Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 265, 30 January 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Xditor.)

ROTARY Sir, — The thanks of a British-spirited community are due to Mr. Julius Hogben for his recent candid exposition to the Rotary Club of the feelings of the Man-in-the-Street towards that much-advertised institution. For there are many, sir, who have watched with growing disgust the disportings in the public eye of a body whose ways are not as the ways of modest men. "Rotary** is an importation from the land of the Yankee; from that stamping ground of the Klu Klux Klan (pßibably good Rotarlans in disguise), of "Big Bill’* Thompson, of Chicago (almost certainly a good Rotarian), and of a hundred hundred other humbugs, come "Rotary** and many other things which leave an unpleasant flavour on the British palate. "Rotary** may have its uses: in a land whose population is the most incongruous mixture of peoples and nations and tongues—and manners—which has been seen since the destruction of the Tower of Babel, it may well be expedient that a standardised “good fellowship’* should be founded and sedulously fostered; and in a land where lawlessless abounds—and the enforcing of good order is a joke—it may be that “Rotary’s** works of righteousness are quite rightly displayed and trumpeted before the common herd—'"shining as good deeds in a naughty world,” so to speak. But surely, sir, we in this community, British in our ways and British in our feelings, can be spared the doses of moral stimulus so unctuously dispensed by the local believers in this foreign Pharisaism. "A GENTLEMAN WITH A PITCHFORK. AUCKLAND REGATTA Sir, In your interesting account of oldtime Anniversary Regattas you lament •with good reason the decay of public interest in this event. Undoubtedly, as you say, there are nowadays many counter-attractions to the regatta, but a good deal of public interest is lost owing to th© lack of advertisement and to the absence of a flagship. After all, the people want to see something for their money, and without a flagship from which to see the start, progress and finish of the races, what are they to do? I read that in Sydney a P. and O. mail steamer was flagship for their regatta. Is it too breath-taking a proposal to suggest that an endeavour might have been made to get the Aorangi for Auckland? If the Aorangi’s decks are too aristocratic to b© desecrated with the feet of the common herd at a shilling a pair, the Rimutaka and Tainui, both with adequate deck space, are, I think, in port. In the event of none of these vessels being available, could not the wellknown barque Rewa have been shifted down the harbour for the day? I remember spending a very happy day as a youngster on the barque Silvexstream when she acted as flagship, the only fly in the ointment being that the customary trip round the bar-* was QZDB&feed on that occaartotu

If the public is to put Us hand deeply into its pocket it must be interested, and a study of the . programme reveals omissions. For instance, there is only one race down for the tnen-of-war, yet probably there will be four vessels in port. Why not a rowing race and a sailing race for them? They have deserved well of their country, and should be given the opportunity of winning a little prisemoney. The speed-boat races, always spectacular events, have been superseded by three outboard motor races, Just as noisy but hardly as interesting, and there are no rowing events. One could go on, but I have said enough. Naturally, it is too late for anything to be done this year, but I hope that in the future more efforts may be made by the committee to stimulate public enthusiasm in the regatta by adequately advertising the event and by th a provision of a flagship open to the public. NEREID. MOTH-EATEN BALLADS Sir,— I anticipated that there would be a reply to my letter, pointing out my folly in claiming that there are ‘no songs like the new songs. 1 ' I could have penned, in anticipation, almost: a duplicate of the letter you have 'received from “Music.” I certainly am aware that my 10-year-old rule would exclude ballads like "Annie Laurie," “Home, Sweet Home," “The Last Rose of Summer,” and "Auld Robin Gray,” and personally I think the world would be brighter. If not better, without these dismal old-timers which can give pleasure to no one under the age of 83, unless he be a victim to gross sentimentality. I agree that Dame Clara Butt and Dame Nellie Melba sing an old song now and then as an encore. How often have I writhed as Dame Clara boomed forth that “Madame would not walk,” with Mr. Kennerley Rumford, and as Dame Nellie, seated at the keyboard, sang ‘■Home, Sweet Home” with such- superb coldness that I made the vow that if ever I had the strength to return to my home I should see about having central heating installed immediately. This absurd fetish about old and trite ballads should be ended once and for all. “Music” asks me to name one composition of recent years that can compare with them. In reply I would ask him if he has heard of Sir Lsndon Ronald or Granville Ban toe k, to mention but two composers who could walk rings round your old-time writers of ballads. I would prefer any of the songs of Albert Mallinson, even, to one of the ballads mentioned by “Music.” who evidently is a person who would clap rapturously In anticipation as the first bars of “Cornin’ Thro’ the Rye” were played for a 26-stone soprano with tonsilitls and adenoids. FED. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE Sir.— Unemployment and under employ ment are widespread, and it is inervaslngly evident that it is not due to any temporary phase of the “trade cycle." The economic position of the workers, A* measured by' wage-rates is getting tee « SB *o* «» S

are reducing actual earning* far bdflf nominal rates. Income figures last few years show that for a large proportion of the people the come received is barely gHfldw f provide for maintenance on a mooßgg standard of living; for many men with families, the income is inadequate. Given a secure ment most men recognise each 13* * his own responsibility, and wiß. tiee the Victorian virtue of thrift. when the gain of living is denied those who wish to toil, then it i* erally admitted that the State h**. duty to step in to save the from sufferings dangerous to & whole, or even on purely ian grounds. After about a coupi*_ months of futile tramping trog- .. factory to another, the most man is faced with absolute because in these days of high ppoam pound, saved, rapidly shrinks its value. Unemployment HScure cannot be regarded as a compW» for unemployment- Nevertheless. believed that ifnemployed has a definitely remedial effect employment Itself, therefore no is entitled to underestimate the "gj. ficance of such a scheme. ... n unfit* minded person can slumber on the pillow of indifference, fellow-citizens are enduring nn» able hardship, therefore, I X, any agitation for the placmg tional Insurance Act upon book of New Zealand will he supported. jfllL'WfNOTICES TO CORRESPOW**** T.O’G.—The investment of 1 F**,! no on the totnHastnrtePjg make a man a rogue, The Sun, L.McQ.—The Tourist Department