Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 600, 28 February 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

QUARRELLING WITH MINISTER Sir. It is very regrettable that any local authority should pass such a resolution as was passed by the Waitemata County Council against the Minister of Internal Affairs. Probably it is the first time in New Zealand that a local authority had flouted the spirit of a statutory law in the way the council did. It is this that has called forth the interference by his Excellency the Governor-General, through his Minister, of which the council complains. Considering the whole circumstances, the Minister has been very generous to the council. MASSEY. POINT CHEVALIER Sir, A lot of fuss has been made by a few members of a sailing club about shifting sand on the Point Chevalier Beach. This seems to be, sir, a storm in a teacup. There have always been stumps and clay showing on that beach —sometimes more than others, and since the ground above has been broken up, it is likely to show still more. The protest from the Progress League doesn’t count for much. It would be interesting to know the membership of that body. Four or five men can call themselves anything. Why was it that the Ratepayers’ Association was not notified of this meeting of protest?? It is an association that was elected at a public meeting, and lias a committee of 23 members. As soon as we call a meeting our hall is crowded to the doors. We alone represent the Point. It was a surprise to hundreds here to hear of this Progress League meeting. RATEPAYER. FIGURES AND FACTS Sir, Jf figures could prove anything, which they can’t, except arithmetical problems, your correspondent, Mr. Casley’s, statistics would tend to show that at the outbreak of the Great War we were the best prepared of all the nations of the world. So far as the navy was concerned, no doubt we led the way, though even there, if I remember aright, complaints were made about our guns being outranged by the Germans on one occasion. But is it not true that we had to set to and create a citizen army after the warhad commenced, and even when the conflict was in full swing were not our men hung up for a long time owing to lack of munitions? Did such a state of affairs indicate preparedness or the reverse? Certainly we did muddle through, in accordance with all British tradition, but at what cost? The fundamental difference between Britain and Germany prior to the war was this: In Germany preparedness was a matter of policy. In Britain it was an affair of politics. Who does not remember the election that was fought and won on the slogan: “We want eight and we won’t wait"? Fig-

ures are useful things to politicians. They can prove anything with “statistical hot-air.” But cold, brutal facts have so often knocked their arguments end-ways, that the average thinking man is almost inclined to regard the multiplication table itself with suspicion in consequence. J.M.J. “IN TIMES LIKE THESE Sir,— "When one reads of the gas chamber to be erected in our beautiful marine suburb, one asks if we are still living m the dark ages. Let the Christian chuiches make one united protest in no uncertain voice. General Maurice. Director of Military Operations on the British General Staff, has said: "I believe now that if you prepare for War thoroughly and efficiently, you get war.” "VVar creates chaos which has to be ultimately settled by discussion. The preparation for the last war was the work of countless brains centred on destruction. Now it is the duty of all to make those brains concentrate upon the task of construction and peace. MARIANNE M. JONES. SPIRITUALISM SCIENTIFICALLY EXPLAINED Sir, With regard to Bertrand Russell it is sufficient to say of Mr. Hughes’s estimate that he bases it on one book, that he does not quote the conclusions objected to, and that responsible Enghsh literary authorities endorse the author (who is a Fellow of the Royal Society) as one of our leading philoKOPineal writers, despite his materialism. Nor have I any intention of wasting any time on Mr. Hughes’s Ro ny i™ ISr , epresentati ° ns of mv posithat 1 asserted there AJ? * a . nd *l° spirit, his transparJ" ® l ? ort . to Place me among those f ,.t ral y the Who,e ot ' spiritualism as hand, his assertion that I label spiritualism folly, which was his own simple but vaunted method of disposing of materialism Mr- Hughes’s central argument for spiritualism is the argument from ignorance. Science, he says, cannot yet room ln th he f phenomena - of the seance room, therefore spiritualism is true Lven where valid, the argument is ■ sin !? e ‘ as has happened on a inultitude of similar occasions, the explanation may be waiting R„t m jUSt around the corner. Woiu ths present instance. Mr. Hughes seems unaware that the scienwtnl„ EX ftt natlOD ■ of Practically the mi m f th ° genuine residue of spiritPlished n ? m t na ’l- actual 'y an accomplished fact. Spiritualism aims at tY.°f VlnS that _. we ,lve after death, and and l ooptruuhiPation between the dead actua *R' takes place, hence the fundamental phenomena of spiritualism are trance mediumship, automatic writing, and crystal-gazing. As (Continued in next column.)

stated in my last letter, each of these has been made the subject of thorough analytical study, and thousands oC extraordinary cases are on record that have been resolved in a simple scientific manner. If, then, such phenomena, when properly controlled under research conditions by psychologists and pathologists, is proved to have a purely naturalistic foundation, the hypothesis of spirits is superfluous. There is an enormous literature on the subject. Just to mention a few more prominent books, in addition to the “Journal of Abnormal Psychology,” Mr. Hughes should read “Analytic Psychology,” by C. J. Jung, particularly the chapter entitled “The Psychology and Pathology of So-called Occult Phenomena,” “The Psychology of Insanity,” by Dr. Hart, “Abnormal Psychology,” by I. Coriat, “Multiple Personality*, ’* by Boris Sidis, “Spiritualism and the New* Psychology,” by Dr. M. Culpin, and “The Dissociation of a Personality,” by Dr. Prince. From these we learn that cases of dual and multiple personality are very numerous, and they -well illustrate the phenomena of trance mediumship, etc., even including the unconscious trickery often associated therewith. I cannot in the space of a short letter give illustrations of the interesting cases referred to, nor can I go fully into the scientific explanation of the bearing

of unconscious mind on the phenomena. But I will willingly quote some remarkable instances if called upon—phenomena absolutely baffling until the scientist places his finger on the simple naturalistic clue. Is it any wonder that those unacquainted with such facts easily accept the spirit hypothesis? Mental pathologists have for long been familiar with the genuine phenomena of spiritualism, and for the rest, the exposure of the many acts of deliberate trickery is admitted by all prominent spiritualists. It is rot necessary for my case that I should explain the reams of uncontrolled phenomena recorded by ardent and uncritical spiritualists in such books as “The Blue Room.” It is sufficient it I can show that similar phenomena, when scientifically controlled, can be explained without invoking the help of the spirit hypothesis.