Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 964, 6 May 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

IRRATIONAL RATIONALISTS Sir. — Rationalists, in their efforts to get people to believe that evolution proves that there is no God or conscious power creating and controlling ill things—one lecturer, for example, says he does not believe in any religionseem to ignore the obvious fact that if there was no eternal conscious creative power behind all things, nothing whatever could have evolved, or indeed come into existence at all. Before the slightest change can take place in anything there must be the will or spiritual power to effect that change. To maintain that that spirit is nut conscious (that only man is conscious) seems to me highly irrational in face of all the evidence to the contrary, as well as being contra f to the final opinion of the great Charles Darwin himself. Herbert Spencer maintained that only by realising this fact could science and religion become united. C. P. W. LONGDILL. “LABOUR’S CREST” Sir.— Mr. Donald is a perfect stranger to me, but I enjoyed a hearty laugh at his expense in reading his reference to the slogan of the Labour Party—“ Agitate, Organise, Educate.” Wiih all due deference to the Labour Party, I might mention that the slogan has been used by Isaac Butt, Charles Bradlaugh, Cobden, the Chartist leaders, John Burns and by Americans during the War of Independence. Who first used it no one can say. An excellent slogan,, and a very high ideal. Mr. Donald plays round the word “agitate.” Webster gives the basic meaning of the word as “forcing into irregular action,” “to arouse public attention.” Of course, in Mr. Donald's mind the word creates visions of revolutionaries, stopworkers, etc. This play around the word suggests a confusion of thought. HERBERT MULVIHILL. S.A. APPEAL Sir, — In view of the fact that the winter is fast approaching, urgent calls for assistance are being made upon the Salvation Army daily. Through the generosity of the public Major Gordon was able to supply the needs of a considerable number of persons during the period, May to September, 1929. Something like 1,858 were assisted with clothing, food, bedding or firing. The actual number of of clothing distributed was 466, while 900 bags of coal were given to necessitous families. We also much appreciated a gift of two trucks of coal. Due to unemployment, sickness and

other causes there exists in Auckland today a great amount of distress, and we are making an earnest appeal to the liberality of the people of this City. Major Gordon discovers much of the need in the course of personal investigations and in visiting the homes of the people. Will our friends come to the help of the Army so that we may be in a position to help the needy and deserving All contributions of money or kind should be forwarded to Maj6r Gordon Wellesley Chambers, Wellesley Street’ Auckland. „ . W. COTTRILL, Brigadier Divisional Commander. PARNELL ELECTION Sir,— From a quite impartial view of the political and industrial situation the conclusion emerges that the ills from which the peoples of the world are suffering have a common origin in (a> lack of purchasing power for goods produced, expressed in trade depression, world-wide, and in (b) unemployment. I do not propose to deal with the reactions of each of these phases upon the other in detail’ it goes, without saying, that unemployed and underpaid citizens, ceasing to be consumers to an effective degree, are an important factor in maintaining depressed trade conditions. Unemployment has been a persistent feature in spite of the efforts made by the parties in power for a number of years—Tory and Liberal at Home, Reform and United here—to end, or at least ameliorate, its incidence. The electorates at Home and in the Commonwealth of Australia have seen lit to place Labour Governments in power. We know, of course, that the votes behind these decisions include many that, commonly, would be given to the other parties, on the principle, possibly, of “calling in another doctor. ’ I suggest that it might be well if Parnell followed this lead and sent Mr. Bloodworth to Wellington. At this critical time it would be better for the electors to be represented by a man of tested experience and with a fresh outlook upon the problems of the day. Whatever may be claimed for the other candidates they are new men as to public life, and are units of parties which already have been placed in power and, so far, have not effected improvement. Emphasis is lent to the suggestion in the fact that Mr. Tom Bloodworth, while, certainly, a sturdy adherent of the Labour Party, i« persona grata to very many persons in each. As The Sun said (April 26) . . he has the support of a large section of the business community ... is a man of large experience, of moderation and of honest ability, proved in several years of public life.” as the interests of Auckland ' are concerned, Mr. is cer-

tainly better qualified than either of the other candidates. The vital questions in which our citizens are interested as matters of daily comfort and economy are familiar to him by direct contact and experience. He La* special knowledge of transport matters (proved by the fact that he was delegated by the City Council to represent it in Wellington on an important occasion). Tie is chairman of the Town Planning Committee, has Ju*t been re-elected for the third time to the Electric-Power Board, and been six times elected to the Harbour Board. All these activities must, from time to time, come under the purview of Parliament, in one phase or another. We have no Auckland member today who has such a general and particular grip of their complexities (and they are complex to a degree) as Tom Bloodworth. I hold no brief for the Labour Party in this connection. I am, indeed, heartily sorry that matters of such vital importance have to be considered in terms of party, but as a citizen of Auckland and of New Zealand, I do feel, earnestly, that we need today the best men that we can get, irrespective of party and, as a political opponent of Mr. Bloodworth, had to admit some time ago: "If entry to Parliament had to be decided on personal merit, re would have been sent, there long ago. JOHN EAST WELL. A DIRTY HABIT Sir.— There is a fast-growing and filthy practice of expectorating on footpaths in and around the City ant suburbs and I consider the time » long overdue to have this dirty hartt checked. There is a by-law dealiitS with this class of offence and it 1 high time it was enforced. Of the police are not everywhere ah® cannot be expected to catch those | offending, but the traffic inspector® are invested with a certain amount oi j police authority. Why can they not i catch those persons and have thO* | made an example of, if not for their own sakes, then for the- safety of public health? \. This offence may be very far-read-ing in its consequences. So. Mr. Editorthrough the medium of yotir columns I would like t:> advocate tb” something be done toward eradicating this unpleasant habit.