Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 571, 25 January 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

TRAFFIC CONGESTION Sir. — With your permission I would suggest through your paper a way ol reducing the congestion at busy intersections. Have two rows of traffic on all four corners. On a signal from the traffic officer all those at two corners in the inside row (and those in the outside row who so wish) must proceed straight ahead; at the other two corners the outside row must turn to the left and join the moving traffic. Traffic on Grafton Bridge to beacontinuous. An added advantage of this system would be that pedestrians could cross to and from the safety-zones at two corners free from traffic. Later on, when funds permit, the safety-zones on the left-hand side of the road facing the intersections could be moved back a short distance to allow more room for two vehicles abreast. J. L. RUSSELL Remuera. FAITH AND SCIENCE Sir.— “A.E.C.” asserts that belief in God “is based in the last resort upon faith and not reason.” But there is no necessary contradiction between faith and reason, and it would be correct to state that theology is based on faith and reason. There is such a thing as a reasonable faith. Probability is the guide of life. The idea that science has direct access to reality, and has no use for faith, is an obsolete survival of the Victorian era. The fundamental postulates of science are acts of faith. They cannot be established by any process of strict logic. “A.E.C.’s” science and philosophy need to be brought up to date. He should study Professor Eddington’s recent Gifford lectures on “The Nature of the Physical World,” Dr. Tennant’s “Philosophical Theology,” and Professor E. W. Hobson’s “Domain of Science.” The study of these books would teach him that science rests ultimately upon faith akin to religious faith. NORMAN BURTON. NATIONAL MUSIC Sir. The Sun is to be complimented on bringing this subject before the public, and a little criticism may not be out of place. Music is an art, and art knows no nationality (I am speaking’ of music minus words). Music; has been aptly termed “Man’s common language.” And so we have one common means of speech linking up primitive man with his civilised brother. During the war some silly people wrote to the papers contending that German music should be banned from the opera houses. I might mention in passing that the luscious nature of German music, the seductive spell of which we all know, is —or should be—incompatible with the temperament of the German as we know it. It still remains a puzzle why a plodding, mechanical race should be so musically gifted. Away back in the twilight of man’s history —probably synchronising with the period when “he” mowed and battled in an infant speech—music arose. Gardiner, the explorer, found a singing ape in Central Africa. This ape really sang, producing the whole notes of the octave. To-day the music of all the nations of the world has been fused. It would be difficult, hearing the music of “Mary of Argyle,” “Come Back to Erin,” or Tosti’s “Goodbye,” for the first time (minus the words, of course) to say what the nationality cf the

composer was. It is unnecessary to trouble ourselves about New Zealand national music. The Maoris are temperamentally musical. They were, as we all know, quick to pick up our language and our music. Judging by the New Zealanders’ taste for art, it is quite evident that we are not an artistic people. Our sturdy forefathers who pioneered this country had not the artistic flair. The New Zealander, with exception, of course, can sit enraptured at gramophone productions of “When the Rob, Rob, Robin,” “You Ought Ta See Ma Baby,” “A Bit of What You Fancy.” He revels in this kind of music. HERBERT MULVIHILL RAILWAY REFRESHMENT STALLS Sir. — I have just returned from Rotorua. I was induced by the advertisements to travel by rail in comfort and security. Well, the train part of it was quite all right, but I suggest that all the good now being done by the publicity department of the railways is in danger of being out-weighed and undone by the dreadful service rendered by at least two of the misnamed refreshment rooms on the line. At a high figure I purchased tea and sandwiches after an undue wait, and if ever a libel was perpetrated on the good name of good tea it was in both these instances. The hideous concoction, devoid of any real flavour, that was supplied was—well, honestly, words fail me. One would hardly think it possible for anyone to nave the hide to hand out such stuff. JSd bad was the tea, in fact, that it overshadowed the unsavoury nature of the sandwiches—a matter which became apparent at a later date, when our gastric | organs showed in very plain manner their resentment at being asked to i tenant such undesirable hosts, and i promptly issued an ejectment order. I trust that The Sun will be the organ to bring about an improvement. Meantime my advice to travellers is TAKE AN ANTIDOTE. IN THE BEGINNING Sir, Recognising that the contents of the -Bible have been repeatedly copied, revised, and translated by human agenev, no one should expect the Scriptures to bo absolutely without flaw. But few will ever doubt that the Bible is essentially true. No one knows and understands all that the Bible contains. Repeated reading reveals to us more of its veiled truths. Science has helped, and can help much further. If it has taken thousands of years to find proof for the creation story, can we expect to make everything clear all at once, and to have all people see alike? “A.E.C.” again misrepresents me—l hope unwittingly—when he savs that I do not know of “any” contradictions, etc. The latest questions raised by him are perhaps more for the theologian. I recognise that the natural laws and natural elements are ordered by superhuman intelligence. I claim that they explain the whole history of the earth, past, present, and future, and do so in accordance with all that the; Bible tells us upon the subject. The further one looks into this wonderful history, the more he finds of marvellous design. Such revelations have given me, as nothing else had done, complete confidence in the Scriptures. The design argument has nothing to do with the basis of my work. As to the perfection of nature’s •works, even the pagan philosophers agreed that whatever is natural t is right or best. What is wrong is our neglect or perversion of nature. The (Continued in next column)

greatest blessings may become curses unless used properly. Man, like everything else in creation, is in process of slow evolution. Ido not mean that he is descended from the monkey or any still lower form of life. Apparently he is God’s masterpiece. But we know that he is not yet perfect. He must have successive stages of existence. If we search the whole of creation, or the tiniest part of it, we find three things: natural elements, natural laws, and wisdom directing all things. Man is composed of all these. Science admits the first two cannot be annihilated. Why should the soul, the highest part, made in the likeness of God, and capable of unlimited development, be the only portion to perish?

It is not my aim to eradicate disease germs. Most germs, if not all, are actually beneficial to us. Who knows their ultimate purposes? As is known to medical science, it is only when conditions of the germ and of the mar permit of harm that harm results. I am finding why and when the harmful conditions exist, and striving to avoid or mitigate these by following nature’s dictates. Our vaunted civilisation is fraught with things which encourage the spread of disease. It is for us to learn and follow God's laws, not to blame Him for our own follies. Yes, in New Zealand, for instance, insect and other pests play great havoc. They threaten to destroy the whole wonderful fauna and flora of this country, and each year the economic outlook grows worse. Plant and animal associations have been disarranged. Plant and animal life, harmless in its natural habitat, has become ruinous when introduced here. Otir hope lies in nature’s power of gradual readjustment. Are we to blame th« Creator, or give credit to science for altering the face of the country? Even earthquakes and tornadoes serve some good purposes. They are both conducive to the ultimate amelioration of all life, both essential to the development of this world. If we live where such disturbances occur, we must provide against them, and it is our duty to learn to prognosticate their occurrence. Some of the lower animals already do this, and put to shame our world of science, which knows nothing of the purpose, cause, and nature of either an earthquake or a tornado. I say positively that ere long these phenomena and many others, including ordinary weather changes, will be forecast weeks, months, and years in advance. I, being very busy, and my letter alreadv lengthv, beg to defer reference to Adam and Joshua till a later issue. If the Rev. Mr. Shebbeare’s words bear the interpretation “A.E.C.” would give them, then they afford another deplorable example of the Church being milled by science. The meaning of Professoi* James’s quoted -words Is by no means clear. Let me suggest thelr being read alone with Ms Published uork. which speaks of all material creation as a blind hiding Y'tldnemore real and more important things. of a spiritual nat^ Er , K n FIELD.