Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 186, 27 October 1927, Page 10

Citizens Say—

(To the Editor.)

A BOUQUET

Sir, Allow me to congratulate you on the success of your enterprise, evidenced by the increasing demand for your paper and the encomiums passed by all classes of readers. As an old Aucklander who antedates the birth of your contemporaries (save one), in tendering my tribute X feel that I am justified in saying that yours is a very welcome and ably-edited contribution to our literary tastes. W.R. Auckland.

CARUSO AS A “BLACKLEG”

Sir,— “Well Done" has missed the mark in his reply to my letter. ' The resourcefulness in providing a substitute programme is expected from a programme organiser as part of his duties and does not call for “bouquets.” But was it essential to allude to Mr. Carter’s refusal at all; and if so, was it' necessary to purloin his repertoire? To do so showed a lack of good taste and was, I consider, nothing less than a breach of professional etiquette. Mr. Carter’s reason for not allowing his voice to go on the air does not enter into the question at all. He is a free agent and had a right to say whether o.r not he should be heard “on the air.” Some singers have an aversion from broadcasting which is perfectly legitimate, and the Broadcasting Company should have accepted Mr. Carter's wishes without resorting to the unsavoury tactics of “stealing his thunder.” I thank you, Mr. Editor, for THE SUN’S unfailing courtesy in opening its columns impartially to all shades of public opinion. We Aucklanders realise that in THE SUN we have a vehicle for the expression of our sense of fair play without fear or favour. 1 May no clouds ever obscure your brightness! “BIG STICK.”

A WISTFUL NOTE

Sir, — In view of the magnificent silence which the Auckland City Council maintains in the face of all criticism, I feel that it is useless attempting to make anything so ambitious as a protest. But I should like to speak wistfully of my journey from. Mount Albert terminus to Blockhouse Bay about five o’clock the other afternoon. It wasn’t so much the 35 minutes I had to wait: for that gave me time to carry out original research work on the new time-table (a monumental thing, which I venture to recommend to all students of the occult). As it was, the bus arrived before I had obtained a mental grasp on the contents, and 1 had to postpone my search for the Big Principle behind the booklet until some quiet week-end. Nor was it so much the fact that I was compelled to stand, with 12 others, in a bus the roof-to-fioor measurement of which was six inches less than mine. These things I endured with the stubborn courage of one who has had long experience of methods of transport in Atickiand. What really penetrated the hard shell of my stoicism was the fact that for this journey of roughly four miles I was charged lOd. When I arrived •home I took out a scale map of Auck-

land and made some measurements, with most interesting results. 1 discovered that whereas the privilege of travelling in a council bus from Mount Albert to Blockhouse Bay cost me, as I say, lOd, I might have taken a council tram from Mount Albert to the Town Hall, one and a quarter times as far, for 4d, or travelled from the G.P.O. to Oneliunga, which is more than twice the distance, for 6d. The amount per mile which I paid for my journey was thus more than three times that demanded of my fellow citizens who use the trams to Oneliunga and Mount Albert. In view of this, I should like very briefly, to congratulate the Auckland City Council on the heroic efforts it is making to induce people to spread the city out by living in such desirable suburbs as Blockhouse Bay and New Lynn. A. R. D. FAIRBURN.

SCIENCE AND FAITH

Sir, — The implication of the two quotations given by “Clan-Conal” from Abbe A. Riche and Thomas a’Kempis .respectively, is that religion is outside the scope of scientific investigation except in so far as science supports it and that science should subordinate itself to religious belief. In these and all other such disparagements of human reason in the interests of faith, we find the authors in the anomalous position of reasoning that reason is unreasonable, and deciding (which is an outcome of reasoning, faulty or otherwise) that reason should be superseded by blind belief. So far from science subordinating itself to religious belief we find that the history of scientific advance is also the history of capitulations and retreats on the part of the Churches. From the time of Copernicus and Gallileo to the time of Darwin, the Churches have first persecuted the bearers of new scientific truths, as destructive of .religion, then tolerated those same truths and finally accepted them. A.E.C.

WAIHEKE

Sir,— Mrs. Woods has expressed disappointment with Waiheke, nor can this be wondered at when she paid, according to her own figures, £550 for three sections, and erected thereon an expensive hall far too commodious for the then requirements of the district. She is naturally disappointed when her speculation fails to produce a reasonable interest on the outlay. She should, however, place the blame where it is really due, and not give a wrong idea the living conditions obtaining in Waiheke. The facts are that sections in Waiheke are cheap; the land repays attention, growing flowers and vegetables to perfection; the prices charged in the stores for groceries are the same, or nearly the same, as in Auckland: the Ostend rates, including the hospital rate of 2s Id per £ 100, are 17s f.d in the £IOO, as compared with 37s Cd at Takapuna, and usually 20s or more in the city and suburbs. (These rates of the Ostend Road Board are on the capital value this year, but will be on unimproved value next year.) The road board has 27 miles of roads to maintain, a difficult task with the lim-

ited means at its disposal. Mrs. Woods has now four miles of good metal road from Ostend “Wharf to her door. Only approximately 5 per cent, of the ratepayers are permanent residents, hen * the number of non-resident mem benon the board. In conclusion, I ®*- T state that the island is making definn* and steady progress. Houses are being erected in ever-increasing numbers. Practically every available house is already let for Christmas, and tw boardinghouse l proprietors are pating a record season. Visitors totnisland will find its residents hosp * able, obliging and eager to pleasure of all who come. J. L. MANSFIELDPonsonby.

THE EARTH’S ANTIQUITY

Sir, — _ If your correspondent, Mr. will read my letter more carefully' *• will see that: I have not snd|l«w changed my position, though to cnau» for the better is not a fault, and ers are ever changing. As a hold that “thought precedes ex tion” —to quote Sir Oliver L°<ip by “natural selection” Darwin haa *- derstood intelligent selection by ani telligent Being or beings, his t - would not be as open as it is 1 charge of atelism. Darwin was thorough atelist, for he held tiiai - was “originally breathed by tn ator” into primary organismhave had to coin a few words - press my thoughts.) There is n crepancy in my reference to tn mogony of Moses and a recogn . the doubtful authenticity of ~ It is easily possible to cast dou the authenticity of every boo*. Bible. Critics have done tms. it is impossible to remove t i{a To establish non-authenticity a different matter. cr ea« Baron Von Hum bolt said. n f j t we tion we can know nothing, f° have had no experience. rr€ auoz correct if we understand oy t the coming of something f 5, 01 Lp r e Idifor of more from less. -^ ncl “tb« fer from Sir Oliver Lodge freedom of the will.” Sc _ rsrV corning of no fresh matter or ene ®"j s found into existence, and no ro ° . 0 f any for the setting into °P er f l 2Sv ex** - force other than those * 1: oi&* ing. But creation, m contin*** evolution of fresh form with out end. Se John *• Eternal now is time alone. j A view of things said. It is. as well as has bee" A view of things GJJ _ i, the footne-'? If Mr. Sim will constiKtbe th3 :l of a Scofield Bible he will th , pea* am not alone in holding rl jjnS * antiquity of tho earth Genesis.