Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1029, 21 July 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

HOOD-MONCRIEFF FLIGHT Sir. Kindly allow me space in these columns to speak my mind re the IloodMonchieff trans-Tasman flight. There has recently been a supposed spirit message as to the place these gallant airmen are said to have crashed and I would like to say a few words about it. Is it not true that the last signals received were fading all the time and is it not possible that they were coming on to New Zealand, but going South. In this case they would have landed or crashed anywhere south of Hokitika or Hoss in Westland. In fact, lam going to chance this “hunch” I have and am going to this district with a mate on a private search. If any of your readers would like to have some further knowledge of which I am in possession, they can have same by applying to me through these columns. SEARCHER. MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS Sir. Your correspondent. Mr. James S. Gilmore, need not unduly perturb himself over the action of manufacturers selling at the Winter Show. The great difficulty of New Zealand manufacturers—as it was of the Australian—is to get their products to the public. Their goods are frequently marketed despite the retailer; not often because of his active assistance. There is some truth in the contention of most retailers that their function is to give the public what it asks for, and I have been told often enough for it to have lost its novelty that “it is not the retailer’s job to make the market for the manufacturer.” While maintaining this neutral attitude as between local and imported goods no retailer can complain of the manufacturer “making his own market” in any way open to him.

The manufacturer keeps many *<>L' the retailers’ customers in good jobs, but

seldom gets much recognition of the fact from the shopkeeper. TRAVELLER. TRANSPORT Sir, As far as the Transport Board was concerned, Auckland had one place which recommended itself to the public of Auckland on Saturday, and that i«aco was Eden Park. I wish to protest against the actions of thoso responsible for the blunder in not having trams at the disposal of the public at Carlaw Bark on Saturday. While sympathising with the hundreds of League fans who were compelled to walk back to the City and elsewhere, one Is reminded of the revenue the transport derives from Carlaw Park each Saturday, also the adjacent sister ground, Blandford Park. Why make flesh of one and fowl of the other? , SPORT. - “A few cars ran to Carlaw Park before the match, and it was reported that the crowd there was so small that special cars would be unnecessary after the game was over,” said Mr. A, K. Ford, manager to the Transport Board, when shown this letter. “Carlaw Park and other sports grounds were catered for by the ordinary services. On Saturday the full resources of the running stock were taxed to deal with the Eden Park crowds. A total of 120 loads was taken from Eden Park in about 35 minutes at the conclusion of the match. The same number was taken to the park before the game, but not in so short a time, fewer cars being needed. Racecourse and sports crowds on Saturdays and holidays are dealt with without interfering with the main-line services.*’—Ed.. Ths SIR ROBERT STOUT Sir.— While* Rationalists have doubtless been pleased to read your appreciative obituary notice of the late Sir Robert Stout, they cannot help failing to note that one side of liis character and work has been passed without mention —namely, his keen interest in. and active support of. Rationalism. Sir Robert was a highly esteemed honorary associate of the Rationalist Press Association of London. and also a (Continued in next column.)

vice-president of the New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Rationalism. So long: ago as the tim* of the late John Ballance he activelyassociated himself with the latter's free-thought paper. published in Wanganui in the SO*s.- Later he contributed to the •Examiner,” the organ of the New Zealand Rationalist Association, published in Christchurch by the late W. W. Collins. Until the last few months of his illness he was a frequent contributor to the ‘Truthseeker,” the organ of the present Rationalist Association. In a letter t© the undersigned. written, only two weeks before his death, and enclosing a donation to the association's funds, he expressed his keen interest in. and satisfaction at, the progress made by the association. Sir Robert Stout was an active opponent of the Bible in Schools, both inside the Legislature and out. and he was also one of the originators of the present system of secular education. The weight of his encyclopaedic knowledge both of religion and education was always thrown against any attempt to tamper with our secular system. In this connection he held the position of patron of the State Education Defence League. # G. A. RAWSOX, Organising Sec., XX Association for the Advancement of Rationalism. MILITARY TRAINING Sir,— In perusing last evening s Sun I ol>served that Mrs. M. B. Soljak. wit whom I have crossed swords before. to speak, has something further to **> on the subject of military training. It would appear, on the face of it. that this is her pet aversion, and she is either an ardent propagandist ox the Labour Party or is under a misapprehension : probably both. __ It w often said that a little knowledge is dangerous. Referring to the drilling of secondary schoolboys by military officers. Mrs. Soljak contends that this is a gesture toward war. Then, surmising her claim to be correct, faoj is it that the boy in Japan, which country is a member of the Leaf* •; Xations, is schooled in military war* from his very early youth and does j period of compulsory military* training during the adolescent years? Coming nearer home, I would ask Mr?. SoPJ* if she can give any reason why t.--Dictator of Italy compels the youth t« undergo years of intense trainlK under the militant' cloud. A peep math e future would explain the reasot Mrs. Soljak might perhaps advocatj that the Guards in the precinct* Buckingham Palace or around tne grounds of the Vatican in Rome creaw a military air and that they should tx disbanded forthwith. In Jast evening's Sun, Major-General Sir Georf Richardson, an experienced and retiree military officer, who has no grind, states that there have v*** many treaties to outlaw- war and un»* he is a keen supporter of the Lcago* of Xations. "In the heart of Switzerland, is Geneva, the seat of the of Xations.” he says, ‘ but the still have their citizen army on wbica was based the Xew Zealand . defence.” And yet little Xew set away in the lonesome Pacific » " tempts to give the world a le*» 1 peace matters. Having a tetntorw army, which under the regulation- cannot be sent out of the country, i* preparing for war. but is merely u* l - prepared for what might eventuate » any time in spite of peace treaties. • am sure Mrs. Soljak is open to coß'j?’ tion, and that if war clouds ever a.* appear on the horizon she would implore any son of hers to run a h 1 and shirk defending his country, home and those near and dear to I commend “Proud Trainee" on attitude he has adopted, pleased to see that esprit de corps fostered in the Auckland now only the name of a \ Knowing the modern youth a* would assert that never in the hi* % of the Dominion has there greater need for disciplinary niea* _ than are required today. Min • training is the ideal method, though I have drilled youths past 12 years. I am not a w ar_l T°rf —in fact. I was too young to he w shot fired—nor have I any axe to §£j. fn In conclusion. I would quote: j war is on and danger is nigh. Goa the soldier is the cry: but when 7 u is over and things are righted, w* forgotten and the soldier slight*®- .. • YAE VICTIM ( Pukekohe.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENT^ “Red Shadow.’’—\V. ’ ” 1! ? ot -mtletters in that form. -'•* " lun ,t pondence appearing in tn*» must be addressed to the k JJBB Ed., The Sun. H