Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 569, 23 January 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

STREET MUSIC Sir, — I wish to endorse most heartily the sentiments expressed in “Handel’s” letter. My office fronts Queen Street and I am driven nearly distracted by the gramophone barrage—an American “baritone” wailing an absurd melody (with more absurd words) — a medley of fox-trots and saxaphone solos. Surely something can be done to keep these horrors within the confines of the respective shops? HALF-HANDEL.

RELIEF WORKERS AND ANNIVERSARY DAY

Sir,— The writer, after many weeks practically on the bread line, is now employed on relief works, tor which lie is truly thankful, for a term of a fortnight at the rate of £ 3 12s a week. Anniversary Hay, however, falls in the allotted fortnight, and I, in common with many others, much as we appreciate due recognition of the day, feel anything but happy at being compelled to cease work and lose the much required earnings for sustenance for dependants and self. Should the council insist on us taking a holiday, why should one not be allowed to work the full 12 days, irrespective of the week-ends, which would be in accord with the period generally given. The latter paragraph also applies to wet days. Let the council not forget that even one day’s loss of wages for a relief worker is practically a calamity to him. y PICK AND SHOVEL. SANDERS CUP TRIALS Sir,think that shouEf ’b 1 held between the Val and the Avalon to decide which is the better boat Mr bt the Aval°on S w 6rS that the last tviii Avalon was more or less through luck. He should have an opportunity for the e « hlS^ COnt ?, ntion - The selectors for the banders Cup should also have a chance to vindicate their decision I am not a wealthy man, but would con£’boote £IOO to ' va .*L d a , stake of, say, TtTi efc ' 3oo _ a -side —to say that the Avalon can beat the Val if further races could be arranged. Many of my friends would also contribute. I would like to know if Mr. Mclndoe will fall m with my suggestion. SEAWEED.

PREVENTABLE DISEASE

Sir, — Under this heading your correspondent “W.RJ2.C.” combats stetlyour correspondent A.E.b. it should not be necessaw tha C t al th^ V ‘ R ' E,G^ ’a” attention to the facg , the word sometimes” completely nullifies the argument he uses or perhaps he has used irony that is not patently discoverable. In the face of every rigidly carried out investigation, Spiritualism has failed to sustain its claims, Sir Oliver Lodge and Sir Conan Doyle notwithstanding This is quite opposite to “W.R.E.C’s” dictum. 'With regard to his advice not to translate the Bible too literally this should not be necessary. Nevertheless it is, even in the face of the “New Commentary on Holy Scriptures” written by a number of the clergy, among whom Bishop Gore takes premier place. I find these theological pioneers are responsible for the following explosions. The Creation: Genesis contains no account of the real beginning of the earth or man. The Deluge”

Cannot be historically true. Noah’s Ark: A manifest impossibility . Methuselah’s Age: Physiologically incompatible with the structure of the human body. Fall of Manna: Its providential character is magnified. Belshazzar’s Feast: No known King of Babylon called Belshazzar. Jonah and the Whale: Not an atom of history in it. Fall of Jericho: “The wall fell down flat” is merely literary hyperbole. David and Goliath: Critics are agreed it is most probable Goliath was slain by Elhanan, son of Jair in David’s reign. The wonderful series of these discoveries have been purchasable for a few pence from any Freethought bookseller during the past 100 years. C. E. MAJOR. NON-SMOKERS IN “SMOKERS” Sir, I am sure all smokers who are regular users of Auckland tramcars and North Island .trains will agree with me that the practice of non-smokers occupying the smoking cars on both trains and trams is distinctly unfair, except in special circumstances, where other seats are not available. Recently I travelled several hundreds of miles in the first-class “smoker” of an express ti'ain. There were plenty of seats in other compartments, but two women—both apparently non-smokers—plus a crying baby, elected to use our car, crowding it unduly, and subjecting the baby to the tobacco-laden atmosphere. Every day one may see girls and women occupying seats in the smoking compartments of Auckland trams, and crowding into the other compartment men who wish to smoke. Surely the Railway Department and the Transport Board could include in their by-laws a which prohibits nonsmokers from occupying seats in “smokers” if, by doing so, they are depriving others of their pipe or igarette.

SUFFERER. RUAHINE AND THE FIRST COOK STRAIT SWIM

Sir, — The time is now drawing near when the English swimmer. Miss Gleitze, will make an attempt to add the conquest of Cook Strait to her laurels. Miss Copplestone, of Ashburton, will also essay the swim. It is a matter worthy of notice that the fair sex. to a great extent, excels in the art of swimming. I remember when Miss Alice Beckwith swam 20 miles in the River Thames, though Captain Webb failed. But it is not only in modern times, but also in the past, that the daring achievements of women should be noted. We have the charming Maori legend of Minemoa's swim across Lake Rotorua to the arms of her fluteplaying island lover. But, to my mind, a still greater interest to Ruahine in her famous swim from Kapiti, across Cook Strait, to find her lover, the great moa-hunter Eawi. The legend is somewhat varied in the telling, but the essentials are the same. The last moas of the North Island had been killed in the vicinity of Lake Taupo, but they still roamed the grass lands of the sparsely settled South Island in large numbers. Longing for the succulent flesh of the large bird, Eawi, with a small band of daring young hunters, crossed the strait in pursuit of the noble game. Eventually some of them returned, bringing preserved portions of their sport, and dilated on the skill and daring of Law’i, who had gone inland, following the game. A great longing came upon uuahine to see once more the face of her and to hear his voice. One moonlight evening she stood upon the cliffs of Kapiti, looking across the j dancing waters of the strait to the

land where her lover dwelt. An in- , came u P<>n her to swim over to the island which held all that wiVh *?f ar her. In the morning, with her float of dry raupo, tightly bound together with flax, she started expedition. Toward evening she became weary and dejected, but her tamwha appeared, and swam with her till she touched bottom. The sun had set, and the moon was casting a silvery radiance over sea and land, when she rose to her feet. Coming to meet, her was a tall youth, a robe of moa skins of such rare beauty that they glistened in the moonlight. It was Eawi, and, dropping his spear, he clasped her in his arms. Their adventures in the South make another story. But I think Ruahine must take precedence as swimmer of the strait. May the modern competitors receive the support of their respective taniwhas. and a like welcome on the southern shore of the strait. __ TRUTHFUL JAMES. N garuawah ia.