Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 530, 6 December 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say—

(To the Editor.)

BIBLE READING

Sir, — In reply to your correspondent, C. E. Major, the school referred to is at Birkenhead. B. A SCORIA ARCH Sir.— As a resident of Onehunga, I wish to draw attention to a proposal (which is sponsored by the Borough Council) to erect an arch built of scoria at the entrance to Jellicoe Park as a war memorial. Surely something more beautiful and useful than a gloomy and ugly arch could be thought o* as a memorial to our soldiers who fought and fell in the Great War for freedom. A winter garden, where beautiful flowers can be seen and admired, could bo added to the attractions of Jellicoe Park. I hope it is not too late for the promoters to reconsider the matter. RESIDENT. Onehunga, 4/12/28. NORTH SHORE BUSES Sir,— In Mr. Burnett’s letter in Tuesday’s Sun on the overcrowding of Brown’s Bay bus, he mentions that it was a pity the other company was not allowed to run. Well, has he ever travelled at peak hours in the buses of the company to which he refers? Bet alone standing room, one can scarcely breathe, passengers are so packed together. The Brown’s Bay Bus Company is to be congratulated, really, for the way it has catered for the unexpected (very often) holiday crowds to the bays. , * MAUI EDE. Murray’s Bay.

“A TROTTING CONUNDRUM”

Sir,— Mr. George Paul, handicapper for the Auckland Trotting Club, handicaps Escapade in the Parnell Handicap, two miles, limit 4.34, on 48 yards behind, making her go 4.30. In the Rowe Cup -—another two-mile race with a 4.35 limit Escapade is 72 yards behind, and is asked to go 4.29. To my way of thinking, she should be required to go the same time in both races. Another horse badly handicapped in the Rowe Trotting Cup, in comparison with his handicap in the Auckland Trotting Cup (4.20 mark), is Peterwah, 132 yards behind, having to go 4.24 or better. e all like to see champion straightout trotters of Peterwah \s class, but inducements like this do not tend to bring them here. OLD TIMER.

CIVIC CENTRE LEASES

Sir, — I see that'another Queen Street section has been leased at a rental which is equivalent to a valuation of only £SOO a foot, or no more than can be obtained for land in Albert Street. No

revision of the rental is possible for 33 years, by which time Auckland will be a city of 500,000 inhabitants. It is safe to say that the lessee will obtain more ground rent out of the land than will tlie citizens of Auckland during the period mentioned. And yet the tenant has no light to appropriate one cent of this economic rent, unless it be a small amount, say 1 per cent., for the trouble of collecting it for the citizens. He is entitled to make his money by trading on the land, not by speculating in future land values, if no better offers are obtainable, it is because we have not yet emerged from the slump. Wisdom would counsel a little delay which would be well repaid by a better bargain when times improved. If the 6G yepr lease prejudices the lessee in the matter of his improvements, why not have made it a lease in perpetuity? Recurring revisions of the rental would have safeguarded the citizens, however long the lease period. C.H.N.

“LIFE IS INDESTRUCTIBLE"

Sir, — I am alive for evermore. There is no death. Bife is indestructible. As this scientific fact comes home to the consciousness of thinkers the world over, our outlook on life and death is being radically changed. We used to think that persons could be killed, and “general death” was defined as “loss of personality.” Now we know better. From this point of view we see the futility of war as a means of really destroying our enemies; also, we question the supposed efficacy of capital punishment. If, by execution,* one is simply translated to another and, perhaps, better, plane of existence, he may be more severely punished by being allowed to face the consequences of his crime in this world. Justice may seem to miscarry in human courts of justice; but “shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” saith the Bord.” So, while we may express no opinion on the sentence upon Modugno, both Italians and Frenchmen may well think along the lines suggested. To our grief we know how easily we may become involved in European strife, and hope that our friends in Italy will have faith in God, for their own sake, as well as for ours. OMNIA VINCIT AMOR.

“SO THIS IS CRICKET”

Sir, — Whenever Anglo-Australian test cricket is in progress, cables from England make most interesting reading. They cause one, for instance, to ponder just how the myth—no, it’s a whole mythology—about the undemonstrative, unemotional Englishman has gained world-wide credence and reached such gigantic proportions. It may of course be that the English Press—innumerable authorities to the contrary notwithstanding—is not a true reflector of English character and temperament. When the last Australian Eleven visited England, 3 remember it was solemnly suggested by correspondents that on the winning of the Ashes by England depended a successful settlement of the coal strike then in operation. At that time, too.

we heard of what almost amounted t national prayers for a wet put the Australians at a disadvanw* Well, apparently the prayers answered. Tests were played 111 v , 0 able bog-holes and the Ashes wo England. Yet cricket, for some son, not always limpid clear to, * mere footballers, is held up as model to which other games may aspire. Then, in the present Brisbane, w r e see Chapman, in gpj• . I a huge advantage in runs, lc >reg his right to make Australia i°‘ lo j fearing, I suppose, that they m stage a recovery ere the hear comes hopelessly cut up. v® so much, especially from cHcßetenjj that “the game’s the thing But it? Surely after , -ural of be r q r y ' the Bt unin£ ated may be ma. .. if they exc>«*» “So this is cricket? ’ j