Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 317, 30 March 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

SUPPRESSED NAMES

Sir,— The article in your issue of Wednesday, written by Mr. 11. A. Singer, following the letters previously published, only tends to emphasise the fact that, in suppressing names, the standing of the culprit in the community is taken into consideration “and not his personal character.” In one report of the case, Mr. Singer is quoted as follows: “It has been done almost uniformly where medical or professional men are concerned.” The good old adage that in the eyes of the law all men are equal is fast going into oblivion. In conclusion, let me state that in most cases the poor man is more proud of his good name, “the heritage of his father,” than many of his professional brethren. MELITA.

AMPLY JUSTIFIED

Sir, — There seems to be a number of people in this city endeavouring to contravene the primitive rules of sport by “kicking a man when he is down.” I happened to be in Court when the two “intoxicated” cases were heard. In one instance the magistrate asked whether there were any circumstances justifying the suppression of accused’s name and received a reply in the negative.

In the second instance counsel gave his reasons in detail, and to me, as a layman and, I trust, an open-minded one, the reasons amply justified an order for suppression. I recall an Auckland case some two years ago where two labourers had stolen and smashed an expensive car. Their names were suppressed. BROAD-MINDED.

DRUNKEN DOCTOR

Sir,— I must applaud the publicity given to the case of a doctor whose na.ne was recently suppressed when answering a charge of being drunk while in charge of a motor-car. To the layman, a gross injustice appears to have been done to the public* it is in the public interest to know the name of a doctor who, apparently careless of the result, gets into this condition, and renders himself a menace to society should he be called upon to act professionally. Then, again, it casts a slur on the whole profession, to nothing of the fact that every day applications for suppression of names are refused on smaller and less important charges. POTENTIAL PATIENT.

NO MORE CARDS!

Sir, — Many people do not seem to realise that the recent euchre prosecution is an acknowledgment by the Government of the dangers of card-playing. Probably more people are ruined by cards than by the totalisator. The young people of this country will never be safe until the importation, manufacture and possession of playing-cards is prohibited under the Gaming Law. Now

that It has clearly been shown that any place where any games are played for money is a gaming-house, rigorous action should be taken to enforce the Act on bowling greens, golf links and clubs where billiards tournaments are held. Weight-guessing of animals at country shows should be prohibited. It is an insidious form of gambling, possibly leading simple-minded farmers to their ultimate ruin. The Government should show in no uncertain manner that gambling in any form should be prohibited. Breakers of the gaming law must be taught that the Act is not intended to be a dead letter. LAW RESPECTER.

EXCESSIVE HOMEWORK

Sir. — May I, through your columns, voice a protest against the excessive homework imposed upon boys in the lower forms of one Auckland school at least? Quite recently, I have come into con-* tact with several parents who are most indignant at the vast amount of homework given to their boys who have just entered school. I have a boy of 13 who often receives as much as—sometimes more—than four hours’ homework. This, fcr a third-form boy, is, to my mind, excessive, particularly after five hours' gruelling at school. The boy in question is quick and intelligent, having missed a junior scholarship by a few marks only, so that a plea of “dullness” will not enter.

Last night this lad arrived home with six subjects with which to deal —French, History, Latin. English, Geometry, and Science; the work of the latter occupying two hours alone. The boy commenced work at 6.30 p.m. and finished at 10. He was up again at 5.30 this morning, and worked until 7.30. How, then, the work of each of these subjects was set by six different masters, each being insistent that his particular subject should receive every attention. It makes me wonder if there is any real co-ordination between the various masters where the setting of this homework is concerned, whereby the sum total of homework given to individual boys may be known to each master.

. days should be happy davs, out they cannot be where excessive homework is piled upon yoU ng shoulnn to ~T hird- formers” cannot stand UP to the work in the same way as loved h?®! lads - My own boy always Wheee f^ 00 , 1 da -V3—but not HOW. ee^Td re the lower forms are conone would think that the same “ teach m UI ? b ®. sufficiently qualified c?aim\ Ch o?° 3t s ubjects. 1 know of the claims of specialisation, yet where KoodcSh lads are Concerned, much ter * ® alned by the same master taking most subjects. Certainlv it pmnl ° bVlate 1116 cause of nT co y mD.A.D.

land transfers, and contended till g cial figures showed that he f conservative rather than extravara B Professor Belshaw said #•** and Professor Fisher erdeaven - defend the court. If the Arbi. _ Court were abolished trade w-ould be considerably weaKenea. the pace would be set bv lous employers.. The profess . not suggest that he Art 1 Court should be kept precisely jr present form, and he felt B the conference, composed af of employers and employees, suggestions for improveuien _ w One speaker expressed t-- # that Professor Belshaw s co uia i most constructive scheme tn ence so far had before it- , -I Professor Tocker, f? jw numerous questions, saia w-ished to combat the argu h f j»l the Arbitration Court coil *l-onorti-'l as a deciding factor in th e Lj ijrl of distribution of wealth. gjtl her of small, but very deflb>»r j lations, of the court n j hampered management. iS> FTofessor B. E. Murphy a more even distribution _ w-as desirable. He had he of a lack of humanitananW™- y was not much in that, p" jp that humanitarian lefislaOOß Zealand had reached the H