LETTERS to the EDITOR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22623, 28 April 1948, Page 4

LETTERS to the EDITOR

READERS* OPINIONS

PLAYING OF NATIONAL ANTHEM Sir,—l return again to the question of the playing of the National Anthem and beg leave to point out that different methods are being employed for public performances and some are subject to criticism. As Royalty will be visting New Zealand shortly, a uniform method of the playing of “God Save the King” should be adopted and the Government should insist on a form acceptable to the people. Radio stations as a rule give the warning that they are about to commence the playing of the anthem by .he roll of the drums, followed by the .mthem in full. Picture theatres, howjver, are somewhat haphazard in their nethod of presentation. There is no warning roll of the drums and the mthem is presented by the playing of naif the anthem only. This latter method is surely incorrect and leads to carelessness. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra gives a very dignified rendering of the anthem and one which could be well adopted for all public performances. I suggest that the B.M.S. of this town lake this matter up with the Government with a view to uniformity of public presentations of “God Save the King.” “KING’S MINSTREL.” TOWN PLANNING SCHEME Sir,—Planning is creeping its way into every affair of life and it is not an accident. It is a long thought-out plan devised by international power seekers to further enslave the people of the world—more especially to bring about the downfall of the British Em-

pire so that they will be the ultimate dictators of the world. The monster now appears at the back door like the wolf. Up to the present the monster has been in a sheep’s clothing. If we are a democratic nation, why are the people not consulted first and given a vote on matters of vital importance? That would be the case if the Government elected were true servants of the people. Unfortunately, Governments of today would prefer to tell the people what they are to do instead of serving the people as a truly elected democratic government would. The same thing applies also to local bodies. The fact that is staring everyone in the face is the incompetence by both Government and local bodies to manage the affairs entrusted to them. If soundness prevailed in governments and local bodies, the towns-planning scheme that they would place before their electors would be one that ultimately freed the people of the everlasting debt system, which' incurs the deadly burden of ever-incurring interest. That is the challenge facing every individual today. Town planning, as it is before the public now, is only taking us further along the road of chaos. It is apparent that everyone will have to learn the lesson by the hard way of complete chaos and then order will be • restored. Townplanning schemes of today are only schemes of over-industrialisation. It is high time that the public took more interest in their own affairs and gave their servants their instructions and see that they are carried out. FACTS.