Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1068, 4 September 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say—

(To the Editor.)

REPLY TO MR. NELSON'S £IOO CHALLENGE—COUNCIL'S COLOUR EMBARGO IS ABSURD—“AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHURCHES" —ARE THERE TOO MANY EXAMINATIONS?

SEEING RED! Sir, — I sincerely trust that the City Council will consider the proposal to place an embargo on certain colour schemes, in shops signs and exterior decoration, as “laughed out of Court.” If ever a ridiculous scheme was fathered it is this one, and I am really surprised that our apathetic and deservedly long-suffering citizens have not been shaken out of their lethargy' to make more emphatic protest against this absurd potential infringement of our personal liberty. Have our councillors developed such despotic tendencies that they ask themselves: “How can wo make a nuisance of ourselves to hoi polloi this -week?” One might be pardoned for thinking so. THETA. MR. NELSON’S CHALLENGE. Sir.— Mr. Holland repeated a statement which many fair-minded people are tired-of hearing. He is not credited with its authorship. It is that Sir George Richardson, by his own executive act, and -without reference to a jury of their peers, deprived Samoan chiefs of their titles, and ordered the banishment of others. Mr. O. F. Nelson’s attempt, however, to evade the question by aiming a “£IOO club” at the writer’s head is a little too crude. The question was moderate. Only one name was asked. It was justified because the attack was made upon a man who cannot defend himself. Unless the name of one victim to Sir George Richardson’s “autocracy” can be given, then your readers may judge between the findings under this head by Sir Charles Skerrett and the Royal Commission, and the statement of Mr. Holland. Anyhow. I decline to consider Mr. Nelson’s challenge until m.v own is answered. For the rest, Mr. Nelson’s long letter is filled with very good arguments disposing of points which 1 did not raise, but with which, for liis own purpose, he invested my poor epistle. For instance, I did not attack Mr. Holland’s advocacy of a measure of selfgovernment by Samoans. Mr. Holland’s advocacy is of a political antagonism to external administration which began during the German regime, and was given expression to by a petition to the Reichstag—among the signatories to which was Mr. Nelson. It has been periodically out-

cropping: ever since. Its obvious aim is complete self-government. under which Samoa (without a universally accepted Royal Family) would be more or less at the mercy of a number of powerful chiefs, with diverse family interests, and no definite rallyingpoint—a situation too insecure for any friend of the Samoan race to contemplate without grave concern. Upon the question of local banishment, let me say, despite Mr. Nelson’s assertion to the contrary, that the authority for such in Samoan ordinances i» the coded form of an order over the seal of Dr. Solf. Also, that during the last two years, local banishment as a form of punishment has been used by Mau authorities. UPU MONI. THE CHURCHES AND VIVISECTION Sir, — It was great pleasure to me to read “Visitor’s” letter in your paper of Tuesday on Vivisection and I wish to endorse all he has written. I think Mr. Walker’s address was most instructive. If \ve took his advice seriously to heart some of us would not* be so* indifferent and sluggish on the subject as we now are. Why is it the Church is so indifferent on the question and stands so aloof ? Does it not know that these animal’s are God’s other children, though of different form and shape and cannot voice a plea or write an appeal for their defence. I think the Church is missing a great opportunitv. I. NOBLE. EX-SERVICE MEN Sir.— From time to time we see attempts in the Press to voice the acute position and the fight for existence of the ex-service men, and only those concerned are able to describe it. A handful of employers do their share under trade handicaps, and many others remain unconcerned now we have an unruffled horizon. In Auckland the manufacturers are moving toward their goal of a membership of 1,500 and I. witli others, eagerly await the announcement that each member is employing at least one ex-service man. Of course many are unlit to render A 1 or C 3 service possible rt Periods of Iab om* arc only Nov. sii, if I am not trespassing \ on your valuable space, very little

prominence has been gi ven _ nT , o roi c similar plight of those other eco victims, the senior service navy r . Perhaps, being so few, * h *^ ar T th £hk looked, but as an ex-C.P-O- i maythese few deserve recognition. DU , be (as in my case) red _ tape Dominion’s pet hobby for . rations, tickets and licences ha a gd vented occupations bring t# the unemployed list has been a us a result. SEMI-EIESEU