Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 707, 5 July 1929, Page 9

Citizens Say

(To the

Editor.)

ABOUT AN APOSTROPHE

Sir, — I was reading a leading article in The Sun the other evening and came across the expression “for conscience’ sake.” That apostrophe without an “s.” Is it correct? I have had an argument with my wife, who says it is. NESFIELD. Your wife wins the wager. Words ending in “-ce” and followed by “sake,” or by other words beginning with “s,” take an apostrophe but no “s.”—Editor, The Sun.

A SONG OF THANKSGIVING

In a moment of patriotic exuberance, I bought a copy, a day or two ago, of “A Song of Thanksgiving,” which I understand the authors want sung in the churches on Sunday, the day of Empire thanksgiving fo.r the recovery of his Majesty King George. Well, sir, if this effort is to be sung universally, I am going to hold a solo thanksgiving service on top of Mount Eden. Sir, I can’t believe that Canon Grant Cowen had a hand in the production of this jingle, which for abject crudity seems to me to transcend the most sickly Sankey and Moody “soul saver.” I have not yet heard the refrain. It is marked maestoso zcith fervour, and there seems to be an abundance of quavers. Maybe the grandeur of the melody compensates for the inadequacy of the words. C.W.

THOSE COLLECTIONS

Sir,— I was astonished to read in last evening’s issue of the latest decree of our Education Board re banning collections in the schools in aid of earthquake relief funds. It is amusing to read that the chairman reported that “the board’s policy was not to allow collections of any description in the ■schools.” This decision is another of the inconsistencies of the board which is becoming notorious for its autocratic attitude toward many questions of paramount importance. As a parent, I can tell of many collections ma.de in the schools, and would be glad to know when the collections were banned? Last year we had collections for the unemployed; the dental clinic (twice, by means of tickets, sold by teachers for picture entertainments); sports materials; swimming instructor’s fees; collections of clothing, etc., for the poor. The teachers regularly collect money and hand it in to the bank; and now,

apparently, they have to collect fares on behalf of the Transport Board. The last two are instances of institutions getting service for nothing at the expense of the teachers. Then, again, we send money to the teachers to pay itinerant photographers for the photos which the board authorises them to take in school hours. Two or three times a year the children ask for threepence to hand to the teachers for admission to juggling shows. The beard permits at least two of these wandering showmen to exhibit their performing mice, etc., in school hours. For all these things, it appears, the teachers collect the money from the pupils. How inconsistent! Speciallyselected educational films, described by an expert, are strictly banned in school hours; likewise collections for such a disaster as the recent earthquake are not permitted, yet the board authorises these juggling shows, of little educational value, to be held in the schools and allows collections to be made for them. Most of us realise that many of the collections made are for deserving and necessary objects, but why must the board be so inconsistent in its attitude? The “Help One Another” Spirit is a worthy one to instil into young minds, and here is a golden opportunity for a practical demonstration. PARENT.

C.O.’S AND STATE SERVICE

Sir, — May I correct certain misconceptions regarding the attitude of conscientious objectors to non-military service? For the dissemination of these the Press Is not to blame, having been misled by certain churchmen stating as actual facts what were merely their private opinions arrived at without full knowledge of the situation. So far from the present conscientious objectors having ever refused to do alternative work, they have several times publicly expressed willingness to perform non-military service. What they have turned down have been suggestions to set them to unusual tasks while still remaining within the military system. The pacifist’s position is this: He believes that only in doing his duty to God (i.e., to humanity as a whole, both present and future) can he rightly perform his (otherwise often clashing) duties to neighbours and State. Having thus entered the “Kingdom of God” it is one of bis tasks, positively, to work for social justice and goodwill among men, and negatively, to refuse to assist personally any organisation whose methods are a denial of brotherhood and goodwill. Hence his objection to being a

member of a military body: for him it is dis-serviee to God, and thereo. to the real interests of the community. His very refusal to put hunseit at military disposal he considers to t>e a real service to his country, s * nc ®.~L has diminished the risk of war to tha extent. He is thus prepared for an forms of national service but c^-. nn °J do them as a member of a military organisation. m For it is to being a member of a military organisation that the pacinbL objects—not to the actual drillingWere the learning of drill movements-, the only result of the system it wouia be equally useless for good or all trainees will testify, "t i--> tn G psychological effects of the: existenc of a military organisation which are evil; abroad, fear and suspicion oi our intentions; here, a belief that war i=> some time inevitable. No consistent worker for peace cax. therefore taK© part in any activity whatever, as a member of a military body—fur he would thereby be assisting the spread of these attitudes. But firs . sever hi* membership (Le., grant “exemption U and he is free for national service. This, sir, should make it plain pacifists are; moved by the opposite of anti-social motives when they refuse all work whatever if done a® members of militarj' bodies. The British and American peoples are evidently ahead of New Zealanders m realising this fact, seeing they have just elected to the control of their national destinies two Christian pacifists —MacDonald and Hoover A. M. RICHARDS.