Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 384, 19 June 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

ALL BLACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Sir,— The All Blacks in South Africa have failed to get a fair share of the ball from the scrums and will continue to do so as long as they play 2-3-2 scrum formation. Two good men cannot beat three good men in a scrum that is of equal weight and strength. In most matches the All Blacks when they failed to get the ball by hooking simply pushed the opposing forwards, thus securing the ball or breaking up the opposing pack. In South Africa they are meeting forwards of their own size and strength, hence their failure to get a fair share of the ball, consequently the backs are not getting the chances they should. New Zealand ruleg have been altered to speed up the game—all alterations being a nearer approach to League—so we have not developed the old style forward that we did under the old rules. A forward now must be able to run and pass the ball with his backs — and is half back and half forward. Unfortunately for forward play, he lias to shine in the open or be neglected by the New eZaland selectors, and to shine in the open he must shirk work in the scrum. Dribbling by most of our forwards is a lost art. Either New Zealand should play League or play the old rules if they intend to remain under or be ruled by the conservative English Union. To play League would be the better policy, as it is undoubtedly a more spectacular and faster game than Rugby when properly played. It must be a disadvantage to a team to play all the season under the New Zealand rules and then play international games under the old rules. The wing forward as played by the New Zealanders is simply a spoiler. He is there to spoil the back play of the opposing side and to break the oft-side rule and beat the referee. If he can beat the referee he is considered a good wing. New Zealand should stick to the old rules or play League, not half and half as at present. COLONIAL ENGLISHMAN. DRAPED FIGURES Sir, — Since to the pure “all things are pure,” it follows that many of the Auckland people must have very depraved minds to take such a strong objection to nude figures. Dear Mr. Editor, do you really think it is sufficient to drape figures “slightly”? Why not employ the old-fashioned long enveloping pinafore with frills at the neck and cuffs at the wrists? In this way the minds of “gentle ladies” and “refined gentlemen” (as they say in the advertisements sometimes) may be prevented from dwelling on figures which ’Arriet of the East End describes as “bloomin’ disgustin’.” VENUS. TRAWLING Sir, — On Friday, June 15, a conference of fishermen was called by the Minister of Marine, to talk over and discuss the limits for trawling and seine-netting in the Hauraki Gulf, similar to those brought up for discussion 12 months ago. I went by invitation, as I have for many years represented the in-

terests of Thames fishermen, and also the interests of the public and sportsmen of Auckland. When I arrived at the conference a message was brought to me from the secretary of the Minister of Marine, saying that the fishermen (who were really the trawlers and seine-net men) would not discuss the limits if I were present. Why? What were they afraid of? I had a right to be there as my boat is licensed to catch fish for sale; therefore I am a commercial fisherwoman, and have as much right to speak concerning the limits as any other commercial fisherman. Why should these fishermen have refused to discuss the question if I were present? Why? When I have always been so gladly received by the Thames fishermen. Since when have the seine-net and trawlers received the entire right to the discussion as to where the limits to our Hauraki Gulf extend? I say “our” Hauraki Gulf, for I have yet to learn that the Gulf and its rights and limits are given over to any one monopoly. The Hauraki Gulf belongs to the people of Auckland, and it is for their sake I wish to safeguard the fishing interests therein. Several other interested people who were anxious to see that our fishing grounds were not ruined wished to attend that, conference. We have recently seen advertisements of “cheap fish.” The fishermen at Whangaroa get lid a lb., after the schnapper are headed and gutted. How does that strike the housewife? Other line fishermen when they get a big catch do not bring it to Auckland, as they next to nothing for it. Cheap fish! We have had dearer and dearer fish with the advent of the trawler. Things will not take care of themselves. The people must look after their own affairs. The public will doubtless have something to sav to the Minister of Marine regarding its wishes concerning the ■ Hauraki Gulf Interests. RUBY E. WATSON. St. Heliers. THE EVE OF BATTLE Sir. Having recently toured the greater part of the Dominion, it is manifest on all sides that our politics have drifted into a chaotic state. Without- being a pessimist one realises what the position would have been had fate not been kind regarding prices for our wool and produce. Never in the political history of the Dominion has the rank and file of Parliament been at such a low ebb and the cost of administration so high. Under any Government the country has a right to demand that Cabinet be kept up to full working strength. What excuse does the Prime Minister offer for appointing (even pro tern) a Minister who is not even a representative of the people? Such tactics are far from complimentary to the members of the Reform Party and electorates whom they represent. A reasonable analysis of the political outlook indicates that in the chief centres Labour will increase its seats and in other electorates a fiasco" of vote-splitting campaigns will quite likely place this Dominion under a Labour Government. Labour at the helm has not altogether been successful In other parts, but such a victory, if nothing else, would bring about a

welding together of present-day wandering Liberals who, instead of being united in the common cause, are bickering among themselves and squabbling oyer minor party and individual aspirations that from a national point of view stand for naught. With all due respect to the present Prime Minister, he has lost around, and generally weakened his position by pandering too much to sectional Interests, instes.d of dealing with our problems on a broad national basis. A general spring-cleaning of Parliament is long overdue; the time has also arrived for a few die hards to seek seclusion in retirement, making way for more virile members to raise the whole tone and status of Parliament on a sound working basis. There is only room for two parties in Parliament. All recognise this fact. Nil desperandum. T. A. FRASER-

A REASONABLE HOPE

Sir, — I ask permission to reply to “Profanum Vulgus” because, while we din« r in our conclusions, we agree that the subject belongs to the province of rational inquiry. In argument (1) the analogy doe* not hold. “Wetness” Is a quality ot water, and we are aware of its existence by the sensation of touch, when water is resolved into its elements t» e quality of “wetness” no longer existsBut the soul, ego or self is of a diiferent order, and we cannot affirm so confidently that it is a quality of substance called brain. Moreover, ta fact that the soul eludes our ana«ys does not justify us in denying its existence. (2) No doubt many ers” receive the doctrine of immortal* x on the word of tradition or authon . • and so the belief “persists** among, large class which might be under different conditions. Yet are others who, after weighing arguments of both sides, believe the balance of evidence is on the m of immortality. (3) Ido not *>,,» what your correspondent means oy “modern idea”; but it is certainly true that the modern theist s co , tion of immortality is a .® urV1 _w oU t primitive man’s superstition dreams, etc. Experience is tne f dation of all real knowledge. the sensations confirm our benei i f^e reality of the physical world. b j v higher levels are we not reason*™ assured of the reality of a e 0 f spiritual Being who is the s , our richest experiences ana tal j T v of our noblest efforts? In ? fit is. is not a scientific theory; D I think, a reasonable hope.