PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21211, 6 September 1940, Page 7

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

NURSES’ CONDITIONS

(To the Editor) Sir, —I had not intended to take up more of your valuable space on this subject, but “Ratepayer” mentions the doctors’ association—which is rather irrelevant to the matter of nurses’ conditions, for that body hardly lays down rules and regulations about rates of pay and hours of work for its members. “Another Ratepayer” accuses me of "belittling the nurses.” I happen to have reason to have a great regard for them and the nursing profession, and wish the best for them at all times, but that best is not measured in terms of mere money. I still maintain that they themselves are sensible enough to realise that during their training they are receiving much more than mere board and lodging and what may seem a small remuneration. They are also intelligent enough if they have a grievance—as “Ratepayer” infers—to take it to the right quarter, which is definitely not the columns of the newspaper. I have no more to say on this subject.—l am, etc., ESPRIT DE CORPS. Hamilton, September 5.

HISTORY AND OTHER THINGS

(To the Editor) Sir.—l notice in today’s paper that the French have taken a poll in Tahiti. Just fancy letting the natives have a say in their own affairs! They are surely setting a bad example. I remember going through there in 1922 and the ship, I think the Niagara, took natives from Rarotonga to Tahiti to unload and load the ship there. The other ship on its return took the same natives back to Rarotonga after using them to load and unload. I inquired why couldn’t labour be hired in Tahiti. I was told thev were too well off; that the French had not robbed the natives of their land. I suppose he was a Red Fed or something like that. No wonder the French got beaten if they are so soft-hearted as that. Speaking about the Niagara re- 4 minds me that one dav I was sitting in a deck chair and a young fellow looked at the book I was reading, History of Rome. “Why do you read that old stuff? I thought times have changed,” he said. When Cleopatra started walking out with Julius Caesar the Egyptians looked down on him as being a representative of a mushroom civilisation, as their civilisation authentically was comparatively older then than the Romans is to the present day. Most of the other passengers read novels. I was forbidden to read novels as a boy, most especially “Deadwoodf.” so I took to reading history. The difference between them is that in the “Deadwoods” the villain usually comes to a bad end and the hero usually marries the heroine, usually an heiress. But in history I find it is the other way about. I leant English history as a boy at School and thought that, well, kings and such like were a bad lot. But I have lately concluded they were patron saints to some others in other histories. Cleopatra was descended from the Macedonian Alexander’s General Ptolemy Lagos. The first European ruler of Egypt, and whose rule over the gentle Egyptians would make some of our present rulers, dictators, etc., green with envy, Ptolemy 111 was murdered by his son, Ptolemy IV, who succeeded him and in the son’s reign the chief event, apart from the murder of his mother, wife, brother and uncle, was the war with Antioch os of Syria. He was succeeded by his son, Ptolemy V, who was said to be excessively vicious and cruel. Nothing is said about his murdering any relatives, but I suppose his dad got in before him. Several Ptolemys follow, who did not seem to possess the true ancient kingly spirit of murdering their relatives until we come to Ptolemy IX* who kept up the traditions by murdering his nephew and marrying the dead youth’s mother, but murdered her child, and then married his niece, who at once murdered her husband’s first wife, and then attempted to murder her own son, but was murdered by him instead. Ptolemy IX was succeeded by his son Ptolemy X, was dethroned and replaced by his brother Ptolemy XI. who murdered his motherland was followed by Ptolemy XII, who murdered his step-mother and was murdered by his soldiers and was succeeded by his son Ptolemy XIII. who murdered his daughter and other relatives and was driven from the kingdom but regained it and left two sons, Ptolemy XIV and XV, besides Cleopatra, who managed to get rid of her brothers. Novels are wicked things to read Nothing like history to improve your mind and fill you with gentleness.— I am, etc., W. B. McMANUS. Matamata, September 4.