Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 430, 11 August 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say—

(To the Editor.)

COMPETITION TESTS Sir, — I have just gone through th© syllabus issued this week by the Auckland Competitions Society. It seems to m© that the society, claiming as it does to be a cultural and educational factor in the community, should do a little more toward the stimulation of literary taste. The test pieces in music are reasonably well chosen, yet I am afraid the same cannot be said for the elocutionary sections. It is well enough to have slabs of Shakespeare, but in the immortal words of Tom Heeney, he’s a dead ’un. Why not choose verse from contemporary poets? Heaven knows they have a wide enough range for any competitions society. Yet on the syllabus John Masefield is the only modern represented. The tasteful perusal of any one of the many anthologies of modern poetry would furnish excellent elocutionary material, and in addition might lead some people to the appreciation of the exquisite labour of bards still with us. LIVE ’UN. ARGUS Sir,— I wonder if “Fair Play” is really serious in his assertion—that “Argus” and his kind—very excellent entertainers—are assets to the progress of science? During my 18* years on the halls in Europe, TJ.S.A., etc., I have been “billed” with scores who can beat “Argus” at his own game. He is still young, but when his memory, the most valuable asset in mind-reading, becomes more and more active, he and his manager may achieve their ambition, i.e., still larger box-office results. Am I correct, “Argus”? Listen “Fair Play” and I’ll relate a true story which speaks volumes. Some years ago, while on the same programme (I was a vocalist) as two world-renowned “mind readers,” and being greatly interested in their turn, went into the stalls and was mistified by the correct answer to a very difficult query I made. We were staying at the same hotel, and after the show I button-holed them. To my various questions, the reply was: “Look here, my boy, forget it. If we could read thoughts, I’d be a very rich man. I could rule the stock exchange and all th© money markets.” Yes; I realised his meaning. But—wliat excellent showmen they were. WATT-A-SELL. ALBERT PARK FOUNTAIN Sir, — I noted with interest a day or two ago that Archbishop Averill spoke to th© Chamber of Commerce on the subject of “Citizenship.” My conscience has been pricked by the realisation that I must be one of the civic defaulters he deplores. You see, sir, I cannot recollect ever before having raked up a complaint against the city fathers. Casting about I believe I have come upon a legitimate cause for a grumble.

Why is it, sir, that the ornamental fountain in the Albert Park may so rarely be seen playing. A week or two ago when walking early through the park to business beautiful spouts were feathering into the morning sunlight. The a.ccident has not happened since. I suppose they were cleaning the thing, or, maybe, somebody was having a practical joke. Probably the Parks Committee of the City Council has forgotten there is a fountain, or perhaps Cr. J. A. C. Allum is conserving water for next summer. A more likely explanation is that the living streams are choked by the toad of civic indifference. WAI-WAL THE MAJORITY BENEFITS Sir, — “Anti-Sidey” has unconsciously pointed out the one supreme importance of daylight saving. Surely it is good to learn, from one in a position to speak with knowledge, that our people were (while summer time prevailed) where nature intended they should be —out in the fresh air and not in a stuffy environment. Let sport increase as it must, and “Anti-Sidey” will find healthy employment at the playing fields and pavilions. I have no real liking for the Act, being a mother of young children who finds them always wakeful, but the benefits for the majority are too obvious to be ignored. M. A. SPENS-BLACK. Rotorua. MAKING TROUBLE Sir, Through the columns of your paper I notice that a few misguided persons, not content with the fate of the Daylight Saving Bill, are determined to achieve their own ends by the adoption of a local scheme. So intent are these young people upon gaining their extra hour of tennis or cricket that apparently they have not stopped to consider the general inconvenience that it will cause. It is quite obvious that a number of centres would not fall into line with this absurd idea, and the inconvenience resulting from an hour’s difference in the standard time of Auckland and Pukekohe can easily be imagined. If these people, who for the most part ar» young people without business responsibilities, want daylight saving, why on earth don’t they get it by the simple expedient of getting up earlier in the morning, and drop this ridiculous suggestion, which I am quite sure will not be tolerated by the bulk of the people? TEMPUS. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS R.C.—The cabled message about the large sum paid to Heeney by Mr. Tex Rickard stated that the amount included Heeney’s share of the money paid for cinema rights at th© big fight.—Ld., The iun.