Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 616, 19 March 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

IS IT A FAD? No doubt the recent letters advocating' open-air schools have emanated from earnest-minded individuals, but I think there are many faddists and cranks abroad. The modern child is too much studied and fussed. When we consider the awful conditions under which present-day adults were reared and educated, ’tis little short of miraculous that any of us ever reached sane, healthy maturity. OLD SCHOOL. THE FINAL TEST Sir, — Only the English, and that weird nationally unconscious type of New Zealander whose “spiritual home” is England, seem to begrudge Australians their well-earned victory in the fifth test match. Clearly, judged by recent experiences, what we would have had inflicted on us had England achieved her avowed objective, namely, “a clean sweep,’ is to dreadful even to contemplate. Yet Messrs. Ryder and Co. can rest assured that their magnificent achievement has evoked both admiration and pleasure among not a few in this country, who during the last few weeks have had a great deal to tolerate. MUDDIED OAF. MUNICIPAL MUSIC Sir, —■ At the latest meeting of the Auckland City Council the question of organ recitals was brought forward in a report from the Finance Committee. In speaking to that report, I pointed out that in my opinion we could not afford to continue municipal organ recitals under the present conditions. I wish to point out a few facts with which the public is probably not acquainted. We pay our organist £6OO per annum; the tuner’s salary is an additional £2OB per annum. Add to this the cost of lighting, advertising, cleaning of Town Mall, printing, and sale of tickets, remuneration to artists, pianist, music, rent, and other items I have omitted, say £6OO a year in all, or approximately £1,400 expenses annually. Taking the figures as supplied by the town clerk from March 7, 1928, to August 22, six months inclusive, I find that the total receipts for 10 concerts, including two given by the Municipal Choir, amounted to £4S 6s 6d.

Ratepayers will readily see that it is costing the council about £7O for each performance, and the gross return is only £4 8s 7d for each of these performances. Wellington pays its organist £375 a year, and this covers repairs and general overhaul every seven years. Wellington’s cost of upkeep is only £ 105 19s a year. I have no figures to hand as to Wellington’s income. Here the council has done everything possible to attract public attention. The latest music has

been procured, and yet it fails to attract an attendance to the concerts. The people as a whole in Auckland are a music-loving community. What is wrong? Are we not suiting the public taste, or has the public acquired a liking for other kind of music and entertainment ? Certainly, for a very long time only a mere handful of our citizens seems to have appreciated this class of music, and the question arises, is it the duty of the council to continue spending so much of the ratepayers’ money to appease the “organ” appetite of just an infinitesimal percentage of the community? I realise that it is the responsibility of the council to respond to the wish of those that elect it, but when we find that we have exhausted all our efforts to encourage the people to attend and they emphatically say “No,” are we justified in continuing under present conditions what may be termed music on the desert “ear.” W. H. MURRAY, Councillor.

MATERIALISM Sir, “Uncritical credulity” one would in- ' deed have who accepts the assertions of “A.E.C.” From Bertrand Russell’s own words, I have shown that he is not a materialist, as “A.E.C.” asserted. Now I go further and challenge “A.E.C.” to show that Bertrand Russell ever wrote such a, book as “The Analysis of Matter.” Before me is a recent list of books by that author. “The Analysis of Mnid” is in that list. Perhaps that is the book “A.E.C.” meant, and the title given was near enough, for one with the critical incredulity of your correspondent. Id my last letter I referred to certain “religious scientists,” and now “A.E.C.” asks me to quote the “Christian Scientists” to whom I referred. In justice to “A.E.C.” and myself, it should be /known that in my last letter I dealt at length with his arguments against the evidence of “The Blue Room,” but not all of my letter was published. I did not say his views were “eroneous,” but used stronger language in condemning them. I presume that on account of its length my letter was abbreviated. Every critical, scientific thinker knows that the spiritualist explanation of “The Blue Room” phenomena holds the position unless and until a more reasonable explanation can be adduced. It is mere bluff for “A.E.C.’ to say: “There seems to be a simpler explanation.” Why in the name of truth and science does he not give it? We are told that the Valiantine seances were “in pitch darkness.” This was not true in every case, and luminous paint was applied to musical instruments. But all seances of “The Blue Room” was in good light. Lord Hope and Dennis Bradley are represented as disagreed as t<s the number of foreign tongues spoken, but not as to the fact of communication by the direct voice. When unknown tongues are employed, it is impossible normally to say how many languages are used. And Bradley may j have had other seances in mind when | he suggested 30 as the number. A I gramophone record of direct speech,

in classical Chinese, through the medium of Valiantine, has been mad '. And a university professor of Chinese interrogated the communicating spirit, and received satisfactory replies to difficult passages in the writings of Confucius. I'tfo doubt “a careful examination on the spot” by “A.E.C.” would prove Geley and all the rest guilty of uncritical credulity. J. G. HUGHES. (This correspondence has spent, itself, and must now be closed.—Ed., The Sun.) BIBLE IN SCHOOLS Sir, — The committee of the Bible demonstration held at the Town Hall last Thursday has asked me to convey t<» you their thanks for the space accorded in The Sun to a report of the above meeting. At the same time the committee takes strong exception to the paragraph which reflects on the calibre of that gathering. In the first place, it is not true to fact, and furthermore it casts an undeserved slur on the Christian womanhood of Auckland. The addresses themselves were weighty and moderate in tone. The audience, as well as the platform, wa* a widely representative one and contained many men well known in ministerial and business circles; men of influence in this our city of Auckland. We regret so misleading a statement should have been allowed to appear. 11. YOLLAND, Hon. Sec. LThe paragraph to which exception has been taken read as follows: — “The large hall was packed from stalls to gallery with an enthusiastic crowd, consisting mainly of women, who eagerly applauded fiery speeches from several Auckland ministers.” To suggest that it “cast an undeserved slur on the Christian womanhood of Auckland” is a grotesque inference. Eager or enthusiastic applause is anything but a slur, and fiery or spirited speeches in these days of slackness are sincerely to be admired. The calibre of the gathering was manifestly above reproach and the attention given to its puipose and influence demonstrated The Sun’s .active sympathy with the earnest work of all the churches.—Editor, The Sun.] SERVICE FIRST Sir.— I read a letter in your correspondence columns a day or two ago concerning Christianity and the struggle for existence. The tone of the letter was undoubtedly bitter, and I thought that the writer perhaps had been readin* up the Bishop Cherrington, Genera* Booth, and the recent Prayer Book controversies. He would probably find it extremely difficult, as so many peopj must, to reconcile the essence aa£ manipulation of these matters, with practical Christianity. The irrelevant nonsense, the calling-in of the lav. and the many thousands spent on th* Prayer Book alterations are all a*, cidedly unchristian. Most occupatio , v are a business nowadays, not excepting Christianity, as exemplified hy various religious bodies, and if. business is to be a paying there is very little to give away-. - virtue were the only reward for Chrisfain service the dearth of j and parsons would be amply repaid bj | the sincerity of those who __