Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 677, 31 May 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

A FALLEN FENCE Sir. What might have been a fatal accident happened one afternoon this week. A fence recently erected on the footpath in front of what will be a new block of buildings either fell down or was blown down, and struck a small child going hopie from school. If permission is given to erect these fences on the pathway, they should at least be erected in a manner that they will not endanger either life or limb. Furthermore, parents might reasonably expect that one or other of our building inspectors will have made sure that such fences as these are not a danger. It is a matter for thankfulness that no serious injury was inflicted; nevertheless the matter is one for inquiry by the authorities, and some explanation should be forthcoming. CIVIS. A PROFESSOR’S ADDRESS Sir, — After hearing Professor SperrinJohnson’s lecture on Evolution at Auckland University College I feel that some of my criticism of his address to the Rotary Club was rather hasty. My principal complaint was that he overstated his case, but I now realise that I did not make due allowance for the fact that the time at his disposal was very limited. He could only deal with his big subject in a very broad and general way. There was no time for complicated qualifications or a nice balancing of the evidence. His lecture at University College was thoroughly scientific. He was careful to distinguish between fact *and theory, knowledge and conjecture, probability and possibility. His frank, admission of difficulties and disagreements as to details made his main argument all the more convincing. The theory of Evolution is certainly the best explanation of the known facts that has so far been produced. One of those who took part in the discussion stated that Professor E. W. MacEride is an anti-Evolutionist. This statement is quite wrong. In 1924 I attended a conference at Oxford and heard Professor Macßride explain and defend the theory of Evolution The mistaken idea that he is an antiEvolutionist may be accounted for by the concluding sentence of his lecture. Ho said: “True Evolution is a vital phenomenon and is not capable of any mechanical explanation whatever.*’ NORMAN BURTON. A WORD ON ART Sir.— Now tiiat the annual Auckland Art Exhibition is upon us again, it is fitting to review the position Art holds in Auckland and consider what can be don© to further appreciation by the public in this centre. The main drawback seems to be that the public has only one chance a year of viewing a representative exhibition of local

paintings, and that interest wanes during the rest of the year until the next exhibition is due. Something is certainly needed to keep the public informed that Art has a definite place in their lives, and no better medium can be devised than an exhibition of good paintings which will show them just how attractive and necessary Art is for each individual. The person who buys a picture, in most cases, makes his purchase from a shop. He knows of no other place where a purchase can be made. If exhibitions are held frequently liis interest is naturally aroused, the fact stays in his mind, and eventually he will know where to look for a picture when lie is ready to purchase. It would be a fine thing if the art societies in New Zealand could cooperate to a greater extent than they do at present and arrange to have collections sent to the different centres for exhibition, and so keep the works produced in New Zealand continuously before the buying public. This is done in other countries, and the exhibitions prove as successful as the annual shows. The Art Society has made a move in the right direction this year by having - a referendum taken by the public to judge the best picture in the show, and if some body such as the City Council would stretch a point and make a grant of a reasonable sum every year for the best picture judged by the public for hanging in the Auckland Gallery, it would be a boon. VISTA. lODINE AND INFLUENZA Sir, Remarkable results have been obtained by the use of iodine on the tongue as a preventive against influenza. The experiment was made in Uganda by Dr. J. A. Taylor, after the success of the same treatment in cases of spotted fever. Describing the result in the “British Medical Jouanal,” Dr. Taylor says that ordinary tincture of iodine was mixed with an equal part of native honey, and two or- three drops placed on the tongue at least every three hours. This was in November, 3 918, and In the following month, when the disease became prevalent, the Europeans who took the iodine escaped the disease, and none of the natives died. Among the others the mortality was high. In one family the father, who was in daily contact with influenza cases in all stages, escaped altogether; the remainder of the family who used the iodine less regularly, had mild attacks. One child took a liking for the mixture, ami managed to obtain frequent applications of the medicine, and escaped infection. CITIZEN. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENT j “ F ** r . p ;, a y-” “Satisfied Pupil” and | Pupil.” Thp case is sub judice and ! The C s nnot publish your letters.—Ed.