Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 576, 31 January 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

THE NAVAL TARGET Sir, I would like to call “John Citizen’s” attention to the paragraph headed “Cannon Fodder” by the “Hook-out Man” in your issue of the 17th inst. I would also call attention to the fact that shells fired at a range of approximately five miles arrive at their destination at a fairly steep angle, and to “hit” the target would necessitate their striking within an area equal to the length of the target by some 15 feet wide. As I have reason to believe that the target was actually struck about IS times during the heavy gun practice, it is obvious that the ships of the New Zealand Division maintain tne high standard of efficiency of the British Navy. NAVY LEAGUE. “MAN PROPOSES . . ” Sir,— Your recent leader entitled “The Birthday at makes interesting reading for students of history. The exiled monarch who would fain recall the glories of vanished days has his counterparts by the score in the “blotted pages of the past.” But, fortunately for the human race, the men who lived but for their own glory and selfish ends rarely come back once the heyday of their glory has expired. Nations like individuals learn slowly, and usually through painful experience, but the lessons taught by the greatest teacher of all, like burnt-in brands, are not easily erased. “Whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad,” says the old proverb, and the truth of the adage was never better exemplified than in the ease of the exKaiser, of whom it might well be said Ithat he was singled out for destruction from the moment he adopted the Nietzchean creed that “there is no right but might.” How pleasant it is to turn from the contemplation of this fallen idol to the study of the lives of the great philosophers, scientists, poets, dramatists and others who, with no thought of self-agrandisement have given of their best to the uplifting of the human race and the eradication of the bruite instinct in man! That these men builded for eternity is the most uplifting thought of all and no further assurance than this is needed to prove that the time will come when “the meek shall inherit the earth.” J.M.J. COMMUNITY BUSES Sir, — The chairman of the Transport Board says that the privatelv-owned buses running before the notorious bus regulations were enforced were not paying. As I was a member of the Transport and Social Club which ran community buses on Dominion Road I can tell Mr. Alium that these buses were bought on time-payment with a very small deposit and the pavments

were about £3 a week, which had to be met out of the weekly takings. The community buses were run on voluntary subscriptions for nine months. Every driver had the strictest instructions not to take a penny from anyone. If they were not paying, why did not the council let them die out as they were run by poor men who could not get the credit for benzine that a council could. Why did it take nine months to find out that the voluntary contribution was a fare and illegal? When one bus was running they laughed at it, but when we got half a dozen they found out that the voluntary contribution was a fare. It was when we who own property beyond the trams found the bus regulations had such a disastrous effect on our property values that we decided on community buses and the smashing of these buses should stand out as one of the blackest spots in the Reform Government-City Council regime. Now that the residents beyond the trams have been goaded to desperation they will actually have a chance of voting for tram extension or nothing. Private bus owners are willing to give as frequent a service but faster and cheaper, than trams with no capital expenditure, but this is to be ruled out of court. Trackless trams can be put in at a quarter the cost if we insist on using electric power. This, too, is to be ruled out of court. Cannot the suburban members of the board hold up this poll until after the City Council elections, when there will be a bigger “boilover” than occurred at the General Elections. E. STEVENSON. EVOLUTION AND DESIGN Sir,— I quite agree with “Free Thinker’s” opinion that Paley’s design argument has never been successfully refuted. It has not been abandoned as worthless, but it has been extended and deepened, and the whole evolutionary process has been brought within its scope. The whole process is permeated bv design and purpose. “There is,” says Huxley, “a wider teleology (design) which is not touched by the doctrine of evolution, but is actually based upon the fundamental proposition of evolution.” A. R. Wallace, who shared with Darwin the honour of discovering the theory of evolution in its modern form, saw convincing evidence of Divine purpose in the universe. Lord Balfour asserts that the argument from design is also an argument from value, for value is lost if design is absent. It is destructive of rational values to root them in unreason, end the emotional values associated -with our beliefs about beauty and virtue must have some more congruous source than the blind transformation of physical energy. “Design is demanded by all that we deem most valuable in ; l “ by beauty, by morals, by scientific truth” (writes Lord Balfour), “and it is design far deeper in purpose, far (Continued in next column)

richer in significance, than any which could be inferred from the most ingenious and elaborate adjustments displayed by organic life.” NORMAN BURTON. HORRIBLE BATHING SHEDS Sir, Your excellent article recently regarding the condition of bathing sheds at the various beaches was well-timed, and it is to be hoped that steps will be taken to bring about a better state of affairs before a serious epidemic occurs. At one beach in particular —Narrow Neck—the stench from the sheds is atrocious, owing to inadequate sanitary conveniences. A discharge from the shed trickles down the beach and innocent children play ‘in the sand through which it passes. Within the last fortnight two deaths of children in one family have occurred, due, it has been said, to something picked up on the beach. Will the authorities wait for a series of tragedies before awaking to the danger from these horrible sheds. CORPORE SANO. THREE BOOKS Sir,— I, like many other of your readers, have been keenly interested in this discussion. Doubtless the writers of the various letters on the subject earnestly desire to know the truth concerning this and similar matters. Before the correspondence on the subject ceases, may I earnestlj' commend to your many readers three very helpful and instructive booklets, “Forethought in Creation” and “Evolution Contrasted with Scripture Truth,” by W. Bell Dawson, M.A., D.Sc., M.LC.E., F.R.S.C. Also, “The Bible and Modern Science,” by Major L. Merson Davies, R.A., F.G.S. These booklets will, I feel sure, do much to solve the doubts and difficulties of many seekers after the truth. G.H.C. Hamilton-