Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 216, 1 December 1927, Page 10

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

PHILATELIST’S TREASURE Sir, — I noticed in your issue of November 26 an article headed “Rare Find in Stamps.” This prompted m* to look up my old issues and I find I have quite a few—about 16; Id, 2d, 3d, Is green—of the issue you describe, printed in 1854-56 -with a three-quarter portrait of Queen Victoria wearing crown and earrings. I have also a rare Van Dieman’s Land Id imperforated, 1853. I don’t think there are many of about. The price you mention is very tempting but, of course, it could not be obtained in New Zealand. C.R. “PARASITE-CYCLISTS” Sir,— Kindly allow me space to voice a complaint. As far as I know, we have a by-law* in this city, that prevents cyclists from hanging on to motor vehicles. If there is such a i by-law, why does not the Traffic Department and police force enforce it? It won’t be long before we will read j of a nasty accident, not to the cyclist ; who hangs on, but to the law-abiding ! cyclist who keeps to the left and plays I the game. For instance, any motor j driver may see a cyclist ahead of him ; and allow enough room to pass him I in overtaking. He is quite innocent ! of the fact that another cyclist is I hanging on his left side, well over ; towards the kerbing. Result: the ; “parasite-cyclist” hits the unfortunate : man, who keeps out of danger and avoids breaking any. by-law. Let the police and traffic officers do their duty and get down on these pests to the man who travels on wheels. —F AIRPLAY’. TARIFF WALLS Sir, — “J.H.8.” passes over practically every point I made, which is a tacit admission he is unable to meet any one of them. I certainly derive great pleasure from the fact that America pays British shipowners many scores of millions sterling per annum, but he is misrepresenting me when he implies that I say, “this is how her (America's) trade balance is accounted for.” England supplies the United States with many other “invisible” imports (as well as “visible”), and America’s apparent i trade balance is fully “accounted for” |by the statements published by the American Department of Commerce, ; which include all items, not merely | “visible” trade which suffices for amateur economists. If Uncle Sam dej prives Britain of the shipping freights 1 referred to he will injure his own export trade accordingly. “J.H.8.” should ponder the following which I take from the writings of one of Britain’s foremost bankers and shipowners, one time M.P. and* an econom-

ist of no mean order. Referring to American “visible” trade with the United Kingdom, and after showing in detail how America’s excess of visible exports was accounted for and demonstrating the modus operandi of international banking, he went on to say: “Thus America, which sells to us without buying back directly in goods sufficient to repay herself. Is forced, by the operation of a law that cannot be evaded, to find in every case a substitute in some part of the world which has incurred a debt to Great Britain.” Tour correspondent implies that free traders do not seek to push British trade. They do, only they ; use methods which are sound and will j stand up to the tests of economic I science. Professor Tocker, of Can- j terbury College, stated the other day j when criticising a protectionist lecture ; that “the argument for free trade is j unassailable.” I much prefer his opinion to “J.H.B.’s” or even that of President Coolidge who has never been accused of being an economist. The “wonderful opportunity” which your | correspondent sees in Empire proteei tion may lead us into another war! —C.H.N. SUFFERING ANIMALS ■ Sir, — One feels indebted to THE SUN'S i special correspondent at Cambridge i for calling attention to a case which ! was tried in the Magistrate’s Court I there on Monday last. The case was, 1 one in which a youth and the owner I ■of a horse were charged with working j the animal while it was suffering from I open sores on its sides and shoulder. The two presiding justices dismissed the case on both informations, holding the opinion that though there was neglect there was no “intentional” cruelty. Of course, one can only comment on such a judgment in a general way, but one must regret that it has become quite a common practice to disj miss cases of cruelty to animals on the , ground that though cruelty exists, the j perpetrators are not conscious of It! It seems to me that such conclusions are, apart from the humane aspect, an insult to our status as an educated people. Surely, unless one were an absolute savage one would know when one was inflicting cruelty on an unfortunate animal. Surely even a moron would be “conscious” of open sores! Only those who are constantly working for the cause of suffering dumb creatures can understand how infinitely difficult this humanitarian work is sometimes made by having to contend with over-lenience or obtuseness. A.G.K.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS “Reader” (Helens ville). —The first halfpenny New Zealand stamp was issued on January 1, 1873. It was designed by John Davis, of Auckland. The dies were made in Melbourne and the issue printed in Wellington at the Government Office.

Baiting It was to be expected that on ** a contentious measure as the sing BiU pleasantries would f* changed by members during the - mittee debate. Members * §c strongly upon the question tf keyed up that they fell easy P the bait carefully laid by tue:r Mr. W. D. Lysnar was the . E V Baid the Prime Minister n 33 , pulled in the wrong direction . of weaklings. . Someone interjected: What ( the chairman of the Meat Boar ■ Mr. Lysnar; WeU, if you want i° p . drawn into a mess, follow ni - will kill you and kill your part. • Mr. F. Waite (recalling the Mr. Lysnar’s room i: But he ‘ jk try to burn the place down, l ter.) Mr. Lysnar gave it up.