Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 912, 4 March 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

WHICH ONE?

Sir, — In an article in The Sun (telegraphed from Wellington) on the resignation of Mr. O. A. Moller as Dominion Organiser to the United Party, it is stated that Mr. Moller was responsible for the success of the United Party in the Auckland Province and only lost one contest in which he entered. May X be so impertinent to ask which electorate was that? Was it Waitemata or Manukau or Suburbs or Hauraki or Thames or Franklin? INQUIRING ONE.

SOUND FACTS

Sir, —- I am enclosing one or two little notes of interest in relation to the speed of sound and what has been observed by well-known pilots while in the air. It is a proven fact that sound will travel in air at a speed of 1,142 ft a second, or about 775 miles an hour. The tips of a propeller blade as fitted to a high speed racing machine travel at the rate of 1,264 ft a second, or 122 ft a second faster than sound. It has therefore been found necessary to fit all very high speed machines with all-metal propellers to stand the enormous stresses and to prevent what is known as flapping of the tips of blades. Another interesting fact known to pilots is that after an engine has been shut down at a height of four miles, a deg can be heard barking from the ground. GROUND ENGINEER CROSBY. Papakura.

STEER RIDING

Sir,— I found the steer riding a most unedifying spectacle. A large number of the unfortunate animals was crushed into a small pen and surrounded by hordes of yelling human beings. The roof of the pen was crammed with boys and men, thus terrifying the animals. The race in which the animals were mounted was crowded with men and boys standing on the rails, shouting and prodding the poor brutes. While being mounted several of the steers were so terrified that they actually threw their feet over the top rail and fell. All was pandemonium, As soon as freed, the second or third steer slipped in its efforts to throw its rider and fell. It appeared to have broken or dislocated its near hind leg. It ran to the decoys at the far end of the ring with one leg swinging loose. No notice was taken of it. Every time another steer joined these decoys the lame one was jostled about on its three legs. No inspector of the S.P.C.A. interfered. When all the steers had been ridden they were driven away at a canter with horses and whips, the lame one having to keep up as best it could on three legs. I am now converted to the fact that there is great cruelty in steer riding. The attendants did their best to keep the public away from the animals, but

unavailingly. The public should have been fenced off a little distance from the pen and race. There can be no gainsaying the fact that the whole steer entertainment was extremely cruel. The people of Auckland do not realise the amount of cruelty that is on the increase around Auckland, and the above case will only teach the rising generation to be more cruel. TOR.

The secretary of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, to whom this letter was shown, said that the accident to the steer was one that might happen under any circumstances even when animals were being driven along- a road. Upon examination it was found that the animal had put its stifle joint out and it was promptly put right 1 1 regard to the crowding on the part of the public, he states that an assurance has been given that, in future, mounted police \vill assist in controlling crowds and. this should obviate any further trouble arising from that cause. The secretary also states that these contests are very extensively held in America, Australia, and in manv parts of New Zealand, and that very few accidents occur. An accident such as happened on Saturday and which, he points out, turned out to be a very minor one might not happen again in ten years, and all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent such mishaps.—Ed. The Sun.

YUGOSLAVIA

Sir,— Following the remarks made by Mr. J. Radich, who recently toured Yugoslavia, and which were published in The Sun, I would like to tell your readers some facts about this kingdom that Mr. Radich, my compatriot, seems to have overlooked. I was born on the coast of the Adriatic Sea 21 years ago and there I spent my young days, paying considerable attention to politics the conditions of the working people and the activities of public bodies. I arrived in New Zealand five years ago and since my arrival have kept mvself closely in touch with affairs abroad. I agree with Mr. Simich that Mr. Radich is far from competent to pass such opinions upon a country of which, apparently, he knows little. Mr. Simich recently toured the whole of Europe and Yugoslavia, being his native land* was, I believe, his chief resort. But let us put tnat on one side and take a glimpse at Mr. Bernard Shaw’s remarks, following his tour of Yugoslavia lasT year: “Englishmen, Irishmen, Scots, Americans, holiday-makers of all civilised nations—come in your millions to Yugoslavia! You will be treated like kings! The Government will pay half your hotel and motoring bills. The people are everything you imagine Yourself to be. . . . Come before US out! lt is too good to lose.” Of course, Mr. Shaw’s words too generous, but either the famous Englishman or Mr. Radich is at fault, and I do not think that it is Mr. Shaw who errs. I should not like to claim that out country is better than any other in Europe, but the Government must be given credit for the magnificent facilities it is providing for tourists and the general travelling public, for the regularity with which boats, trains and

omnibuses are operated. Many and many thousands of holiday-makers from England, Czecho-Slovakia, Germuny and various other countries are visiting the Dalmatian coast every summer, and the popularity of th© Adriatic ports is proved by the everincreasing number of visitors. -^- s regards these “comets,** Mr. Radich must have read a fiery talc. Such persons might have existed ia the days of Turkish domination in Bosnia, but since the inception of United 1 ugoslavia the Government has taken full measures to wipe out the existence of such persons and the country is entirely peaceful. As rethe change of Government, that did not affect the country at all. You must realise that Yugoslavia comprises many smaller States, and it was only reasonable to expect that a reasonable period would have to elapse before their differing habits and politics eouiP* be reconciled. The products of Yugoslavia. are very satisfactory consider mg that the country in its new weldeu state is merely in its infancy. Its vast productive areas of bush and field aro Le exploited, and I am sure that there is a vastly prosperous future ahead of the land of my birth. * proud of it. MARK A. MAKIXOVICK. Oratia.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENT

“Curious.” —You would have difficulty m finding a newspaper to accept an advertisement of that Dditor, The Sun.