Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 1 September 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

COURTS AND REPORTS Sir, — What is coming over our magistrates? I am not questioning the suppression of names. They have legal authority for that. But by what right do they ask the Press to retire because litigants do not want publicity given to their affairs? This is what happened at Hamilton recently, when those concerned said they did not want a certain case reported. Where will this sort of thing end? There will be no reports in the papers if such an erratic course is pursued, or else such an intensely interesting account as the following will appear: “At on , Mr. sued his wife before Mr. , S.M., for . After having , the magistrate gave judgment for £ , with costs and ordered the suppression of deefndant’s name.” If I am prosecuted for anything I shall go to Hamilton and say I object to publicity. PUBLICITY. A MOTORIST’S LAMENT Sir, Motorists are “good mutton” for fines to pay our traffic inspectors. I have an English paper beside me from which I would like to quote. For having no front and back light on his motor-cycle, failing to produce his licence and obstructing the constable, a man was found guilty on each charge and fined 2s 6d on each charge, making a total of 10s in all. Several other cases were fines of ss. I was recently summoned, for leaving my car more than 15 minutes unattended. About one month later I received a su. \ ions and was fined 10s and costs. Three or four days later a warrent for my arrest was issued. We talk of Russia and its methods, but Auckland should not boast. For instance, the number of your car is taken for some offence. Four to five weeks afterwards you receive a bit of blue paper. Now, sir, what chance have you got? You cannot recall or refute this charge, and so you leave it and are fined. If motorists are at fault, why not put a note in the car, quoting the number of the constable or inspector, and informing the driver that his number has been taken for a breach of by-laws? Oh, no—he might defend himself from his recollection of the incident, instead of saying: “Oh, it is too long ago to remember. I shall not have a chance. Let it go.” Fined £ 1 and costs, not 2s 6d, as our English friend. MOTORIST. SUN-SPOTS AND CRIME Sir.— The Sun of the 28th ultimo contained a cable message which stated that Hr. Conyers Morrell had discovered a mysterious connection between sun-spots and suicides, etc. There is really nothing mysterious about the matter. Sun-spots are associated with storms in the sun’s photosphere. Both arise from the same cause. Neither of them in itself affects us appreciably. But, everything in this world is affected by the less conspicuous and more or less intermittent “prominences” which are also associated with these phenomena. And the extent to which the earth is affected is modified by the positions of other heavenly bodies at the time. For five years past I have been explaining these things and making forecasts accordingly. For instance.

sucli investigations enabled me to predict the date for the reappearance of Falcon Island, and the increase of the influenza epidemic last month, and earthquakes for about October 20 and November 6 next. Records show beyond any possibility of doubt that the,re are times, easily predicted, when our mental balance is abnormally disturbed—times which are remarkably associated, with murders and suicides, and even with accidents due to lack of mental alertness. In the same way we find that at certain hours, easily predicted, weak hearts are so liable to collapse,; at one time through deficiency of vital energy, at another time througih excess of it. And in like manner we ffcnd there are certain hours when the of an accident or operation, or' the disturbance of an anaesthetic (Without proper stimulating influence's) will lead to deaths, sometimes sudden, more often delayed, or to complications which hinder recovery. I am often consulted as to the most favourable times for operations in New ; v Zealand and Australia: and such questions are most simply answered. FREDK. R. FLEET). ANOTHER PARADE? Sir, — The parade of the Salvation Army drawing attention <o the sins of Auckland would have raad much to commend it if carried ovut by the sinners themselves. \ I would suggest that the City Councillors adopt this mearfis of convincing the ratepayers of their. earnest desire to do better in future ir.i the management of municipal affairs. I would suggest that the order c*f the procession be as follows: First, the chairman of the Finance Committee in sackcloth and ashes, bearing a n assurance that all is well with the? buses, followed by the Mayor, city engineer and councillors. The processiotn will start from the site of the iaow-defunct municipal fish market to ike tune of the “Frothblowers’ Anthem !” sung very slowly by the councillors. The procession will pause at Cflvic Square while Cr. Murray reads a lamentation. The procession will then march slowly to the old Ponsonby barn amd gaze in reverence on the collection cbf motorbus curios collected with su<ch painstaking care. The chairmari of the Finance Committee will th£n mount the penitent form and exT.plain his eagerness to hand over the -trams to a transport board. The procession will return to the Town Hall in these buses (if it is possible to sta±*t them) and meet a large crowd of buffering ratepayers. The chairman (of the finance Committee will exhq rt them to have faith and point out tfoat faith moves mountains. The treasiurer will then exhibit the council’s looses and oterdrafts, any ratepavers s"-urvivin cr this to be awarded the Albeit Medal. The demonstration will be brought to a close by the earnest prayir of the ratepayers for a commission Appointed by Parliament to extract ourj fair city from the municipal muddlement in which it finds itself. A CANDID ri'RIEND. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENT —When your letter was referred to the Public Wor ks Department, Auckland, officials that the chief point, in their qfpinion, was the welfare of the meja employed lho department, they said, recognised that its duty to be fair to the men. It employjed the gang definitely, and any attempt to place a private contractor c^ n the work would be void, unless 'the men were assured of just treatment. A permanent work was be ing made of a scheme originally in tended for relief purposes. No .contract would be let by the department for the earthworks section at Mercer.—Ed.. The Sun.