Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 845, 13 December 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say —

rTn tv.« Editor.)

A CHRISTMAS APPEAL Sir,— May I ask the friends of St. Mary’s Homes to send to the matron, as usual, their contributions for Christmas comforts for the inmates. P. S. SMALLFIELD, Chairman. CHRISTMAS EVE TRAFFIC Sir, — I agree with those who have raised their voices against the trams running in Queen Street on Christmas Eve. I still believe there is time to prevent this gross menace to public safetv, and turn the trams into the bystreets for that busy period. If any accidents occur—and they are almost inevitable in such a congestion—the responsibility will be primarily upon the heads of the Transport Board members. SAFETY FIRST.

PUBLICITY ABROAD

Sir, — It is timely that The Sun should mention in an article yesterday the need for training agents for New Zealand publicity abroad. It was evident when the Malolo visited here that only trained speakers and highly specialised officers would be able to meet the requirements of this class of tourist. It was demonstrated also that the money spent here during a short visit is sufficient to warrant a great deal of money being spent in its attraction. Ultimately it must return a big profit to the Dominion. California is a country from which New Zealand might well take an example. California boosted its climate in big letters, and eventually succeeded in turning the attention of the United States to it. The result now is that California’s publicity has cost Is for every £25 spent by tourists. GO AHEAD.

MATRICULATION AND ITS BENEFITS

Sir, — As one of the first subscribers to your paper, I would like to reply to the letter signed by Cecil Sweet Alien with regard to matriculated students. What right has he to say that non-matricu-lated students are brighter than those who have attended a secondary school for three or four years in order that they might gain a pass in the matriculation examination? Cecil Street Allen implies that time so spent is sheer waste, that the secondary school education of New Zea-

land is no good (although it rajrks among the best in the world), all because a primary sixth standard boy is brighter than the secondary school boy, who, mind you, has already passed through the primary school and has gone into the college ranks in order that he might improve on the ground work of the primary schools. If, as the learned gentleman states, the boys of the primary schools are brighter than the students -of the colleges, why does the University of New Zealand allow into its precincts Only those who have passed matric. or another examination of equal standard ? The New Zealand University Council is not a body composed of fools. Again, the majority of business men prefer boys who have matriculated to those who have only passed the sixth standard. WhV? The answer is obvious. They know that the secondary school lads are much smarter and brighter than the primary school boys. They have had experience in brain training, whereas the primary school boys have had very little if any, and that only elementary. Let Mr. Cecil Sweet Allen pick out any business firm at random and find out just how many of the juniors have matriculated. He might be surprised; iri fact, I am sure he would be. Primary school boys may be good workers, but they are not' and never will be brighter than secondary school lads. With regard to the three New Zealand Prime Ministers who never went to a secondary school, I would like to point out that anyone can be Prime Minister in these days. A man may be intellectually powerful and, though not well educated in the modern sense of the words, become Prime Minister. For who is a Prime Minister anyway? He is only a man chosen to part> that is in power by the men who compose the party. I hope that Mr. Allen will ruminate over these few words of mine and find out that his views are entirely wrong. MATRICULATED STUDENT, 1023

“SIR WALTER”

Sir, — I was interested in a letter written to you the other day on the subject of the narrow footpath on the Mount H< V S^ n slde between Dilworth Avenue P^ rt Road ’ There a tramstop half-way between these two thoroughfares. Having missed a tram there yesterday morning, I decided to walk the narrow way as far as the next tram shelter. I had not -one twenty yards before I met a pedestrian (female) coming the other way. With true British gallantry I gave her the right of way, stepping nonchalantlv on to the roadway. At that moment a giant bus from Kohimarama or some place in that direction descended, upon

mo like an avalanche. I have to tLanJ the driver for his prompt action swerving so as to miss me. I* ® hadn’t I should be occupying a * , position in the news today. I woo * if I had been killed, following graceful act of courtesy, would school children of the next generaU be taught to revere my name as a s * bol of chivalry much in the rnann • of a Walter Raleigh-Queen Bess tion. And I wonder if those who responsible for the upkeep of the paths in this locality would then taken some steps to widen this Jr* . of footpath which can best be h* e to a winding strip of hebc ribbonTONJOURS LA POUT®* 6,