Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1016, 5 July 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

SUICIDE Sir.— I havo been interested in the discussion started by "Judas’’ and continued by "Ittai” on the subject of man’s right to take his own life. Ido not agree with either of them. I think that life has been given to man so that each one of us may work out his destiny and that in no case is a man entitled to take his own life. In the case of the hopeless invalid mentioned by "Ittai,” the position remains the same. I would not see any objection, however, to the creation of a medical board with the power to certify an invalid as incurable and the right—provided victim and relatives agreed—to administer some speedy death-dealing drug. LETHAL. CHAMBER. IS IT WASTE? Sir.— While heartily supporting sport in all its branches, with the possible exception of horse racing to which *1 often contribute much against my will, 1 must voice my opinion against the useless waste of money that has just been made in the Dominion in the name of sport. I refer to the sending of a team of athletes to Canada for the British Empire Games contest. The 20 members will leave today on their 3,000 mile joy ride at the expense of sportsmen in New Zealand. This tour will cost several thousands of pounds and, as far as I can see, will return practically nothing to the sporting fraternity which have supported the venture. My view of the question is this. The members of the team admittedly are. not in need of the physical training which they will receive across the water or they would not bo going to compete against the Empire’s best. On the other hand, there are in Auckland many who would benefit greatly by the proper employment of the sum which is about to be spent. It will probably be argued that this visit will “cement the bonds of Empire,” but is this the right attitude' to take up when so many here are in need? Sir, should these things be? SPORTSMAN. RAILWAY LOSSES Sir. — On reading that portion of The Sun relating to Auckland business men's opinions, I was very much impressed by the sound opinion voiced by Mr. It. Laidlaw and thoroughly, agree with

him in the very apt manner in which ho sets out to show the necessity of running our railways in a sound business way. He emphasises the real root of the whole trouble when he aims at having the railways run by a business tribunal which would be free from all political influence. AVe all ; know to our cost that quite a number ! of lines have been laid with the full ! knowledge that they would never pav. i The cutting out of unpayable portions of our present railways at the present rate of loss, is quite a good thing to do; but why, in spite of expert reports that the proposition will bo run at a serious loss, does the United Party insist on continuing with the completion of the South Island Trunk? If I remember rightly the commission which reported on this line stated emphatically it would never pay, and yet. in opposition to this advice, the United Government persists in going on with its completion It savours very much of political influence or gross stupiditv. H. NOTWEN. COMMONSENSE LAW Sir.—• Everyone is entitled to hold an opinion on any subject, but some of the opinions expressed on the crime and sin of investing in art unions prompt me to suggest the other side of -the subject. We have to consider the average man whose existence would be intolerable if devoid of some sort of pleasure uiul mental relaxation., After paying rent and store bills, buying clothes ,nc ‘ Paying an occasional visit -to the hi Ikies, a man does not have much toft at the end of the week, but he likes to give it a spin” all the same. o all look forward to something better, generally with more money attached to it. and in the meantime like to take a ticket in Tatt’s or pick a double; but both of these avenues are denied us in this country. We i,‘‘A £ L a ., la i'\ Y hich Permits a'man to n -I n' an art union - but not m n Tatter-sall s sweep; which allows a _ ~ nil the totalizator on one side Of the fence, but on "the other side” a man may be lined or imprisoned for the same offence. , Tasmania has been kept on the map bv Tattersall s sweeps, and .Vow Zealand has helped considerably toward v , * No " Zealand is sadly in need of statesmen to legislate on commonsens,- lines. What is not a crime in England or Australia should not 1... a crime here \\ o should 1„ able to invest 5s 6d occasionally without the, Possibility of sending someone to WORKER.