Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

LATE-HOUR TRADING

Sir,— I hold that there should be some restrictions imposed on the owners of shops which keep open to a late hour at nights and on Sundays. Owners should be given to understand that they cannot have lines for sale which do not belong to their legitimate line of trade. Shopkeepers who have to abide by the laws applying to closing hours have to suffer considerably as they lose customers who patronise these available stores. If there were a universal half-holiday and a uniform closing hour for all shops business would be even and there would not be so much dissatisfaction. A magistrate remarked only recently that he wondered why the public did not purchase its “smokes” within the hours set apart for the sale - of them. F AIRPLAY.

TRANSPORT AND FINANCE

Sir,— I was surprised to read in yopr issue of Tuesday last that the Transport Board does not have a financial statement put before it at each meeting. We read of its doings and learn that it makes decisions, but how can it do so if it does not know its position and how its revenue and expenditure are proceeding? But while the omission to supply the information is strange, the reason given by the act-ing-chairman is even stranger. He says the board is a business concern which cannot let its competitors know what it is doing. I had thought the board was formed to control the transport of the area, and did not know that it looked on itself as competing with other forms of transport. This, then, is the explanation of its steady refusal to license bus services, which it prefers to run jtself at a considerable loss. If it really were a private service competing with others, and paying its own losses, its policy would be different. As it is, we are constantly assured that the trams belong to the people, and now learn that we must not ask how they are getting on. The Transport Board is certainly a weird and wonderful body. A. FRANCIS.

THE ONLY WAY TO END WAR

Sir, Mr. Henry Ford contends, according to cable news in your valuable issue of the 17th inst., that “the only way to end war is to teach the fellows who profit by it that they can profit more in some other way.” Now 1 contend, and have long contended, that there is only one scientific way of abolishing war, and the possibility of war. and that is by the federation of all nations under one supreme king, head or government. This is the law of peace. Peace can only be maintained within nations so long as there is one supreme head or government And so likewise, peace can only be maintained throughout the entire world when the heads of all nations have attained to sufficient intelligence and desire for peace, to unite by mutual consent. The League of Nations has carried us a long stride in this direction, so some of us may live to see the permanent federation of all nations an accomplished fact In any case, however long it may take, it is worth striving for. With regard to Mr. Ford’s idea of teaching the fellows who profit bywar that they can profit more in other ways, I do not think any teaching in that direction would be listened to. and in any case the only^way those struggling to rise on the ladder of life can do so with reasonable certainty is, by those who have amassed fortunes retiring and converting the bulk of their accumulations into life

(To the Editor.)

LOOK AT TONGA!

ELECTION EXPENSES

annuities. In no other way can everyone have an equal chance to succeed. Those who do not feel disposed to retire from money making should be compelled by law to leave the bulk of their wealth, at their death, to the whole community. I have fully expounded both the above doctrines in my pamphlet, “The Federation of the World and Secret of Sound Finance.” C. P. W. LONGDILL Whangarei.

Sir, —r As one who thoroughly understands the native character, I think I can say that Mr. P. B. Fitzherbert’s letter to The Sun was justified. To rule by intimidation is not a good means of effecting a successful issue in anv country, let alone a semi-civilised community. Far better to have allowed the Samoans to have been guided by good example rather than by military domination. Seeing the happy condition of Tonga, would it not have been better that Samoa followed the example set by its island neighbours? The Tongans have aimed at individual effort. Take Rotuma, too, as an example. Here is an island administered by an ordinary civilian. No attempt at military domination. When the Germans were in occupation of Samoa there were no high taxes, no stringent laws, no innovations that were neither understood nor wanted by the natives. The Samoans are. in their way of thinking, a very proud race; fine specimens of human beings, proud of their country and their chiefs. They produce copra and cocoa of high quality, but beyond that little else in commercial quantities. Native foodstuffs grow in abundance, but beyond that the country does not lend itself to agriculture. I endorse every word and thought of Mr. Fitzherbert and my opinion remains the same as that 1 formed when living in Samoa—that the situation in the mandated territory reveals the greatest muddle I have known of in 50 years. VERITAS. Suva, Fiji.

Sir, — Sooner* or later a General Election will be held, and according to custom the expense of it will be Considerable. An election is inevitable, and no apology is needed for it; but one cannot say that of the financial burden caused by it. Special wages incurred at the thousands of polling booths may be avoided, and the Dominion electors should be considered in view of our country’s debt of well over two hundred million pounds. Therefore may I suggest that: 1 The General Election be conducted by civil servants. 2. A time to be appointed by Act of Parliament; that tirne obviously to be made in consideration of the greatest number of Government employees available. 3. School teachers, railway officials and members of the Post and Telegraph Department, Customs. Lands and Survey—and policemen—to be returning officers, deputy-returning officers. po!J clerks and to fill other positions as necessary. 4 ; on ?? n as well as men to be included in the list of election officials, i t’. ° n ® day of the school term holidays could be given by teachers witht" ; ,! rnr ! OSlnS a ? y injustice, seeing that c; stages will go on in any case. hs 1 other Government servants could . 1 ''!f n, from various departments an I added to the number. 6. Patriotism and a heavy national

debt with increasing unemployment is the main reason for urging this practical and political economy. CHARITY.

RELIGION IN SCHOOL HOURS

Sir, — . In view of the report contained m your issue of the 16th inst., the following letter has been forwarded to the headmasters concerned which also quotes copy of letter forwarded to the Honourable the Minister of Education. It is our opinion, based on legal advice, that all schools which do not conduct the “Nelson System” on » purely voluntary basis, and outside school hours, are acting ultra viresIt is the intention of the New Zealand Association for the Advancement ol Rationalism to take action in all suck cases. It is noteworthy that the selfconstituted body of ministers that carried out the voting arrangements in the districts mentioned hersunder added the total of non-voters to those cast in favour of the proposition. There was as much (and as little) reason to ada them to the negative votes. (To the headmasters of Ponsonhy Richmond Road, Curran Street and Bayfield Schools): “With reference to the system of religious instruction recently introduced in your school,! am requested to inform you that the following letter has been forwarded to the Honourable the Minister of Education: ‘I am requested by general meeting of the above association to dra*" your attention to the fact that in the Ponsonby, Richmond Road, Curran Street and Bayfield Schools in the Auckland education district, it is reported that a system of religious instruction has been introduced that i$ a violation of the provisions of the Education Act, to wit, one half-hours religious lesson a week is given to the children of the fourth, fifth and sixth standards, children being exempted from attendance only at the written request of their parents. I enclose * newspaper cutting setting forth this matter. The provision of the Education Act. 1908, referred to is section 143, clauses (a), (b) and (c)Clause (a) sets out the subjects of instruction of which religious exercises is not one. Clause (b) state*. | "The school shall be kept open ti vd days in each week for at least four hours, two of which in the forenoon and two in the afternoon shall he consecutive and the teaching shall D* entirely of a secular character. Clause (c) sets out that the school may be used for other purposes ‘ pn days and at hours other than tl« • used for school purposes.” ‘The association trusts that you wii take prompt steps to bring about a cessation of this illegal practice or direct a prosecution against the person or persons offending.’ , “I have to state that in the event ot such action not being taken by the Minister. Supreme Court proceeding* will be instituted bv this association. G, A, RAWS ON. Organising Secretary. N.ZA A-B»