Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 553, 4 January 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

THE TRANSPORT BOARD Sir, — The Transport Board, which is the City Council under another name, will begin to function shortly and it will be interesting to note how applications to run suburban services will fare. Doubtless we may expect the same dog-in-the-manger policy. How the outside bodies were persuaded to accept minority representation on the board passes my comprehension. The city still remains the dictator, but the outside ratepayers must share the losses on the City Council’s transport mess. I only hope the suburban members of the hoard will have sufficient backbone to demand licences for private buses —or resign from the hoard in a body. E. STEVENSON.

IN THE BEGINNING Sir. A a Mr. Field is unfortunately unable, in the space available, to elucidate the bearing of his theories on the Genesis creation stories, I can do little toward discussing his claims until the basis be known. It is evident, though, that the inferences Mr. Field draws from his theories are teleological in character. Hence if he is to prove the literal correctness of Genesis lie must prove first the existence of God. If he aims to do that from the design argument.

as seems evident, he must in some manner rehabilitate that discredited device. The majority of people believe in God not because they have investigated and proved His existence, but simply because they were taught to believe in childhood. But many who have deeply investigated the idea of God fa small proportion of the total) do still retain a modified form of belief. This does not rest upon any definite proof, however, but upon a collection of inferences, indications, emotions and intricate arguments, far beyond the understanding of the "iittle child” which is the ideal of Mr. Field and the Bible in this matter. Strange that we should not be directed to the little child, or the adult with the unformed brain of the child, for information on any subject under the sun except that most fundamental problem of all—the existence of God. If Mr* Field has some fresh light to throw on this Question, I would be delighted to investigate it.

a . f . e ™' brief remarks on Mr. c *' lt . lclsm science and scientists. Science, he says, is generallv superficial, yet he accepts with some satisfaction the opinions of two «r-i on Usts on his .solar dynamics work -The ’ D ’ c - fundamental truths.” That lh»'ars to me a meaningless assump-

tion. What are fundamental truths? What, also, of the many fundamental cantradictions in the Bible, both with its own statements and commonly known facts. Some of the things Mr. Field says of scientists may unfortunately be *rue of individuals, men with stunted vision, but it is scarcely fair to condemn the whole splendid edifice because of the faults of some least worthy workers. "When we consider that by science (which is merely the orderly accumulation and use of knowledge), the face of the earth has been transformed in the past 100 years, it must be admitted that Mr. Field’s criticism is scarcely tenable. Certainly doctors differ—the field of medical science is far from exhausted —but they have eradicated a score of diseases and mitigated untold human suffering, wherein lies their positive achievement. Finally, with regard to Sir Oliver Lodge, his views on Spiritualism have no more connection with his solid and enduring work on physics than had Newton’s forgotten writings on Biblical prophecy with his epochal work upon astronomy. A.E.C.

TENNIS TOPICS Sir,— Your correspondent 'E.G.X.,” of yesterday’s issue has pointed out a weakness that is very noticeable in the play of most of the players competing in the tennis championships. As a visitor from Australia. I, too, was surprised to notice how few of the players competing have a really first-class serve. Bartleet has a serve delivered without much effort which all young players should endeavour to imitate. Twisting the body into unnatural positions means loss of striking power. So many players imagine that the twist they get on the ball as a result of such contortionism repays them for the physical energy they lose. Such masters of the serve as Paterson, Tilden and Borotra have no such body twist. Your correspondent hits the nail on the head when he refers to the lack of coaching and claims that good material is going to waste through these young players forming bad habits when building up their game. Australia has tackled this problem of coaching add at present every capital city has its coach. The play of the juniors is already showiifg marked improvement. One of these coaches, S. P. England, of Melbourne, is at present in Auckland for the purpose of giving lessons. England is the coach to the daughters of Norman Brookes and several hundreds of players of all grades. The opportunity now presents itself for coaching along correct lines Personally, 1 consider the management of the tournament just concluded excellent, but was surprised to note the absence of scoring boards at the end of each court for important matches; also the playing of two finals on adjoining courts. y.x.c.