Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 611, 13 March 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

UNEMPLOYMENT Sir, — When I wrote my first letter on unemployment I had no intention of keeping up a correspondence. My only object was, feeling sorry that so many willing workers could not find employment, to show a remedy. I must say that Mr. Bailey’s criticism has been very fair. He is looking at it from another angle. We may both be right. My contention is that it is better for everyone to be employed at lower wages, and the cost of living down, than to have a portion of the workers drawing high wages, and the rest being unemployed. Take bread and meat, the two most important articles in a household; these have increased to a very high price, due entirely to the higher wages paid in connection with those businesses, and the whole community has to suffer. I have nothing more to say. OLD EMPLOYER.

"UNDYING CONSCIOUSNESS” Sir, — “I am a spirit come from God and returning to God,” said John Wesley; in which view practically all religious persons concur. Wesley also said: “Think and let think.” If “A.E.C.” finds satisfaction in the godless pessimism of exploded materialism, he is welcome to it, but he need not expect intelligent persons to be so credulous. After naming various books and authors, as though they were favourable to materialism and against Spiritualism, not a word from one ox them has he quoted to justify his action. Bertrand Russell, hi# star witness, says: “Materialism as a philosophy becomes hardly tenable in view of the evaporation of matter.” .Russell, who is classed as a “Neo-Realist,” not as a materialist, suggests a different theory from materialism, of which he says: “I do not wish, as yet, to consider how far such a view should be adopted; I am only suggesting that it must replace materialism as a view to be seriously examined.”—“An Outline of Philosophy,” 1927, pp. 165 f. Mr. Norman Burton was perfectly correct when he said “A.E.C.’s” views were out of date; and “A.E.C.” was quite wrong when he wrote: “One of our leading 'materialists is the Hon. Bertrand Russell.” It would be amusing, if it were not so pathetic, to notice how “A.E.C.” has named religious scientists 1 of materialism. But “A.E.C.” now favours us with this passage from Flammarion: “The hvpothesis of spirits of an order other than human beings does not seem to be necessary.” The italics are mine, and are the point of the observation. Flammarion had “credulity” enough to accept the reality of spirits. But a later and greater French authority on this matter is Gustave Geley, director of the International Metaphysical Institute, Paris. At the end of his book, “From the Unconscious to the Conscious,” he reproduces photographs of materialisations. These are of “ectoplasm,” which Mr. C. E. Major refers to with contempt, but which a real scientist, like Dr. Tillyard, late of Cawtliron Institute, took the trouble to investigate and describe. “It is in the name of good sense,” says Geley, “that English and American investigators, weary of strife, and well aware of the disconcerting subleties which have been advanced to explain the mental side

of mediumsliip, have ended by accepting. with striking unanimity, the categorical and repeated affirmations of the communicators,” p. 267. “These notions (on mediumshiri ... permit the affirmation of the survival of the self.” Since this was written, 1918, there has come a regular landslide to Spiritualism, and materialism is now an utterly exnloded theory. “A.E.C.” is now worse than silent before the facts of Spiritualism. In regard to his erroneous statements about “The Blue Room,” I challenge “A.E.C.” to name any reasonable checking of the evidence which was not present. J. G. HUGHES. A TEST OF FAITH Sir,— Last Sunday I was struck by the crowds I saw Hooking into the churches; also at nearly every street corner were groups of different denominations, shouting and singing about Christianity. On reaching home, consisting of three underground rooms, and finding nothing to eat (I have been out of work nearly 12 months) I got the Book out to read what Christ taught. He said “Love God and love your neighbour as thyself.” I wonder how the clergy and their congregations can go and sing praises and ask for forgiveness of sins when they know there are hundreds like me, who have sold all their furniture to give food to their wives and children and cannot get any work. X am hoping the “Book” is misquoted when it says, “In the latter days it shall be as in the days of Noah.” OUT OF WORK. A SUN-SPOT Sir, A large sun-spot was distinctly visible to the naked eye shortly before sunset last evening (i.e„ 12th). Viewed at that time of the da.y it appeared a little to the left of the sun’s centre. Ko doubt it will remain visible till it passes round the western limb of the sun about next Sunday. Its position (not determined exactly) is such that the conditions associated with it might have been expected to disturb the weather in this part of the world for the past week and to cause an earthquake in or near New Zealand about last Saturday or Sunday. In reference to impending earthquakes. I had better perhaps repeat that though Auckland may experience slight shakes, it is physically impossible for any really serious earthquake to occur here now. F. R. FIELD. OPEN AIR SCHOOLS Sir, — Although I cannot endorse all that “Teacher” says, I can sympathise with his views on ultra-conservative headmasters. Many have almost reached retiring age and that “the old order changeth” is to them an irksome fact What was good enough in the Victorian age is not good enough for us. ’Tis indeed easy to sit by a comfortable radiator or cosy fire in winter time and issue commands. It is equally easy to con the daily paper and (Continued in next column.)

peruse tb«» mail. What boots it that the overworked staff struggles on unaided with classes of overwhelming numbers stifled in stuffy rooms in summer and exposed to draughts innumerable during winter, in their “ideal” type of modern buildings? Why worry though the children are cramped up in uncomfortable, antiquated desks in a poisonous atmosphere! It would not be fair to lump all headmasters into this sere and yellow company. There are many earnest, live-wires in our noblest of professions, but there are also many ancient fathers who with their dogmatic pronouncements immediately attempt to short-circuit any innovations. Openair schools are coming! Open-air schools are here! This is an open-air country and we demand the heritage of God’s fresh air and sunshine for every child in New Zealand. If the “ancient mariners” live long enough they will doubtless turn over the files of back newspapers and say, “WTiat fools we were!” MALE ASSISTANT. LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS Sir. — Some months ago you published a letter of mine in which I severely criticised the reading room of the central library as a “second-hand shop in distress*.” Now I am always ready to give credit where it is due. And so I take the opportunity of extending congratulations to the library authorities upon the reforms instituted. There are now about twice as many newspaper holders as there used to be. There are also handy tables on which to place back files, and the back- stretching lectern like shelves have now given place to substantial tables at which one can sit and read in comfort. Tne papers are also very much better kepc As one who appreciates all these reforms, I offer congratulations to me authorities for them. R. M. THOMSON.