Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 601, 1 March 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

PREPARATION Sir, — I was very interested in “B.P.’s” vivid description of the effects of these war gases, and I suppose I am only one of many who will see that no relative of mine will have anything to do with the Devonport chamber, or any other such experimental house. Beside the letter referred to, I notice one by “Old Contemptible,” attempting to justify and encourage war, by the military route, “preparation.” He forgets that New Zealand won’t be in a position to rush troops anywhere if another useless war occurs. “Old Contemptible” is either too dense, despite his experience, or too proud about liis participation in war, to recognise the rights, civil and divine, of the majority against war. Of the latter fact there is no possible doubt when one takes into consideration the natural aversion of our womankind from war. NEW GLORY. LOANS AND REPAYMENT Sir. When the huge loans (for which rates are levied to repay) were raised, the capital value of the property in the area raising the loans was pledged in security. Ratepayers voted for loans under the agreement that rates for repayment were to be collected on the basis of the capital valuation on their property. Some people are now trying to shirk their responsibility by voting unimproved value rating. The urban areas have had most of these loans expended in sewerage, pavements, etc., in their own areas, leaving the rural areas nothing. That one section of these ratepayers can agree to shirk its responsibility for repayment of the loans, and make another section pay the piper, is against both right and law. and the first person who brings a test case surely must win. All loans raised during tiie time that the rating was levied on a capital valuation must be repaid by rates collected on a capital valuation, and vice versa. HAROLD SCHMIDT. BAD ROADS IN CITY Sir.— Auckland may rightly be proud of its fine stretches of concrete .roads both in the city and suburbs, but two of the principal streets of the city are badly in need of repairs and have” been for a long time. I refer to Karangahape Road and "Upper Queen Street, both of which are in a shocking condition. especially the former, which is a danger to motorists and to pedestrians. The wooden blocks which form the paving in Karangahape Road have outlived their usefulness and are nQ\v a menace. In one or two places they have sunk and worn, leaving potholes only equalled on country roads, b urtlier, tlio metal paving alongside

(To the Editor.)

and between the tramlines has been allowed to go so far that the tramlines are considerably above the level of the roads. The result is that instead of being one of the best in Auckland the road is easily the worst, and it constitutes just as much a danger to the pedestrians as to the motorists.. Car drivers naturally make for the best part of what little road there is, and that is near to the footpaths, and anybody stepping off the kerb suddenly would have little chance. I have frequently seen women and children, in crossing the road, trip over the protruding wooden blocks and also the tramlines, sometimes directly in the path of the traffic. That such a busy thoroughfare us Karangahape Road should he allowed to deteriorate to such a state is beyond my comprehension. Upper Queen Street is in much better condition, but nevertheless a little attention would make a great deal of difference. REPAIRS NEEDED. MATERIALISM Sir, — I have made an exhaustive investigation into the phenomena of spiritualism. There is but a small oortion of this phenomena which cannot be satisfactorily explained, and because it is unexplainable, my spiritualistic friends must not attribute such phenomena to the existence of a world of spirits. The early scientists could not lay their hands on the cause of the last Ice Age—an age that slew nearlv all animal life on the earth. We now know the cause—the uplifting of the earth’s crust, produced by an internal aberration of the heat forces. The onus of proof rests with the spiritualists. To quote the names of men who are investigating proves nothing. Is your Taihape correspondent aware that at no later a period than the end ot the seventeenth century the Chief Justice of England affirmed in open court his belief in witchcraft? HERBERT MULVIHILL. DODGING “THE BLUE ROOM” Sir.— I have challenged “A.E.C.” to confute Denis Bradley’s books and "The Blue Room.” Plow has he replied? He has given a list of books and writers, which is quite beside the question. If any- of these books or writers have evidence bearing on the subject, he should adduce it. In a Rationalist meeting I referred to Bradley’s account of a whole set of orchestral instruments which was lifted from the floor and marvellously played by invisible musicians. Then several Rationalists spring to their feet shouting. and the chairman said my five minutes were up—but they were not! Now, this phenomenon is something which “A.E.C.” and psychologists cannot explain on other than :l spiritual hypothesis. Another gentleman stated in the same meeting that if lie got (Continued in next column)