Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 468, 25 September 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

“IF I WERE PRIME MINISTER” Sir, — Is the public to be allowed to criticise the opinions of those entering for your competition, “If I Were Prime Minister”? If not, I will simply say that Margaret Macpherson has exceeded the limit of a thousand words. Otherwise I would like to point out that she is not likely to get beyond her maiden speech, if she refers to the majority in the way she does. For there are very few uneducated people in New Zealand. Those who spend their lives doing manual labour, and on the land, have very little time or opportunity for more than a sixth standard education, but they live very near to nature, the great teacher. They understand the country, its people, and its needs. What we want, sir, is a real woman’s woman, or a real he-man. J. FENTON. Morrinsville. A N.Z. NATIONAL ANTHEM Sir, — Your L.O.M. was informing us “that tho United States remains without an officially recognised national anthem," yet everyone in America pays tribute to the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Perhaps it is because of its stirring rhythm and tune. At any rate, when I see Americans standing in reverence, methinks they must love their country as we do ours. And rightly so, he is a poor man who does not love the country that reared him. Bight throughout history we find that music piayed a very important part in the saving of nations and the development of national pride. A nation which is not proud of itself is proud of nothing, and lacks that essential something which makes for world progress. Despite the fact that overseas people have inherited the music and patriotism of their fathers, they cannot love it, nor appreciate it, to the same extent as if it were their very own. Evidence in support of this can be had if we cast our minds back to the camps m France. The songs of other countries were sung for their sweet melodies and pleasing sentiment, but not so spiritedly as some second-rate ditty about Wanganui.

At the recent celebrations in Hawaii

the nations were going to pay tribute to the great Captain Cook. Arrangements were made to play the anthems of the various countries there represented, and the bandmaster of the American warship found that he had no New Zealand anthem among his repertoire. He then applied to the New Zealand ship for copies, and, shame to say, there were none. Not to be beaten, however, the bandmaster of the New Zealand ship set to and handed a full band score to the American next morning just in time for a quick rehearsal before the ceremony. That anthem was the last to be played and believe me, sir, it was the prettiest melody of them all. I hear that the bandmaster still has a copy, but unless someone in the educational line takes it up in all probability it will vanish. Why do New Zealanders not foster this national spirit? J.W.S, TREES AND BIRDS Sir, Sincere thanks to The Sun for publishing in its issue of September 11, under the heading “Native Birds,” Mr! O. H. Tripp’s very sensible advice to make provision for our birds when we are tree-planting. Aroha nui to him and to The Sun also for its battle for that splendid ideal which will appeal to all nature lovers. No one can real-

ise more than I the depressing effect on human beings of the absence of bird life, living as I do in a resolate wilderness that was forest-covered until 45 years ago, when some vandal started a fire that swept miles of country destroying forest, flowers, birds and all leaving behind a picture of death and desolation. What a soul-depressing ranges with jagged rockcm cmfwypp sight: in all directions bare, high ranges with jagged rock protruding among a litter of dead trees, some standing, some fallen—the only greenfern and stunted ti - tree, through which one’s pace is about a mile and a-half an hour, over a trackless waste, where reigns now a deathly silence, with dead trees standing like skeletons. They really seem to be waiting and watching for a chance to avenge the wicked destruction of the forest, and through the years, as their roots decay, down they fall, tearing great landslips that spread over the lowland, (Continued in next column.)

blocking watercourses, causing washouts and adding to the horrors of thq picture—a desolate fire-swept wilderness, shunned by birds, men and beasts. And this was once a fine kauri forest, where birds and waterfalls made pleasant music, while nikau palms, forest ferns, and red rata blossoms delighted the eyes. What an economic gain for us if a new forest could be created on the lines suggested by Mr. Tripp, and endorsed by The Sun. Unless this can be done the picture of desolation will have to be endured, for the fire has destroyed the soil as well as the forest. WILLIAM. PERRY, The Hermit of Great Barrier.

WORKING GIRLS AND RAILWAY CONCESSIONS Sir,— Would you please allow me to put before your readers what appears tc* be an injustice done to workers who live in suburban areas? I refer to those whose work commences at a.m. To take advantage of worker?’ fares—3s 3d a week, Henderson to Auckland—a girl, if 21 years of age, must catch the 6.55 train in the morning, arriving at Auckland about 8 aun, with an hour to put in walking about. If she catches any later train she must pay £3 15s Sd a quarter. I think fares have lately been reduced by a few shillings a quarter, but even so it is a hardship for ofllce workers, wno, considering the responsible work they do, as a rule receive small wages, some as low as £1 a week. Now, our paternal Government couM do something to alleviate the lot of girls who are obliged to live out of town, by charging a uniform fare for all workers. I only mention the district I am interested in, but all are groaning under the tyranny of excess sive fares. JUSTICE. HOCKEY’S CASE / Sir, — I agree with the view of your correspondent in Saturday's issue when he asks why the public should be asked to subscribe toward the financing t>s the Auckland Girls’ Athletic Associa* tion’s venture in taking over the Remuera hockey grounds. Here is a ground taken over by the hockey authorities in a very rough state, many years ago, brought to a state of perfection by the expenditure of thousands of pounds by hockey players and then taken from them for no apparent reason, unless we may use the words of the chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board—“it was its (D.T.B.’s) duty to have that area in the hands of somebody financially strong enough t£> make the fullest use of it” —as meaning that the Hockey Association was not financially strong enough to run tho ground. If this be so, then the facts of the case do not support the utterance. The hockey authorities, as before stated, must have spent thousands on the ground, and as far as I can remember never appealed to the public for financial support in the manner in which the new tenants are doing. Yet, Sir, the Dilworth Trust Board considers the Auckland Girls Athletic Association, backed by three guarantors, financial enough to take over the ground, and to prove bo* financial it is the Girls’ Association I s appealing to the public for funds to carry on with a ground that is in perfect condition. Is it a fair thing that the long-suf-fering public, after supporting street collections for all manner of cause?, should now be asked to subscribe toward a sports ground for girls? Where are the independent young women & to-day that they have to ask other* to finance their sport? VERITE SANS PEVB.