Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 240, 30 December 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

TOO MANY PRIME MINISTERS Sir, —• Why will certain New Zealand newspapers—Auckland is not free from this mistake—continually refer to the Australian State Premiers as “Prime Ministers”? There is only one Prime Minister in the Commonwealth of Australia. Me is, of course, the Right Hon. Stanley Bruce. Mr. T. R. Bavin is not “Prime Minister of New South Wales.” There is no such office. Mr. Bavin is the State Premier. Queensland in particular is continually having her Premier designated “Prime Minister.” There can hardly be room for more than one in Australia. N.S.W.

MOTUIHI ISLAND Sir.— For some time nothing has been heard of the agitation to have Motuihi Island handed over to the city of Auckland as an Island park, but I trust that the matter will not be permitted to drop, and suggest that your enterprising paper should take it up. The Government, what with North Head and Motuihi, has deprived Auckland of too many of its beautiful waterside endowments. Motuihi is admittedly Ideal as a quarantine depot, but It would serve the Interests of a far greater number if it were available as a picnic ground for the people. The occasions when it is used as a quarantine depot are so few as to suggest that Rakino would serve the purpose quite as well, and there seems no reason why a few animals should, as they do at present, enjoy the sole rights over one of the choicest Islands in the gulf. Among enterprising yacht and launch men, of course, the idea that Motuihi is a closed preserve is quietly ignored. Any fine Sunday parties land on the more secluded of its beaches, and there is no reason why this privilege should be restricted. SUMMER TIME. BATHING COSTUMES Sir,— There have been several complaints about baths, or the lack of them, lately, and I would like to add a complaint—from another aspect. Have you ever seen the “issue” of costumes made to a long-suffering public at the Parnell baths? They are certainly two-piece, but the most illfitting two-pieces ever invented. They are so ill-fitting that the swimmer is lucky if he does not strangle himself in the baths. Usually one takes one’s own costume but there are times when it is more convenient (though much less satisfactory) to try the City Council’s issue Our city fathers should be compelled to wear the costumes for the duration of one summer’s day—and then some remedial action would follow. SARTOR. THE FIRST WOMAN A.R.A. Sir,— The statement that Mrs. Laura Knight is the first woman A.R.A within century is so persistently repeated that I feel it really calls for contradiction. When the Royal Academy was founded in 1569 two of the original members were Angelica Kauffman and lo f er ' Xo women were again elected, however, until 1922. In that year Mrs. Annie Swynnerton, who, to-

day, at 82, is painting as vigorously as ever, received the distinction of being elected an A.R.A.—a sensation almost as great as that in the case of Mrs. Knight's election. I do not wish to detract from the value of Mrs. Knight’s work in the slightest, but merely desire to make a correction. There is an early work by this painter, I am pleased to say, in the Auckland Gallery. The news that two examples of her later work, and, incidentally, two recent pictures by Harold Knight, her husband, are now on their way to New Zealand, is very interesting. I hope that Aucklanders will have an opportunity of viewing them. MAORILANDER. TIPPING Sir,— Although New Zealand has the reputation of being comparatively free from the tipping evil, I am afraid that it is a practice that is being introduced with some success in Auckland, more so in fact than in any other town in the Dominion, Hotels are the principal offenders. Instead of providing their guests with the service that should be given them in return for the high tariffs charged, the various managements openly countenance a system whereby every little attention has to be rewarded with the gift of money. To si|ph an extent has it developed that a sixpenny drink taken in the comfort of the lounge sometimes costs as much as one shilling and sixpence. The average bar With its jostling throng scrambling oyer pork bones and saveloys is not a for a duiet drink and a chat, but unless you tip the porter it ISoiTn tfr A " cklßnd can t avoid it. Sir, I ask you, is this degrading Oriental custom necessary" BAKSHEESH. IN SAMOA Sir,— approves of his military dictatorshin blrs h of * the s a eP ° rtin f the elec *ed memffff of Samoan legislature and the of \°he° f ArW n . e 7 s Paper opposing some of the Administration’s practices In considering Mr. Darvill’s views your ® hould remember that a the Re^°Slr J : e Le t^r!s mi the te s ° f h ‘ S ' Secretary for Native’ Affairs at a'good predecessor a /n°TS nCeS ’ and that his Mr. Griffinf was also irv (C ° n f l relational) Missionociety. it is not surprising to find the minister from Apia a staunch admirer of the Administration F. R. BENTLEY. THE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT Sir.— " k the followin S statement l by Archbishop Averill at St. ChrisUan K S Church recently: ’’When ness wm CeaSe t 0 worßhi P’ sclfishChrlstiTn rea , Sßert itself and the Lftristian sptnt will vanish.” This i“ uncalled for/and chur-S “ S mBUlt to th 6 sreat "■unchurch going public. We are not HvLboutY he Midd ' e **ow! Whit creed cc * , ma3ority wh <> have no mfldca c hur ch—thousands of broad_a d T d ™ e n and women in its ranks I and who are always ready and will-

ing to help in an unobtrusive their fellow-man, and do not adv®j" the fact. Does the archbishop for a moment that every for good, comes from the There is just a question if tn» spirit of Christ is to be found IX *. # churches of to-day. Many think not. Dogmas and creeas ever present, but the essence ma missing. Let these words hi g Ruskin be men's guide: -For , the £Ljc a true Church wherever f» meets another helpfully, and tp» A the only holy or Mother Church ever was or ever shall 4