Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 479, 8 October 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

CLARET CUP AT DANCES Sir,— Still another member of the clergy has raised his hands in horrified protest at the prevalence of intoxicating liquor at dances. The Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, in an address to his flock last evening, made the astonishing assertion that claret cup at dances more often than not contained twothirds proof spirit. These parsons seem to possess strange sources of information. I have been attending dances for many years—many of them of the type which the reverend gentleman would class “wet,” but the best I could ever secure was weak-kneed claret cup with five per cent intoxicating liquor at the very most—and not all of that proof spirit! I suggest seriously, sir, that a little less general complaint and a little more specific accusation should be brought upon this subject. If it is an evil of the magnitude suggested, then let us get to it and stamp it out. MODERATE. ABLE TO GOVERN Sir, — “Clan Conal” is- justly proud To swell his Irish chest, But why shout out to everyone That Ireland breeds the best? The great U.S., all will agree, Utill proudly boasts the name Machree, But why in “Bi'ian’s” name should he Impose on us this blarney? To hear him speak in such a way Is such an aggravation, For Ireland’s sons have always been To me an inspiration . We know that they possess the wit; Are an honour to the crown, But for him to blow their horn this way, Is letting Ireland down. J.W.S. THE ELLERSLIE INCIDENT Sir. — Never before in all my experience as a patron of the turf have I witnessed such a disgraceful affair as the happening at Ellerslie on Saturday. There is apparent in some quarters a tendency to cast the blame from the Auckland Racing Club on to the shoulders of those, who after all, keep the game going—the paying public. According to some reports, people who were not present are led to believe that it was but a small “riotous” section of the crowd which held up the meeting. I happened to be a patron in the Leger enclosure and I think I am safe in saying that at least 80 per cent, of the people there were in sympathy with those hundreds who congregated on the course proper as a rightful protest at the second regrettable start. I stiH maintain, as I did from the very outset, that had the responsible officials of the Auckland Racing Club shown tact and used reasonable methods at the very commencement they would have succeeded in pacifying the then, by no means, “hostile” mob. But whether the public was right or wrong the A.R.C. must shoulder the blame of the most disgraceful act of the day—the running of the steeplechase while hundreds of men and women were gathered on the course proper. They proffered a direct challenge to the public when they “shanghaied” he chasers, around the back way to the starting post. But the challenge failed! It was just a case of obstinacy fighting obstinacy. Then a policeman was dispatched to advise the starter to let the field go. Away went the galloping team while hundreds of de-

fenceless men and women were on the course proper. But fortunately for the club the race was an unfortunate one, inasmuch as half the field fell, allowing the leading horse to establish a commanding break. It was a never-to-be-forgotten sight as this horse, accompanied by the asistant-clerk of course, charged through the crowd. So this is sport! What would have been the ultimate result had the race been one for two-year-olds, and some halfdozen or so inexperienced and timid youngsters come neck and neck up the straight? If loss of life had resulted would not the A.R.C. have been liable for manslaughter? Allowing, sir, that this “hostile mob” was in the wrong, did this permit the A.R.C. *o resort to an attempt to intimidate it? No wonder a sickened multitude cheered and felt relief when the band played “God Save the King,” and thus ended the most disgusting day in the history of the turf in this country. TOLERANCE. ESPERANTO Sir, — I read in The Sun, over the signature of Mx\ J. A. Hodges, of Huntly, who is a Fellow of the British Esperanto Association, London—if not “Esperanto Consul,” like Mr. C.J.A.—that six or seven years are required to master the French language. Well, a good deal depends on the teacher, on the methods used and on the intelligence of the pupil. For my part, I know of good scholars who have taken only two years to acquire the language. If I am not mistaken, Mr. Hodges says that people of all nationalities speak Esperanto without any accent.

Isn’t it a bit hard to believe? For instance, will a Spaniard understand Esperanto when 6poken with closed lips by an Englishman? Mr. Hodges adds that the inventor of Esperanto was a doctor practising as an oculist, and not a professor. But in reality, we are both right; for in Central Europe, as in Venezuela, every doctor is a professor and vice versa. Now, Dr. Zamenhof, of Warsaw, may ; have been a good oculist, but was he also a good philologist? To one who knows only one language—say, English—Esperanto may seem wonderful; but to “Tour de Babel,” who possesses several, it appears as if Esperanto is not yet the perfect international language, in dispensable in the opinion of pacifists like Mr. Hodges, and which will be universally spoken about a thousand years hence. No, that language has still to be found, and, to do so, it is necessary to know, like Archdeacon Williams, several of the simplest idioms of primitive races, such as Malay, Maori, etc. Until such time as a “super-Esper-anto” has been discovered, and if it is decided to teach a foreign language in the primary schools of New Zealand, it seems that one could not do better than choose French. It would, however, be advisable to have teachers of French origin, who will not complicate matters by filling their pupils’ minds with a multiplicity of rules half forgotten by the average Frenchman, if he has ever known them at all. At first, the pupil should acquire a rich vocabulary of words—then, make ordinary, simple sentences; and, gradually. as the child gets more familiar with the language, the teacher should speak a good deal to him as to accustom his ear to the foreign sounds: after which, he can learn rules and

conjugate irregular verbs to his heart’s content.

Personally. I do not believe that an international language, even universally spoken, will do away with war. Each nation will always prefer its own language, which, like religion, creates a special mentality. (We have not yet reached the days of one universal religion!). And when there remains only one single individual on this earth, be will still fight . . . the few animals left to witness the death throes of our planet. But we shall not be there to see it. I or the Eeperantists! TORRE DE BABEL-