationalisation of Children (the “Childs Welfare Act, 1926”). The two laws combined may create some amusing and serious results. As the Yankee visitor said. “We are surely in a land of experimental laws.” “KEEP WATCH.” A PRACTICAL REMEDY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT Sir,— As a newcomer to New Zealand, might I ask—“ Why not take the unemployment question into your own hands, New Zealanders?” Auckland has 200,000 population—say 40,000 families. Could not 8,000 of these afford 5s weekly for part-time help about the house? That would give £2,000, and would pay 500 men a wage of £4 per week for useful work. Auckland trade would benefit. The severities of competition would be relieved. If I were not a newcomer, I would myself undertake to organise such a scheme. C. W. PEACHEY. RELIGION ON THE AIR Sir, Every Sunday evening religion is “broadcast” from Auckland, IYA. Open-mindedness would not be a quality of our professors of Christianity if they assumed that their aspirations are the absolute measure of the rest of humanity. Everyone whose mind has not been completely closed by dogma will admit that equality of opportunity for educating public opinion is essential to the practice of toleration, and that the rights of minorities are vitally important; even the most orthodox of us may find himself in a minority some day, so that all have an interest in restraining the practical monopoly of majorities. Therefore, I wonder how long we will have to wait until the Rationalist message is offered to listen-ers-in, because a representative of almost every church has now used the wirelss for spreading the knowledge of “Jesus and His Message.” VIVIAN GLAIDING. COMPULSORY VOTING Sir,— Mr. McLeod states that the position with regard to the compulsory registration of electors is now good, and that as a consequence of a few prosecutions in each electorate, the people have been brought to a sense of their duty. Now had this self-satisfied Minister’s remarks been made about a Bill which included compulsory voting, then he might have had some excuse for patting himself on the back, but per se, what useful purpose does the present Act or proposed amendments serve, beyond purging the rolls? None whatever, because there is nothing in

either to make anyone vote at all at any time. In fact, it is actually possible under the present system for two candidates to go to the poll without either of them getting a vote! It is high time that the electoral system be brought up to date by making it compulsory to vote at all elections. It would be an educational movement, in that it would compel the most apathetic voter to take an outward interest anyhow in political and municipal affairs, besides saving candidates a vast amount of expense on election day in having to fetch their supporters to the poll. “Nolentes volentes,” they would have to go! It appears to j>e the law .in Australia now, and a cable dated Melbourne, May 4 reads: “Fines amounting to £IO,OOO have been received from persons who failed to vote at the last Federal elections, and on the referendum proposals.” No doubt the Government here could find good use for the revenue collected from non-voters failing, which it could be distributed pro rata among all candidates who went to the polls, in reduction of their electioneering expenses! “SCRUTATOR.” DISAPPOINTED

Sir,— Much disappointment was caused at Eden Park on Saturday when a few staunch Rugby supporters (mvself included) turned out to see the game between Technical Old Boys and Marist Brothers. The gatekeepers were at their usual positions to take the few shillings which came their way, and to the consternation of those who had gained their admittance, the Rugby Union had kindly put up a notice to the effect that all games on No. 1 ground were postponed. This left them the only alternative of watching the game on No. 2 ground, advertised as City v. Waitemata. Waitemata turned out with fourteen players, these fourteen including other players who were on the look-out for a game. Those unfortunate spectators who were unable to find room to stand on the duckboards, stood out in the rain and mud. After about twenty minutes’ play the referee, who apparentlv didn’t like the rain, called the game off, and those misguided few who had paid their shilling to see a senior B game of football, walked disconsolately off the ground. RUGBY SUPPORTER. ELIMINATING TARIFFS Sir, — Mr. J. <3. Hughes says “the essential consideration which C.H.N.’ seems to iS l n at P rotec tion hurts the selling as well as the buying nation.” On the contrary, I affirm both, and therefore I ask; If, say, the United States hurts us by restricting our sales to them, will it benefit us if we retalia u - them with a. boomerang which recoils and injures ourselves. Do two injuries cancel out, or do thev accumulate? New South Wales was free trade until 1901 and although other nations hurt her selling trade with high tariffs she never was foolish enough to follow suit. The other Australian colonies did so, but New South Wales always led them in wealth, employ-