Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 720, 20 July 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say—

(To the Editor.)

“THE ENORMOUS ROOM”

Sir,— I laughed when I read the letter of “Bookworm,” pointing out the merits of “The Enormous Room” and commending the library oflicials for permitting it to be placed in circulation. There is nodoubt about the qual—ity of the work. And to have removed the racy expressions would have been to emasculate the quality. Still “All Quiet on the \Vestern Front” is posi—tivoly tame—from some points of View ——(~.onlpared with this lively account of life in a. French prison for men and women suspected of espionage and other not uninteresting offences. APULEIUS.

ESPERANTO IN SCHOOLS

Sir.— A. correspondent Writes to The Sun regarding the teaching of Esperanto in schools, that to learn English, thoroughly, is first necessary. This is not the opinion of teachers who have been using Esperanto in their schools a)ready. I met many such men at the world’s congress at Antwerp last year and they spoke without exception of the great help Esperanto had proved in the teaching of English and other national languages. Like Italian, Esperanto has only five vowel sounds, while other languages have many more, opening up as many paths of error. Children like to learn Esperanto because it is a system of wordbuilding made up from the roots of many words. in many languages, with the addition of prefixes and suffixes, and they can do much to learn it With—out. depending entirely on,their teach—ers. For “quantity," English stands first in the world languages; for qual—ity. Esperanto. As shorthand is to ordinary writing so Esperanto is to other languages. B. KING.

MOSQUITOES AND DUMPS

Sirv— , As one of Auckland’s many sufferers from mosquito bites, I would like to endorse "Sufferer’s" remarks in your valuahle paper of the 15111 inst. L too, have carefully watched The Sun to see what the Mosquito Committee had to say about its research officer's finding of dangerous mosquitoes on overseas vessels arriving at Auckland. The apathy of our local bodies in face of such menacehis appalling.” A _ _

Since reading Mr. David Graham‘s statement about mosquitoes breeding in almost every backyard and vacant section in Auckland. I have taken par-

ticular notice of these places and it is surprising the number of tins and useless rubbish dumped in and around our city. Apart from mosquitoes. this is an eyesore to the aesthetic person. and quite unnecessary. It would be interesting to many to hear if Mr. Graham has found any other vermin in these localities. Possibly it is a. case of “If those lips were allowed to speak.” A A

It was with very great pleasure that I read in the Whangarei “Advocate," where Dir. Graham met the local mayor, sanitary inspector and others, who within a. week decided to follow his advice and have a. thorough clean up of the borough. After the research officer’s trials in Auckland. it must have been very pleasing to him to find a. council so Willing to assist in his humane work. I sincerely hope Mr. Grahanl will keep on pegging away, for I feel sure one day he will receive the thanks of the Auckland people for his long uphill fight. INTERESTED.

SOLDIERS’ LANGUAGE

Sir,— As an old regular of 2]. years‘ service and one who has only recently left the service. I would like those correspondents who have been writing in The Sun recently about the Withdrawal of the German war book “All Quiet on the Western Front” what soldiers they mean when they say it contains: “Coarse soldiers’ language." As I have served in India, Egypt. Palestine, Salonica and on the never quiet “\Vestern Front," with the old Regular Army, both in bat-racks, camp. line of march and on active St‘rvice, I claim to have a good knowledge of the subject and I also claim as one of the N.C.O.’s who knew the men of my regiment from the commanding officer to the lastjoined recruit, that when we went on active service in August, 1914, we were as healthy and clean, both in body and mind. as any men who could be picked out of any selected party in the t-ivil-ised World and every regular unit of the army was the same. Their discipline was perfect Lhrough the teachings of the old British regular officer. who had no equal as a gentleman. leader and a comrade in the field of sport or on the field of battle. How could these chaps he coarse and filthy when on the field of sport they played for the game‘s sake. Their libraries were stocked with the best kind of reading at that time. Their living quarters. were a, wonder to foreign oflicers. I just mention these few subjects to let readers know that the old regular as he was on the outbreak of war. through the war, and is now, and I hope always 4_ (Continued in next column.)

will be; thinking of others and not himself. Another correspondent “Ono \Vho Knows" states in The Sun that he had seven years" military train!“ and that drill causes most of thorax

language. I am afraid “One Who Knows" knows very little when he writes like this. I was taught that drill is the essence of discipline and I know now it is, but I was never and“: to talk and use bad language at drillI am very sorry to say since I left “I. service that I have heard more was talk in one day than I did in any year in the army. To conclude. I m remind "One “7110 Knows" flux tho use of bad language on or off panda or duty is very severely dealt with In the army. FAUGH-A-BALLAGH.

PRODUCING WEALTH

Sir,—— . Although Sir Joseph Ward, Prim. Minister, is regarded by some as “4 Wizard 9; Fingnge," and is no don!!! I

very able statesman, neverthelelijudging by some of. his utterances 11. has fallen into the popular error that “consuming goods creatgs ‘emplgi:

merit.” when it really in the long till increases unemployment and the 60“ of living. Thus for example, at Wdl‘ ington last Thursday Sir Joseph b 1" ported as saying that if the GW‘ ment “puts the shutters up on m (railway) works that were not ”7’35 we are going to add greatly to W nloyment.” The ex—Prime Mini”. Mr. Gordon Coates. evidently hug! th. same delusion. for he stated in 111! W dress at “’hangarei. while still Prim Minister, that at least 500 men could be dispensed with on the pen-nu!“ staff of the Railway Department. 5" his Government had not the heart to dismiss these men as they would 1' most cases only swell the ranks of 111' unemployed. Yet assuming that the. 500 unnecessary men were receivins an average of £4 a week, this M an annual loss of at least £104» No wonder the railways are not. W“ ing. Yet if this £104,000 we“ diverted to placing these men on far” or advanoed to farmers who M

had land. who would employ M men. the annual production of wan-ll uf the Dominion would thereby h greatly increased. Now what I want. '0 point out. II an eronornic axiom. is that, a 30” Stuart Mill, in his “Principle. 0! rolltical Economy," endeavours to PM “purchasing goods does not Inc!” employment"; on the contrary. in 'l'. long run. it increases unemploylfl-t and raises the cost of living. “3‘ ployment is only increased by DW‘ ing wealth. We shall never permll' ently solve the unemployed Probleuntil this matter is understood and ‘0 fully realise that the nation as a who“ must annually produre as much a' more than it consumes. If it W duces less than it consumes. then 9"“ must. go on short allowance 0? M It the nation or dominion only a duces as much as it conmmefl, the community is at a st‘ndstill. 11 “- produces more than it ehnsumes. ti. only the population can increase ll‘ the nation grow and profit)“c. P. W. 1.01“; a- . Otuhl. .