Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 367, 30 May 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

RHEUMATISM AND CANCER Sir, Anything that can eliminate these diseases should be welcomed. We are under a debt of gratitude to The Sun for the publicity given already. I should like to mention that it is a fact that a certain Cherokee Indian doctor, or medicine man, did really cure rheumatism and cancer. Particulars of the cure for rheumatism are only partially known, as the secret died with old Deer-in-the-Water, as he was called, but he gave the cancer cure to some of his friends. Apply honey, locally if possible, and if internal put patient on a diet of honey—at least a pint a day. These are his directions, but he made it clear that all cancer patients were to be put on a diet of honey. As far as we know he cured, in about 10 days, rheumatism of a severe type. He used counter-irrita-tion and a healing compound, part of which was extract of elderberry. The skin was cut, especially near the seat of the trouble. INVESTIGATOR. Hobsonville. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT Sir,— Once more in our midst, a life has to be forfeited for a life and an act of collective human degradation is to be performed. Many realise the falacy of capital punishment and some countries and States have been enlightened enough to abolish it. Others defend the law as it stands, but very few of these, as far as I can judge, have considered the question to any extent. It should be our desire to bring our laws into conformity with the moral laws. Thoughts of punishment and vengeance should not exist. In placing criminals under restraint the object should be to protect and reform. We are taught that our ignorance should make us hesitate and our weakness make us merciful; but it is supposed that the law of the land should show no weakness. The cause of a wrong act is hardly given consideration, but only the act itself. Is this because we hardly dare ask ourselves how much society and not the individual is responsible? Ingersoll said: “Is it not possible that the tyranny of Governments, the injustice of nations, the fierceness of what is called the law produce in the individual a tendency in the same direction? Is it not true that the citizen is apt to imitate his nation?” And agg,in. “We must take into consideration the nature of man—the facts of mind —the power of temptation—the limitations of the intellect—the force

of habit- —the result of heredity—the power of passion—the domination of want—the diseases of the brain—the tyrany of appetite—the cruelty of conditions—the results of association—the effects of poverty and wealth, of helplessness and power.” Were honest consideration given to these factors the death penalty could only be looked upon as an act of intolerable degradation to the whole community. D. MCCORMACK. STUDENTS OR “SWOTTERS” Sir,— In a few cases the above terms are interchangeable. But in most cases they are far from similar. In the former, one may picture a joyous pursuit of knowledge less for any economic advantage than for the great delight of understanding. It denotes a type of mind represented, by, say, a Darwin or Newton. One has nothing but admiration for a student who is inspired by an idea of service for his fellow creatures, and who is enraptured at the thought of the benefit to be won for their health, culture and happiness. But one cannot get so enthusiastic over a “swotter” who burns the midnight oil merely to get a well paid job. We may concede that, under the present unscientific and jostling nature of economics, it is more or less necessary; but we have only faint praise for the grafter whose predominant object' is personal enrichment. “Swotting,” being a forced and primarily a selfish pursuit, carries with it its own seeds of destruction. When the object has been attained, one of two results almost inevitably shows itself. There is either a swaggering hardness or a disgust with studying Sometimes the “successful” man reveals both. If “swotting” be so desirable, why is it that the “swotter” usually buries his book in the dark corner of the cupboard, or promptly sells them when the examination is over? Surely it is the strongest condemnation of an educational system if the ultimate issue is a revulsion from real cultural pursuits! IDEALIST. HOCKEY BOUNDARIES Sir, — Kindly grant me space in your valuable paper to set out the reason for the Waikato Hockey Association’s claim for revised boundaries, and correct any impression of selfish aggressiveness cn our part. The Waikato Association is rated as a major association, having an equal status with Auckland and Wellington yet the territory allotted between Auckland and "Waikato compares as follows: Waikato has an area reaching from five miles one side of Hamilton Borough to about 14 miles the other side. Auckland has the whole of the Auckland Province extending

from North Cape to Taumarunui, from the West Coast to Opotiki, kato has to choose a rep. for six club teams, to play Auckland w the shield: Auckland having the ch of six or eight city teams, an - country sub-association te^ n ®- C. vear our one and only sub tion was granted permission to liate with Auckland, and it won White Horse Cup, and some « players represented New Zealand £ Australia, and others were cho nns hjp play against us in the championswp shield competition. . -_.t„nds The boundary we claim, sir, a _ only from south of Mercer t raarunui and to Rotorua. Thi affects only Piako, and -'-oto formed sub-associations, and King Country, and also our sub-association of Waipa. We had thought that the AueJV*£ Association would welcome a j, en of boundaries that would so sir ~e their sister association, as to it really worth-while re P re J rrajor opponents, and have two strong associations in the North. W. M. SEXTON, President Waikato Hockey Association' NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS “Mildly Interested.”—-Toff sent your name and address. £4. your letter in the meantime. The Sun. “Liberal and Labour.”—Better ceived and contents notci* *** Sun.