Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 328, 13 April 1928, Page 10

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

MINHINNICK’S “SAM”

Sir,— As an ardent admirer of “Sam,” and feeling I voice the longings of many, I wonder if you would be kind enough to publish some of his family history. VICTORIAN. Mr. Minhinnick will explain Sam’s family history for “Victorian” in a cartoon next week.—Ed. The Sun. RELIGION ON THE AIR Sir, — Mr. J. Sim, of Takapuna, in a recent issue of The Sun, made the charge that the Rev. A. Thornhill, in a “wireless” address on the aims and achievements of the League of Nations, “took the unwarrantable liberty of claiming that the League is simply the mouthpiece for his special form of religion.” As the speaker concerned, may I invite my critic to justify his charge by quoting the offending words? Even in my “wireless” sermons. I habitually refrain from stressing the claims of my own peculiar form of religion, holding, as I do, that when one is addressing a mixed multitude one should concentrate on those broad fundamentals of religion that appeal to all types of mind. In the address referred to by my critic, I did not even mention my “own peculiar form of religion,” and am puzzled to know just what the offending phrase may be. ALBERT THORNHILL. THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN Sir. — One cannot let the present occasion pass without expressing regret at the fact that apparently not one of the many who addressed the gathering at the reopening of the Mission to Seamen last night thought fit to pay tribute to the ones who founded the Flying Angel Mission in Auckland nearly 20 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Cowie. There is no need for me to remind the public of the pioneering work done by these two. It was by Mr. Cowie first of all interesting the public in general on the behalf of seamen that the ladies’ committee was enabled eventually to raise the funds to buy the land, etc., at present owned JUSTICE. A TRAVELLER’S COMPLAINT Sir, — For some time past the Railway Department has been advertising the comforts provided on our trains, but after the experience I had recently I fail to see where the comfort of the travelling public is considered. On Thursday, April 5. I was a passenger on the special train which left Auckland at 6.45 p.m. for Helensville, and after travelling for some time questioned the guard as to the location of the gentlemen’s lavatory and was informed by him that there was no such convenience on the train—this on a journey taking 2\ hours. Is it not time that action was taken

to prevent a recurrence of such a position and thus lessen a menace to public health and reduce the inconvenience to many passengers who are travelling daily? SOUTHERN CROSS. THE AUTOCRAT OF THE BUS Sir, If “A Passenger’s” complaint is treated as it should be, the O.C. Tramways will entirely ignore it, as legitimate complaints, I am quite sure, would be properly dealt with if addressed to the proper quarter. The worst criminal is entitled to defend himself. Surely this would not be denied the driver in question. FAIR PLAY. HUMILITY Sir.— Bishop Cherrington, of the Waikato Diocese, is an humble-minded man. but. finding no medium of expressing that virtue, longs for a revival of the feet-washing custom of Maundy Thursday. On the Thursday before Easter the bishop of a diocese washed the feet of 12 of the poorest therein, “to give reality to the truth of humility.” (See Th e Sun, April 2.) In an issue a day or two later, Lady Alice Fergusson is reported to have said to an assembly of girl citizens: “At school, in business, and indeed throughout life, it was thought for the common good that built happiness.” Her Excellency urged the girls to remember always that in the sinking of self rested the achievement of true citizenship, and the realisation of all its highest ideals. I have just read the story of “Dr. Torrance of Tiberias” (Hodder and Stoughton), the perusal of which, together with Lady Alice's saensible little homily, has made me marvel at the expression to such nonsense as that ascribed to Dr. Cherrington.

A WREATH FOR ANZAC DAY

While T do not wish to enter into any discussion on tlic matter of wreaths for the Cenotaph, as this is u sacred subject, there are one or two things which I desire to bring to the notice of the general public in connection with the discussion which took place at the meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board on Tuesday. In the first place several speakers from the tone of their remarks, according to the reports, appear to be under the impression that my association re - cei\ es financial benefit from the sale of poppies, and I think from reading the various reports the general public would gather this Impression. This is quite wrong. Mv association does not receive, and never has received for its use, money obtained from the sale or poppies on Poppy Day. This mom v, alter the payment for the popple's cartage, printing, etc., has been deducted, is vested in trustees and administered by them, the money itself being lodged in a different bank to that in which the association keeps it 9 own iunds I cannot stress this point to., strongly. In your report of the abovemen-