Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 192, 3 November 1927, Page 10

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

DAYLIGHT SAVING Sir,— Having experienced Summer Time (Daylight Saving) in one country I would like to make a suggestion for the benefit of the general public. Why not (as I am going to do) start on Thursday night and put the clock forward a quarter of an hour each night until Sunday? This method I find breaks it gently and one does not feel the sudden jump of a full hour. For my part I always keep the clock half an hour fast and find it a good scheme to get my visitors away early both by day and night. EARLY BIRD. SCIENCE AND RELIGION Sir, — That I quoted “A.E.C.” correctly and am not guilty of trickery, your readers may see for themselves. The trouble is that “A.E.C.’s” statements are not consistent. In one breath he makes one statement and in the next another of a contradictory nature. He says of me: “He mistakes the theoretic definition of matter by scientists for a denial of its existence.” Ido nothing of the kind. I never dreamed of denying the existence of matter, and nothing I have written warrants “A.E.C.’s” assertion. I have said that it is impossible to differentiate between spirit and matter, and I challenge the secularists to disprove my statement.

"A.E.C.” now confesses that the names lie gave of scientists of note who do not believe in a Supreme Being are “outspoken agnostics." One may be an agnostic or an atheist and yet believe in a Supreme Being. We know there are many intelligences in this universe, and it stands to reason there must be a Supreme One. Let “A.E.C.” now prove that any one of the gentlemen he named does not believe in a Supreme Being or admit his error. I. C. U. (The correspondence between “I.C.U ” Mr. Hughes and “A.E.C.” is now closed’ —Editor, THE SUN. PONSONBY TRAMS Sir.— There appears to be much misdirected energy in the management of the transport system of Auckland. There is only about one Ponsonby to four Grey Lynn trams at midday on Saturdays, resulting in scores being shut out after waiting anything from half to three-quarters of an hour. Still, good-natured and over-worked tram men, realising the worker’s need to get home promptly, put up with excessive over-crowding. This naturally results in the utter impossibility of collecting all the fares from Pitt Street to the end of the second section, as much as Is 7d being lost in one trip despite tire excessive slowing down of trams. By the way, cutting out stops will not speed up trams much if the present system of slowing down until all the fares are collected on busysections is persisted in. Greater concessions on tickets would result in more being sold, and much time and stress being saved. The conductors not

having to bother about change would then collect all fares without there being any need to slow up an already slow service. HERNE BATITE. Ponsonby services are generally considered as the best of the tramway services, Cr. J. A. C. Allum stated, concerning letter, this morning. The committee was very- much concerned about the overcrowding, but was placed in the difficult position of having no money to build the extra trams so urgently required. It was admitted that in some cases fares were not collected, and this week notices would be placed in the trams drawing passengers’ attention to the fact that it was obligatory on them to pay the fares. The intention is to make an example of anyone caught evading farepaying. “Most emphatic instructions have been given to motormen and bus drivers tliat every endeavour is to be made to make proper connections,” states Cr. Allum. —Editor, THE SUN. TRANSPORT Sir, It is a matter for regret that power supply authorities and those responsible for the efficient handling of materials and for the collection and distribution in towns, have almost entirely overlooked the claim of the electrically-propelled vehicle*. Based on the cost of transporting a tom of material one mile in this light the electric lorry shows a marked superiority over any other form of road vehicle. The petrol-operated lorry carrying three to three and a-half tons, useful load on a run of 40 miles a day, will cost fully 8d a ton a mile, while the electrically-propelled vehicle works out at 5d for the same. There is undoubtedly a wide field for the application of vehicles of this class, provided the facilities for replacing and charging batteries are developed on a commercial basis. Power boards should be particularly interested, and might be expected to give a lead to others, especially in view of the opportunity it offers of substantially improving their load factors on which hinges so intimately the selling price of electric energy. A transport board, if it functions at all, should not overlook the importance of this phase, and its farreaching effect on industry. EFFICIENCY. WHERE ARE THOSE “SOLID FACTS?” Sir,— “A.E.C.” stated that the natural sciences rest on a basis of “solid facts,” while theology rests on a foundation of pure speculation. Commenting on this statement, I pointed out that the modern philosophical scientist knows that this foundation of “solid facts” does not exist. “A.E.C.” makes no attempt to refute this assertion, but falsely accuses me of denying the existence of matter. I did nothing of the sort. I pointed out that the physical sciences do not rest upon a foundation of “solid facts.” but on a tremendous act of faith. Before he can get anywhere the scientist has to assume the existence of an external world, the uniformity of Nature, ancf the reality of space and time. “A.E.C.” does not and cannot deny this. It is j admitted by nearly all modern scien- | Lists. What “A-E.C.” describes as ‘■psaudo- scientific jargon about rela-

tivity” is a quotation from Dr. Wilda I Carr, professor of philosophy in™ University of London. Perhaps A-r. will admit the right of Professor Mf dington. of Cambridge, to speak authority on the domain of pny ß ® science. Professor Eddington stew that “the physical world at some po® (or indeed throughout) infringes * the the spirtual world, and derives actualitj r solely from this contact, a® perhaps “A.E.C.” will describe this ■ the jargon of a pseudo-scienu* “A.E.C.” seems to regard mat* energy, ether, atoms, etc., as ’*“■ facts”; but a distinguished seicn rs Professor J. A. Thomson, tells us b® they are merely intellectual count® rather than realities.” They are OM “symbols of reality.” It might lot of argument if “A.E.C.” would P? us a list of the “solid facts’’ on the natural sciences rest. NORMAN BURTO.V TRADE MARKS Sir,— -j I read in the local newspapers ™ the Argentine Minister of Yoreip Affairs, after receiving complaints 9* New Zealand, has cancelled the Arf® tine mark “Zelandia” for distingul® ing butter sold by a British firm esW lished in the land of the pampas. This decision of the Argentine eminent is well worthy of But I wonder what one of our South® magistrates will think of it? Did not find it, last year, quite justinaw* for a Southern firm to sell locally-®*? nougat in a tricolour wrapper bean* the words “French Nougat Mont mar,” while the trade-mark of firm and the city in New Zealand WB the goods were made, did not aPP'" at all on the label? As everybody knows, the town . Montelimar, in France, has a . wide reputation for the exceu 0 * nougats manufactured there. . SHERLOCK HOLMhS. “NEARLY CHOKED" ; After being nearly choked with jjjjj j scientific words I had to come jto a’Kempis for the simple | “Happy is he whom truth doth not by figures and words that j away but as in itself. From one & i are all things and all things utter ' Word and this is the Beginning* a ! man without that Word understan lor judgeth rightly. It is thus we . ft ; to know the truth without j words, without confusion of j without the desire for honour, [bandying of arguments.” The r I Abbe whom I quoted in a former ; says: “In every form of beUei t , ; those forms which are fragm £ j human weakness has expericnc ! need of using materials and ] things in order by their means t |to rhings spiritual and uncreaten-j jis through the material heart ol j r we are raised to the love of , visible Godhead.**