Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 592, 19 February 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

MODERN SAVAGES Sir. — The mooted erection of a gas chamber in our midst has served as a fresh reminder of the horrors attendant on modern warfare. Prevention of war, so much talked of in recent years, seems as far away as ever judging: by the utterances of our present world leaders. Can our Churches help the cause of peace while they sanction a continuance of the military machine by the conducting of church parades? The recent army manoeuvres in Britain, perhaps described at the time as awe-inspiring and glorious, could really be viewed as a replica of an oldtime savage war dance. Perhaps the saviour of the situation, finally, will turn out to be that much despised person of the last war—the conscientious objector. RETURNED SOLDIER. Paeroa. “A GRIM JOKE” Sir, — Permit me to congratulate your cartoonist, “Minhinnick,” upon his clever and well-conceived subject depicting a possible gas chamber ceremony at Devenport. Though a delightfully humorous sketch, the picture told its story with eminent success. What with gas-masked officers trying out the place first with a terror-stricken unmasked sailor—in the presence of a guard with fixed bayonets, plenty of bunting in the offing, and a very contenten individual witnessing the “sacrifice,” the cartoon suggests something of the fertile imagination and inimitable satire of New Zealand’s famous David Low. An equally clever, sarcastic and laughable letter appeared on the same subject over the pen of “Only a Jingo.” I really believe that people are so superficial to-day that the crime of war and its encouragement, under the pretext of defence and preparation, will be better understood if the horrors are portrayed by the employment of wit. War is nothing if not a grim joke upon innocent unthinking civilisation. Q.E.D. THE CHOICE OF A CAREER Sir— Your leading article last Saturday made very interesting reading. This country certainly has splendidlyequipped university and technical colleges for turning out medical men, lawyers and engineers, but what about the pi-ospects of the young man? The medical profession is hopelessly overcrowded. I doubt whether the average physician in Auckland earns £BOO a year. Many lawyers are glad to earn £6 a week as ordinary law clerks. The Canterbury College of Engineering is turning out. yearly, highly-skilled mechanical, electrical and civil engineers, who mostly leave our shores to

get positions with adequate salaries elsewhere. In regard to tradesmen, the position is even worse. The labour market in the engineering trade is flooded with fitters, turners, moulders' and so on. At no time during my 30 years* residence in New Zealand has it been so difficult as it is now to get constant employment in the engineering trade. Leaving the motor trade out of the question, I am certain there are now less men employed pro rata of the population in the iron trade than there were 34 years ago. At that time most of the agricultural machinery was manufactured in New Zealand. Many men were also employed in the manufacture of steam engines, boilers, cooking ranges, bicycles and brass mouldings. The engineering trade in this country has gone to the dogs. Nearly everything is now imported, even such easily manufactured articles as wire nails, of which millions must he used. The remedy for such a deplorable condition is a high protective tariff. Compel the wealthy and experienced manufacturers to bring their plants and experts to the country in the same way as Australia is doing. America has done the same thing, and look at the results. No purely agricultural country can become rich and prosperous. History has proved this time and again. After the Franco-Prussian War Germany became a manufacturing country, with the result that in the short period of 30 years she could compete successfully in the markets of the world. This could only be done in the first place by protecting the manufacturers. The same could he ’ done here on a smaller scale. This country needs population, but work must be provided by establishing industries. ENGINEER MEMORIAL TO GOVERNOR HOBSON Sir,I respectfully submit that it is high time that the country woke up to the neglect of Governor Hobson’s grav** down below, the level of Symonds Street. I consider it a disgrace to New Zealand, seeing that Hobson fought for this country’s interests in the early days of the Dominion, and really gave his life for us all, who now reap the benefit. Hitherto all the Governments have jibbed on putting up a fitting memorial to his memory, but seeing that the present Ward Ministry is to have seventy millions to play with, I think that it should spare some of the money for a fitting memorial to his memory. My suggestion is that call be issued for designs of a memorial to be erectced in front of our War Memorial Museum on the nat in front of the building, and that the remains of our first Governor, be placed under the monument. First, second and third prizes for the best three designs should he offered. The competition should be thrown open to all Iff® ’AV,' 1 talent In the Dominion. I am Willing to pay a couple of guineas i° w ard such a fund if anyone cares £Li ?L° W STT example. Sir, please feel tlie public pulse in thie direction. OLD PIONEER C 1845).