Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 376, 9 June 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say—

(To the Editor.)

MR. BARTON’S LIMERICK

Sir, Below is my venture to supply the suitable finish to Mr. Barton’s limerick: • There teas an old lady of Riga Who tamed 'what she thought was a tiger; She made it her friend And from then to the end It acted the -part of derider . F.D.

THE ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Sir, In view of the criticism which has appeared in The Sun, and no doubt in other papers, regarding the cabled reports of the matches played by the All Blacks in South Africa, I would like to state that the New Zealand Press representative with the team is in no way responsible for the meagre reports. His instructions, which I saw, were definite, and so limited him that I am surprised that he has been able to crowd in as much news concerning the matches as he has. Within the prescribed scope, I consider the reports have been good. This has been borne out by the amount that your own and the football writers of other papers have been able to read into the reports. In fairness to the pressman concerned I shall be pleased if you will publish this letter. ENTHUSIAST.

CALAMITY HOWLERS

Sir,— Writing to a Southern paper a doleful person reminds us that there was an eclipse of the moon on the natal day of the King. Not only that, but a rose-tinted sky, which accompanied the phenomenon, presages the advancement of Communism and troublous times ahead of us. What a delightful hobby, to be able to read portents in every trifling phenomenon. I have slight aptitude in that direction myself, and would like to meet the Southern master that I may add to my knowledge. Yesterday from the vague portent of an overcast sky, I went from link to link of a logical chain of argument arriving eventually at the surprising result that it would possibly rain. Similarly last Saturday a photograph of the 1928 All Blacks, which stands on my mantel shelf, was nearly knocked down by my young son. and I immediately realised that the All Blacks would either be defeated or it would be a close game. The day, over a year ago, that I found a shilling in Albert Street, happened to be the very dai’’ that the first copy of The Sun came out, and look SQQ-d fortune has beau se-

fleeted in the career of Auckland's brightest newspaper! These few incidents will show that the Delphian oracle had nothing on me, so it is without trepidation that I throw a wrecking spanner of optimism into the machinery of doleful prophecy. I would remind my Southern friend of the failure of the prophecy taken from measurements of the infallible Great Pyramid, which fixed the date of the next war as at the end of May last. Until the sighs of relief that attended the non-fulfilment of that foreboding cease echoing round the country, no seer will gain much attention by forecasting more disaster. Anyway, why tighten nervous strain so severely as the date for the materialisation of a prophecy draws near? The anti-climax lets one dow-n with a terrible bump. MOORE.

CAPETOWN ATMOSPHERE

Sir, — I notice that one of the factors mentioned by the cablegrams as an instrument in the defeat of the All Blacks at Cape Town was the “rarified atmosphere.’ ’ I respectfully suggest that someone must have been enjoying the gentle process of pulling- the correspondent’s leg. The atmosphere of Cape Town is, in fact, no different from that of Auckland. It is pleasantly mild at this time of the year, and would give them no physical handicaps. New Zealanders must look to other causes —perhaps the fact that here, as I have noticed, forwards are not required to push as hard in the scrums as they must in South Africa, where the “shiner” is not tolerated. With regard to atmosphere, to-day the plea advanced by the correspondent may have some justification. Johannesburg is at a very high elevation, and strangers there find exertion most trying. Even the people of Johannesburg itself like to escape for a month or two during the year if they can afford it. In conclusion, I would like to warn New Zealanders that thev can fully expect other defeats. I have had the opportunity of comparing football here and in South Africa, and I believe there are many features of the game in which South Africa can give New Zealand a lead. H. VAN PER HORST.

THE JARGON OF SCIENCE

Sir, — While exposing the jargon of science exemplified in the findings of some scientists, I do not undervalue scientific investigation, for having been a consistent reader many years, I feci greatly; indebted fsl K> r

Arthur Keith included. What I oppose is the paltry speculations of some scientists—mere jargon. “P.V.” ®ust be deeply impressed by my letter, tor he honours me by quoting it very freely. This is first-rate, because readers will remember my words. “P.V.” admits that “materialism is J method opposed to a spiritual one. Quite so, and ;ust here is his error. However, “P.V. * is guilty, as I again show, of evading the real issue. This controversy is about a dogmatic statement made by Professor Keith regarding a future state. “P.V.” has i* every letter clouded the issue by ing others’ opinions about irrelevant subjects, also giving definitions about science in general. It is for Sir Keith, men like “P.V.,** and others, to

show that their contention against continued existence after the present tro has any reason behind it. We believe they can produce no rational tion for their opinions. Being put to sore straits, they have become merely obscurantists. The onus of proof* is on them, and their little cote Finding that they are now on tho horns of a dilemma, they try to escap* from their position by and by shirking their obligation. They cannot find any evidence of the cor* rectness of Sir Arthur’s pronouncement and they never will, hence they endear* our to shift the onus of proof to others. Oh! “Profanum Vulgus” threatened—or shall we say promisecr —“to give some scientific evidence proof.” Bravo! “P.V.” may b!uff * he dare not put the statement a0ov» his proper name. _____ BEUBE.N’ E.