Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 380, 14 June 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

NO NUDE FIGURES Sir, — Why should Auckland be plastered with nude figures? I quite agree with the authorities who decided that the figures for the new St. James Theatre should be draped. Auckland has always felt very keenly on this subject, and our leading citizens, who have directed the city’s destiny as far as the parks and gardens are concerned, have been actuated by the highest motives in keeping them clean. Personally, I would much prefer to see a tree—surely this is a work of God —rather than a badly-modelled human figure displayed for the public gaze. NO PURITAN. PRUDISH AUCKLAND? Sir, — It is quite time that Auckland awakened to the fact that this city is making itself very ridiculous in its censorship of anything that pertains to the display of the human form. Artists and thinkers generally agree that the human figure, unadorned, is the personification of all that is beautiful What offence, therefore, can there be in displaying it in public? I was amused to read The Sun’s announcement that the figures for the St. James Theatre must be adorned. This is rather typical, unfortunately, of Auckland, a city which stifles the art life in its community, and will not give the humble artist an opportunity to earn his bread and butter. Take, for instance, the sales at the present exhibition of the Society of Arts. They have been positively disgraceful, and a reproach to any city worthy of the name. But when the municipal authorities condemn the figure of what you term “a modest Aphrodite rising from the sea,” for the annual revel of the art students, what can one expect? Auck land will never take its place as the leading cultural city of the Dominion, a place it should hold, until this element is eliminated. Even if Aucklanders piously refuse to look at a nude female form, take it from me that they are not a whit superior, morally, to the inhabitants of any other New Zealand city. ANTI-WOWSER. LEST WE FORGET Sir,— On Friday last on behalf of the soldiers who are in and out of hospitals, I called at the headquarters of the i Returned Soldiers’ Association, which is now in charge of a very capable and { courteous official. Adjoining this : office is a room called the Soldiers’ Club, without heating appliances on the premises and devoid of sanitary conveniences. The funds at the disposal of the association are bare. On Saturday last I visited the ex-

cellent institutions existing: in your city for sailors, the Sailors’ Home, the Seamen’s Rest in Emily Place, and the mission room adjoining the Sailors’ Home. In the Sailors’ Home the following tablet is placed: TABLET IN THE SAILORS’ HOME This Home was built and endowed by Edward Costley who denied himself all the luxuries of life and most of the comforts to help those in need of help in Auckland. I cannot think that Auckland is devoid of worthy successors of Edward Costley. Money is abundant at the present time. I am aware that the Patriotic Society has done excellent work. The funds are limited, and it is only by fresh money being obtained that the matter can be remedied. Can we not adopt an heroic attitude with our funds in a similar manner to which the men shed their blood? Strange but strong friendships were formed at the front \>y the boys in various stations in life. Well-to-do university men chummed up with the rural worker and formed strong friendships. i» Probably some of our sons* friends are now among those in dire want. Good care is taken of racehorses and stud cattle. Cannot we treat our returned men in the same manner that we would like our own son to be cared for? Large bequests are left to many institutions, but the soldiers* cause is forgotten. Cannot we, instead of post mortem generosity, have the pleasure of seeing our money used for the benefit of the returned boys? THE FATHER OF A SOX THAT LIES IN FRANCE. TONGA’S NEW ISLAND Sir, — In reply to the letter signed "Nihofuu,” which appeared in Wednesday’s Sun: As far as I can remember, and I have lived in Tonga for twenty-five years, no French flag has ever been planted on Falcon Island, but there was a great joke against the late Premier of Tonga, the Hon. J. T. Mateia.lona, and the manager of the German firm (L.H. and P G.), then trading in Tonga. For some weeks it had been reported | that a new island had made its appearance off the Hihifo end of Tonga. We could see the steam and smoke rising hundreds of feet into the sky, and at night there was a bright glow over the spot where the reef had been thrown up. (Falcon Island is not the only island or reef that comes and goes in the Friendly Group. There are at least three.) Well, this reef ceased to be active. We called it a reef as it was just awash. There was a lot of talk as to whom it belonged. So one day the manager of the German firm said that he was going to Plant the German flag on the island. Well, the 1 Hon. the Premier heard of this, and [at once gave orders to get the Govern-

ment launch readv —flag and ah. launches being well supplied witn and plenty of lager, as it is very .. ing boating in the tropics. All - well at the start, and the launch was in the lead, when 10, was a severe earthquake, ana * the boats were just about: half-wa. their goal the island disappear®* neath the waves. On seeing this launches turned to the nearest 18 “Fa Fa,” and as there was » supply of German lager they dran “the day.** * atr In any case, should the German have been planted at this ‘ island would still have been as it was within the three-mile ___ and I fancy this also applies to x ISland J. D. WHITCOMBE. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS’ CHARITY WORK The decision of the Auckland mercial Travellers to hold ac drive next month comes as goo T he ' aS - It is very encouraging to have sistance of these splendid men, have ever been quick to re grapple with, in their inimitable the problem of distress. As m y worker, I must candidly corn inability to cope thoroughly problem (faced as lam with # on all sides) without the ain g, a t i public. Therefore the knowieag*_ the our C.T. friends will soon t>e ou warpath must surely prove encourae; to all social workers. I a .PP everyone in the name of chanty a all they can to make this naov gister> success—for charity, like 1 ajjfce Mercy, is twice blest cd — b ;f-oceive*-him who gives and him ° general | Let us all move in effecting a * blessing. c g SCBIMGEOUR Methodist City Missio