Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 499, 31 October 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

REPLY TO MR. BLOODWORTH Sir,— In his address last night Mr. Blood - worth, an ex-councillor and a candidate for next W ednesday’s by-election, stated that “he put in his nomination as a candidate in the by-election nearly a week before anyone else —and the responsibility for putting th*s city to the expense of a by-election for such a. small period rested with the other candidates.” To Mr. Bloodworth’s indictment I have to plead guilty, for I noticed an announcement in a newspaper on the Saturday preceding the burying of the late Mr. Brinsdcn stating his intention to stand. In extenuation I must plead that sentiment and respect for the late councillor compelled me to refrain from making any statement before his burial. However, whether sentiment is a matter that should count or not, I am content that citizens should have the opportunity of re-electing an ex-coun-cillor or trying out a novice for the short term remaining. HAROLD SCHMIDT. SUNDAY LECTURES Sir, — In your issue of Saturday, I learn that the City Council is responsible for the discontinuance of the lectures given on Sunday evenings by Mr. Headlam Green how. It would be interesting to know the reason for the action of the council. I presume ’there is one. There are hundreds of young men and women in our city who live in boarding-houses, and as soon as the evening meal is over are expected to go. out. On week evenings there is plenty of entertainment, but on Sundays—thanks to the very unwise action of our City Council —the only thing for these young people to do, especially young men, is to saunter up and down Queen Street, and probably listen to the jargon of some soap-box orator, usually to be found in the city on Sunday evening. The lectures given by Mr. Headlam Greenhow were on topics both instructive and interesting, and could only be for the uplift of the community. I know a number of young men who are quite at a loss on Sunday evening now these lectures are discontinued. They are too intelligent to be content to wander about the streets. Possibly these lectures were of too high an order to appeal to the members of our worthy council, but the regularly full houses proved that they were very much appreciated by a large number of citizens. A CONSTANT ATTENDANT.

SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT Sir, — My friends and I have read with much indignation that the Sunday League is not permitted to open the Majestic Theatre for the purpose of giving its entertainment. May I be permitted to air our opinions on the subject? Quite a party of us regularly attended the Sunday popular lectures at the Princess Theatre and were very keenly disappointed when they ceased. The lantern slides were wonderful and inspiring with the vivid >ctescr|ptions given of the art treasures

and wonder places of many parts of the world. We would certainly welcome an entertainment under the same direction, as we are sure a great crowd of Aucklanders have, like ourselves, no where to go on Sunday evenings. Why should we be debarred by an autocratic and puritanical body of councillors who are the laughing stock of the place with the organ recitals which they try to force on an unwilling public? From the Mayor’s remark, “That it is not in the best interests to grant the application for opening the Majestic Theatre by the Sunday League,” it is evident he does not know what he is talking about. That there is a real need for such an entertainment would be proved if a petition were open for signature by the crowds on Queen Street on Sunday nights. Would the Mayor and councillors against the desires of us all, still persist in their refusal? We heartily trust the Sunday League will persist and invite public assistance to get the theatre for their purpose. Auckland is rapidly becoming notorious for this “wowser” spirit. What with all these awful speakers on Prohibition airing their views in the Queen Street theatres. I hope the Sunday League will get up a petition against the City Council's methods. The Council is, in the opinion of the "man and woman” in the street, absolutely unfair in vetoing a movemerft that would be a credit to any city. NO WHERE TO GO. HEALTH NOTES Sir.— Health notes appear in your issue of the 29th inst. dealing with tuberculosis. It should be the desire of every individual to leave this world a little better than he found it. The department of health may write long articles on the subject; but what is the use of publishing advice in face of the following facts: The Prime Minister informed the deputation which waited upon him in Auckland that it was the right of those in distress to become a burden on the craritable aid institutions, thereby definitely dissociating himself from responsibility. The Minister of Health recently made a statement Hamilton advocating the extension of health camps for children who show subnormality owing to errors in nutrition. Any articles published by the Health Department appear to be purely hot air, in view of the deliberate neglect of the worker. If worry and bad and insufficient food are two of the causes of tuberculosis, then the outlook is poor for some New’ Zealanders. J. CLANCEY. Hamilton East.

PAN-PACIFIC UNION Sir,— I confess that it was rather wicked, on my part, to throw a dart at Esperanto in concluding my last letter. My intention was to wake up one of the local champions of that second-hand language invented by a Polish oculist, and I have succeeded, as you see. I really’ knqw human nature through and through. If I am to believe Mr. King, who may be a relative of the Esperanto delegate to Belgium, there are on earth

more internationalists (like him) than there are Chauvinists or Nationalists Yes, indeed, I would be in the mud if I believed such nonsense. It is not true, even of Russia! But, there are two things of which I am almost obtain. First, that a good deal of Esp«rantists are, at the same time, pacifists or internationalists; secondly, that Mr. King has not travelled extensively. 1 expect he is not even aware of the fact that the extreme German Socialists and Internationalists who, in 1913. were the best friends of the French Socialist Jaures, answered, a year later, with alacrity*, the call of the treacherous Kaiser. Peace is a great thing, certainly. But there are still too many wolves about, round the lambs. And a lamb lam Has Mr. King read Mr. Winston Churchill’s witty- speech on the zo° disarmament? If not, he should b*>' The Sun of October 26. No one, more than L would like to see Pan-Pacific and Pan-Atlantic Unions. But, as for those who think that the time is ripe for such unionsare they* NOT IN THE MOON? NOTICE TO CORRESPOND®#* •‘Horse-Sense"—Letters attacking f politician in that strain mufitaCMK oyer xoiur ojwn aame^EcL