IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 124, 28 May 1929, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

A LOUD PROTEST. THE TRUMPETING ENGLISH. (To the Editor.) In an attempt to present the English as a meek, self-effacing race, "Irish Xew Zealander," among other things, invokes the Deity, quotes Dean Inge and misquotes war history. In doing the last-named he unwittingly demonstrates what to me seems one of the mosfc objectionable items in the whole post-war repertory of English self-advertisement. What could be cheaper than the English habit of continually parading the fact that at such and such engagement umpteen per cent of the troops were English? The Englishman never boasts he won the war—not right out. He's strong on inference, however, and very definitely he has proclaimed at one time and another to the world the names of those nations which in his opinion did not win the war. "Irish New Zealander" charges the Scots with being guilty of forming St. Andrew Societies, which same he seems to regard as the height of self-advertisement; he asks, "Does the Englishman bother about a St. George Club?" No, he does not; he forms cricket clubs instead. Cricket is his national game and one which he has made, if not exactly popular throughout the world, then certainly notorious as the vehicle for some of the extraordinary outbreaks of snobbery for which the English have such an unfortunate flair. The Englishman positively refuses to hide his light under a bushel, even a "British." bushel, but he is an enthusiastic user of the "colonial" snuffer with which he douses the identities of the different Dominions. His constant attempts to label Britain, or even the Empire, as "England" betray both colossal impudence and hopeless fatuity, strangely at variance with his muchadvertised sense of humour. This much, however, can be said for the numerically weaker nations of the British Commonwealth, they must needs do some blowing on their own account or be drowned out by the tremendous volume of the English trumpetings. W.K.

ENGLISH, SCOTS AND IRISH. Ellen McLeod makes the astounding allegation that the Irish lack generosity and courtesy to visitors. Perhaps no serious exception can be taken to that statement, as probably your correspondent is the only individual who thinks so. However, the history of mankind proves beyond doubt that everywhere, and at any given point of the earth's surface, human nature strikes a fairly similar balance between innate good and innate evil. So your correspondent's assertion with reference to an English monopoly of kindness, courtesy to visitors and general broadmindedness is not supported by facts. Man is by nature a kindly and considerate creature, and government is one of the most important things on the fa-ce of the earth in the moulding of character. The servility and salaaming which, your correspondent refers to is not peculiar to Ireland alone, but is worldwide. It is due to governmental and economic causes and has nothing whatever to do with nationality. ~No race has ever, or will ever, inherit a monopoly of natural virtue. JOHN GUINIVEN.

I am asked to substantiate my claim that the Scots and Irish pioneered and made this country. That is easy. No need to go outside of this city for that. I hare monuments in support of my contention. . It is customary to erect statues in memory of the great. Auckland has four such—that grand lady Queen Victoria (a Stewart), Sir George Grey, Sir John Logan Campbell, and the immortal "Bobbie." Now is not that just grand? Four great folk, and all Scottish. Of course, Queen Victoria and "Robbie" Burns had nothing to do directly with this country, but it does seem singular that all these monuments should be as they are. One correspondent suggests that the setting up of St, Andrew Societies is selfadvertisement and a sign of ego and that the English do not go about establishing St. George Societies. This amounts to an admission of weakness, a yellow streak somewhere, ipso facto, for on the one hand we have it that the Scot is alive and "a go-getter" and is always starting something, and on the other that the English are never there when it comes to making a move. The English certainly have been useful in the building of the Empire. No one could reasonably dispute that. KOMATI.

TAKAPUNA FINANCE. With reference to your report on the financial position of the Takapuna Borough Council as submitted at the meeting held last Wednesday I beg to point out that I took exception to the action of the late council in authorising for expenditure one week prior to the election sums amounting to about £640 out of the small sum of £6000 estimated for maintenance work this year. In addition, I understand that other sums have been spent or authorised, bringing the total up to about £1200 or £1500, leaving the present council with about £4500 to carry on maintenance work for the year, whereas the late council during its last year of office spent or authorised about £ll,ooo"(including about £1500 of this year's allocation). In fairness to the present council, I think that the amount of £640 authorised for expenditure on the 24th of last month—one week before the election —might have been left for the new council to deal with, but with a recommendation to carry out the work intended. No mention is made in the authorisation to apply for a £ for £ subsidy from the Government, which might have been applied for if permanent work was intended. There now appears to be a difference in the opinions of the "six supporters" on the question of raisiug the rates, for whilst the Mayor advocates resubmitting the loan proposals for £28,100 rejected by the ratepayers last year (vide newspaper report on the 20th inst.), his new council at last Wednesday's meeting affirmed the principle that rates should not be raised. Why the sudden change? To attempt to force through any loan proposals en bloc, all or none, and deprive the ratepayers of the right to vote on the issues singly would again be a waste of money. The ratepayers have a right to exercise their own intelligence on these matters. They have to pay the piper and should therefore be allowed to call the tune. ALEX. H. WILKIE. Councillor, Takapuna Borough.

"LOCAL WORK FOR LOCAL MEN." Your correspondent J. K. Hayes has become :i little jumpy unci oft' the rails. The facts ar« there, as I have already stated, and are well known to those who have had cause to cuine in personal touch with the present .state uf these affairs. There need be no fear of the Transport Board giving employment to outside borough residents, at least until the at absorbed or have had a sporting chance of being employed. The Waterside Workers' Union, by making their union a closed corporation, were the first to start this "parocliiali'in' , in Auckland, it not in the world. The floating population is not being created, but has been with us for quite a long time, most noticeably in the last two years, and is on the increase. It is rightfully a problem for the Government and not for City Council relief work or any other local work." IRTCESPI-XT.ITK. '