Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 425, 6 August 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

PROTECTING OUR BOYS Sir, — An ugly criminal case before the Supreme Court last week concerns the well-being of all growing boys in the community, and. is a call to all parents, and especially to fathers, to warn their sons against the approach of strange men in parks, and other public places, or the offers of rides in motor-cars. So long as we have lecherous men about, preying on society, too many of whom escape through the meshes of the law, so long will it be necessary for parents to point out to their sons the dangers around them in this iespect. CAVE CANEM AUCKLAND’S SWIMMING BATHS Sir, — It may interest you to know that Mr. Devereux, in his letter on the necessity for installing filtration plants in the Parnell and Shelly Beach Baths, accurately describes the gratitude of an appreciative public in having such an organ as The Sun upon -which to rely in voicing its troubles. Both of the above baths were, last season, a disgrace to Auckland—the Parnell Baths having been rightly described by a leading medical man as a dangerous menace to public health. As the father of a family of swimmers, I have unfortunately had this fact brought home to me, as two of my children contracted ear and nose troubles as a result of frequenting these baths. Nor is this an isolated instance, as all swimmers know well. It was obvious months ago, when the Parnell Baths were closed on the instructions of the Health Department, that filtration plants would have to be installed. Why did not the City Council move in the matter immediately? Here we are with the swimming season almost on us, and we are no nearer to having filtration plants installed than we were months ago. This matter is one of the greatest importance to the public health. Surely the council will move before it is too late? As Mr. Devereux rightly says, it is certainly looking for trouble unless it does so. SAFETY FIRST. COUNCIL AND BATHS Sir, — Mr. F. Harley Devereux has behind him the whole-hearted support of every swimmer in Auckland when he protests at the inactivity of the City Council in taking steps to remedy the dangerous and disgusting state of the Point Resolution and Shelly Beach Baths. The citizens of Auckland appear to have become resigned to the invariable inactivity of the council upon such important questions as this, but the council will within the next few months find the hand of every ratepayer against it unless immediate steps aro taken with a view to installing filtration and sterilisation plants in both of the above baths. No alternative exists. The proved impurity of the harbour waters can be overcome only by filtration, and the

siphon pipe recently constructed between the Parnell Baths and the harbour is useful only as an adjunct to a filtration plant. On a recent tour of the British Isles I found that almost every salt-water bath, even where situated on the sea-coast, had such a plant installed, and the benefits derived from plants installed at St. Cuthbert’s Cqllege and in other parts of the Dominion point clearly to the ultimate necessity of the council taking similar action. In common with many other ratepayers and swimming enthusiasts, I too have often asked: “Why these months of delay on the part of the council in submitting its loan proposals for the installation of filtration plants?” The loan is certain to be carried, but the necessary machinery must be obtained from abroad, and the summer will be over before this can be landed in New Zealand, unless the council stirs in its sleep and places its loan proposals before the ratepayers immediately. From present indications, however, it looks as though Aucklanders (with their famous reputation for “meek-and-mildness”) will next summer either be debarred altogether from swimming, or else bathe in the s#a of liquid and evil-smelling mud for which the Parnell and Shelly Beach Baths were notorious last year. I hope the council will accept this gentle hint, and realise that there are several people among its spirit-crushed ratepayers who are going to be annoyed if deprived of their swimming next season. In daring to make this rebellious statement I look for protection to The Sun! T. S. METHUEN. DAYLIGHT SAVING Sir. — Thanks to “Old Timor” and “Old Cocky” for sending along their reasons why they have no time for daylight saving. I would like some from the “Young Timers” and "Young Cockys,” if they are not too busy. “Old Timer’s” chief objection apparently is that last year’s innovation affected his getting up in the morning, causing him to be late for work. Can’t see “Old Cocky’s” reason. His day is from 3.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.—time put in milking and hayraking—and he suggests'l should put in a month on a farm. It happens that I have been of assistance to many “Old Cockys,” because instead of them applying themselves assiduously to what they know—milking and hayraking—they would break away and tinker around with the milking-machine engine. Often at the close of my working day, 5 p.m., there has come e.n urgent ring on the phone, and out with my kit of tools I have to go to some “Old Cocky.” When I arrive at the farm there are dozens of cows deep in mud, round the milking shed, and mother and children going for their lives, milking by hand. Father, about eight hours earlier, took the magneto off to clean it, and now the engine will not start. I have always seemed to strike “Old Cocky’s” place in the early spring, and left the impression that his is a

life of darkness, mud and stron? smells. When the late meal was bring prepared, everything was being dom in semi-darkness. Nobody wanted to read, so why light up? Just ait around. Perhaps while sitting around they conjure up visions of the selfiat city workers and their daylight saving Their hearts accelerate a Uttie when they think of the Reform Govrrament and what they owe to it. As a city worker, I think the Reform Government should not lowed daylight saving to lapse. Take Auckland, w*ith its longest day closing at 8 o’clock. Another hour on tw playing fields, beaches, or out C 3 , ' C “ D * would have been better than a rush ittheatres and cabarets. The wintg nights are long enough for tnost things. It is to be hoped the cities will take a hand in this daylight saving question, because it is progre*v and economical- , MOTOR MECHANIC. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS Sir. — , I thank “Melita” for his reply. “ assertion that the Bible is for the greatness of the British pire is utterly unfounded on fact. M - more credit must be given to our gunand armed forces. However, tha not the point at issue. To m>’ * as to the objections of certain t - tians to Bible in schools, he states he cannot conceive ot Christians jecting. That is scarcely an an i_. as such Christians do exist. I. ally, know a score or more, and is the whole denomination of Day Adventists who object, an _. tainly accept the teaching oI . Testaments. Confronted by disputable fact, will "Melita P' try again? Non-Christians, h« s * can have no conscience to be Ar-Aiild Now, “Melita” is not a Buddhist. he cheerfully pay taxes to prepay the teaching of Buddhism? r , he find that he had active. con»j tious objections? That is th® P of our non-Christians. “Melita , no better case in reply to my question. I did not seek his ' _ j*. the propriety of a referendum nn ligious issues. I asked whethe j,. just to tax people for religious t ing to which they objected. . must agree that a wrong is n° - even though very large majori sire it. My second question, also, calls for an answer. Democracy _ least in theory) certainly mea *K_ ity rule in social and economy for p* ters. (At present we aretaxeo _ religious purpose.) But dem certainly means absolute in ?p and the safeguarding of each ual conscience in religiou | Disregard the first and we ' { I sectarian bitterness and c- ‘ jsA