Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 313, 26 March 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

THE COST OF SCHOOLBOOKS

Sir, — Free education in this country is fairly'expensive, it seems to me; to the poor parent it must appear to be very much so. Schoolbooks are dear enough, in all truth; now we have the Education Board condemning the purchase by school children, under the direction of their teachers, of 18,000 unauthorised books. By what are these books to be replaced, and who is to replace them? I fail to see where education is free, when the cost of school materials penalises parents to such an extent. As the parent of children attending a primary school, I was called upon to pay pounds at the beginning of this term, and. I am informed by a friend that the books for one boy at a secondary school necessitated the expenditure of £7 ss. If the State will not provide books free, the least it can do it to obtain them at wholesale rates and issue them to the children at cost. PERPLEXED PARENT.

ANOTHER UTOPIA

Sir,— In your paper the other evening appeared a letter by a correspondent signed “Reformer,” who proposes, at one swoop, to abolish all crime hy an Act of Parliament. I was not aware before that gambling, drinking and smoking came under the category of crime. Reformers the world ever have been attempting for centuries to wipe out gambling and drinking without much apparent success. When all is said and done, life itself is a gamble. Only a few draw the prizes, and in almost every branch of business affecting the daily needs of the community there is an element of gambling. Let us hear what proposals “Reformer” would formulate to bring about a new Utoppia. I don’t envy him his task. J. OR AC lE. Edendale.

EAST COAST RAILWAY

Sir,— In reading the time-table connected with this railway I am disappointed to find the department is making a bad start with the running arrangements. It has arranged the time-table in such a way that passengers have to break into two days before reaching Taneatua or even Tauranga. Now, after all the talk of the East Coast Railway and the benefits that will be derived oy the East Coast and Auckland people, 1 fail to see much advantage. Trains will run only three days a week and passengers will have to take over one day to get to either terminus. With such tours as Tauranga, Whakatane, Tancatua and others on the line a more frequent service would be warranted The present arrangement leave** chances for competition. RATHER DISGUSTED.

“RACK AND THUMB-SCREW”

Sir. — ' When the Ward Government, fighting despairingly for a longer tenure of the Treasury benches, threw our English traditions to the winds, and fathered the present Gaming Act, it produced a monster which helped to destroy *t, and placed galling shackles on the community. In attempting to placate, the implacable, they made "a. fatal error of

judgment. The intolerants considered with some justification that the sporting community was placed under their heel, and thus began that tyranny which exists to-day. From being the most English of the Dominions, we have degenerated into a fear-stricken community dominated by oppressive un-English legislation. The Cromwellian environment has made us a gloomy people, even our footballers being described as dour and hard. Our sense of humour appears to have gone. When a certain prominent clergyman recently suggested that the dolls be snatched away from the arms of the girl babies because it tended to make them deceitful little wretches, we never even smiled, although in other parts of the world the ground would have rocked with laughter. This country appears to be the last refuge of the mediaeval Puritanism. The rack and thumb-screw are just round the corner. When the intolerants shake a fist in the direction of Parliament the mem • bers climb under the seats. There appears to be a lack of backbone and principle to protect the liberty of the people. Sobriety is well observed on the racecourse, as the majority of sportsmen are good citizens with well-balanced minds. The formation of a real Liberty League to remove the present irksome restrictions and to prevent further attacks on British freedom through intolerant legislation, should receive the support of every fair-minded elector in the country. The burden is more than the people can bear, and a return to the British path of justice is overdue. ' BRITISH JUDGE.

CRYSTAL AND VALVE SETS

Sir, — Reference is frequently made to the superseding of the crystal set by the valve set, it being suggested by some that the crystal set will soon be a thing of the past. As the owner of a set of the former class I would like to say that it is the only set that I wish to have, as in my opinion it is the only variety which gives a faithful reproduction of the item being performed. Distortion is entirely absent. Until I hear a loud speaker which combines the advantages of the earphones, I shall remain a crystal set owner. Of course, the objection to being tied to IYA is bound to be raised but strange as it may seem, I enjoy the studio instrumental trio, the municipal band and many of the other artists heard from ITA. CRYSTAL SET.

FOOTBALL IN CANTERBURY

Sir, Ever since Canterbury won the Ranfurly Shield, many critics have done their best to disparage that province, and to hold it up to scorn and derision. Now, sir, what are the facts? Auckland's “unbeaten” side played all its games (with possibly one exception) on its own ground. Yet when the All Black trials were held, Auckland’s pack went to pieces (off its own ground). On the other hand, several papers throughout New Zealand testified to the fact that Canterbury really beat Hawke’s Bay (on actual scoring* by B—6. But Hawke's Bay was awarded a mythical “try” after one of the Canterbury team had toucheddown twice to make sure of it. From that “try” they “goaled.” Hence the figures—ll—B. It is seemingly necessary for a Canterbury player to sit

down upon the ball, and to secure 10 witnesses to prove that it has actually been touched down. Then Wellington trounced Canterbury. “Trounced” them by two points. I suppose that to Auckland would have been an honoured defeat. But to Canterbury it was a trouncirs;' But results tell, after all. Canterbury has seven members in the strongest All Black team ever picked; Auckland four. Canterbury was willing to play for the shield against South Canterbury, but for the embargo of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and is willing to play all-comers this year, in spite of the enforced absence of seven of their star players on last year’s record. If Canterbury is defeated once or twice it won’t do it any harm at all, but good. And the same thing applies to Auckland. Let it have a good beating, end they’ll both learn something out cf it. But this vindictive, boastful criticism. It is simply disgusting. HUMANIST.

TO DISPLACE PESSIMISM

Sir,— Being an inveterate optimist it 15 without diffidence that I write in to your correspondents, “Activity” anc “Give Over Moaning.” Optimism is undoubtedly a creative force, but we allow optimism to stand in the lignt of, or take the place of, reason? Sooner or later we would find the other fellow reaping the reward of our activity. R cannot be denied that we are *n the best paddock on earth, but. notwitnstanding the wonderful increase in the productivity of our cows, the phenomenal wool yield of our flocks, the exceptional growth of our trade, it is becoming harder and harder to live an rear a family. Probably your correspondents can answer how it is. we have, this year, a favourable traa balance of nine or more millions, tna unemployment is more acute than ev ® ’ that bankruptcy is an everyday occu - rence, and trade generally unprec - dentedly slack n Should the optimists concentrate these questions and start a league wji this object: “To receive value for valu • I have little doubt that the pessimism which complaint is made would vam» in the night.