Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 885, 31 January 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

BETTER BROADCASTS

Sir,— For an accumulation of sheer effrontery, the letter in your columns last evening, signed by “A Cheerful Listener,” is a world-beater. For illogicality it is simply unsurpassed. In the first place your correspondent throws ill-considered abuse at me—abuse which is born of his own misreading of my letter—and later he agrees almost entirely with what I said in my letter to your column on Saturday. It is a humiliation to have to explain the points I made, but for the benefit oi “Cheerful Listener,” allow me a further word. For example, I said that, were I to rely for my entertainment upon IYA, I would be forced to the conclusion that there was but one violinist of note, etc., simply because IYA gives only one a chance—notwithstanding the fact that there are many other good instrumentalists who would welcome the opportunity of playing. Again “Cheerful” says the “two or three bands of vaudeville artists” mentioned by me are in reality only one. I thank him for the agreement with my plaint of sameness. Thank you, also, “Cheerful,” for this passage in your letter, which conflicts with your abuse of my remarks anent the humourist who reads his stuff: “Another serious fault is the constant repetition of the same items, vocal and elocutionary; some performers, with limited repertoires, apparently think the public will stand the same items from them over and over again, and oftentimes these are only trash.” Again you say: “Some never should get a second engagement. . . Of course. Just as I said in my original letter. Having had the agreement of “Cheerful Listener” to my plea, let us have a change of artists at IYA. Good artists or nothing. DISGRUNTLED.

COUPONS FOR CASH

Sir,— If we cannot find work for the unemployed we should at least put them in the way of finding the bare necessites of life. This can be quite easily

(To the Editor.)

done by helping them to help themselves. With a little “first aid” I could help all the unemployed and needy of the City. This may seem a bold statement to make, but all I desire is a fair chance to prove it. Without going into details, the scheme would consist of the issue to needy persons of six coupons valued at sixpence each. The seller would receive 10s worth of provisions for his trouble. The coupons could be issued entirely free and failure of the scheme would be quite impossible as the plan would be always worked in advance. There is nothing to lose in the scheme. There is no catch, no game of chance and no lottery in connection with it. THOS. ANGUS.

THE POLYNESIAN’S RIGHT

Sir, —• When the Great Calamity started to encumber the earth in 1914, Great Britain was at the zenith of her power and prosperity. She had attained her great place in the world by conducting her foreign business with scrupulous honesty, by controlling her protectorates with a firm but humane hand, and by conceding self-government to her colonies at the earliest possible opportunity. Throughout the whole range of the history of the world never had there been such freedom of mental and physical action as existed in the British Empire at that stage. The British Islets and the Dominions became sanctuary for the discontented of less favoured nations, and these immigrants were welcomed heartily and admitted into this vast association of free men on the basis of equality and fraternity. And the watchword of this Empire was “Right is Might” and her motto “Let evil come to him who thinketh evil.” Never was Great Britain’s prestige higher than when, in her far-seeing wisdom, she granted autonomy to’ the Union of South Africa, shortly after the tremination of an exhausting and embittering war. From being: bitter and implaeabe foes, the South African Dutch became loyal and helpful members of the British Empire. A solution of the age long Irish question was on the eve of accomplishment when the great chal(Continued in next column.)

len;-re came that Might was Right* Small wonder that all the antagonists emerged from that terrible conflict with minds awiy and visions dimmed President Wilson found, to hia cob* fusion, that Europe had lost her sensa of civilisation, that siie was all tot loot and revenge, unmindful of tba coming generations. Yet slowly but surely, out of the chaos of this souldestroying cataclysm, i 3 emerging a finer and wader ideal—the ideal ot world-wide equality and fraternity when peace will reign supreme. Thi.‘J ideal is the logical evolution of the British community of nations, and ba* its foundation upon Anglo-Saxon establishments both mental and p.iysicaThere have been and remain reactionary force's operating strongly against the rapid flourishing of this new growth, and sometimes perhaptt these forces appear to gain ascendancy* ancl the plant to droop and promise failure. Yet. there is an jnexliaustibld reserve of stimulus to fertilise and re* vive the growirg organism, which will continue to expand in spite of blight* and hurricanes. Unfortunately. Great Britain, during the heyday of her prosperity, count©! among her prominent politicians too many men of the Napoleonic typ*'» whose egotism led them to imaging they held a monopoly of mentality, ana could impose :heir will and view or rightness upon people who refused to receive it. It was this ferment cl reactionary m.nds that, unconsciously* all but caused disruption of the Em* pire and, even now, is working ac* versely in some of the protectorates. These men have never learned that tr.« day when men could be whipped to obedience ha s gone for ever. Ar d so* the Irish problem solved itself in of them, and the sound of that conflict has dissipated in distant space. | This is where New Zealand stands ti>* day in relation to Samoa. Is New Zealand going to turn back the page* of history to an evil chapter to see* a precedent for reaction or will she take her pen n hand and write soul® sturdy clauses on equality and fraternity to guide her less enlightened coiv temporaries? . Throughout the wide world there IS no people superior to the Polynesia** in power and beauty of either bram on* body. [Delightful people thef s Samoan, Tongan and Hawaiian, cage to learn, peaceful, hospitable, whes* island homes are earthly' paradises which the European is ever a welcome guest. The charm of these isW;’ gems, whose very air is fraught wiomusic, laden with the scent of a mulion tropic flowers, and the charm - the sun-kissed Polynesian in his ful lavalava, strikes deep into the of the errant European and fill* his e° with the sense of peace and happ** ness. But the gentle Polynesian baf mind of his own and a right of ; own. He claims the right to live his own way and in conformity wi law’s which have his approval, ® # by every law of democracy' he i® titled to his claim. P. K. FITZHKRBEBI. Auckland, 29/1/30. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDED j '-Not So Simple.”—Holding your pending receipt of your name » address.—Editor, The Sun*