LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18026, 27 February 1922, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Afi&PUKI POWER SCHEME. Sir,—l should like,to mate a suggestion regarding the above. It has neon proposed that Germany should make, in Hen of money payments, reparation in kind or £oods. I teiieve our share at the lowest estimate is about 20' millions. Get the machinery from Germany and push on with the job, and Ist us get work for our people this winter, which is likely to be in need of a push from somewhere. 25, Wynyard Street. 0. J. Painter. "SAFETY FIRST." Sir, — Your correspondent, "Safety First," in Saturday's issue, draws atteution to an astonishing fact. He states that he has " seen several cases of children running in front of motor-cars without the slightest warning to the driver." Quite so ! Host, people have seen the same sort of thing. Such ignorance on the part of children must not be tolerated. If a number of youngsters are bom into this world in total ignorance o! the rights of motorists then, as a civilised race, we are degenerating. I suggest that a special course be set in all schools, and young children taught to behold in awe and reverence—from the safety of the footpath —the " king of the road" as he shoots pa3t in his trumpeting car, knocking dowr. anyone who gets in the road, and.gazing with disdain on those unfortunate mortals who have to walk. Jr/GCEENArr. AUTHENTICITY OF GENESIS. Sir,—On this subject, in which thousands are at present interested and looking for some sound and satisfactory information-, may I add a word, The Bible claim is not that Genesis is an account of outward but of inward creation. All the references by Jesus to tho Scriptures bear this out. Take any of the words as earth, heaven, sun, moon, pisxita, etc., . and trace their use throughout the whole Bible and you will see clear ! y that it deals with the creation within man of heavenly life and order. The Bible is, therefore, the most wonderful study in psychology possible. When seen as the Book of Life—life described and explained in minute detail—the Word has a present interest for all those seeking spiritual advancement, who may have little' or no interest in matters of science. In proof of the above, any inquirer may find a word-for-word explanation of the first few chapters of Genesis in Volume I. of Arcana. Coclestia in the Auckland Public Library. I might add that a psychological interpretation in detail unless true would be impossible without the grossest absurdities. A study of the above led Judge Bigelow r of New York, to write: "The Bible that was lost and is found." ilt is reasonable to conclude that our Heavenly Father would not reveal things that we can discover for ourselves, but that the substance of revelation is entirely a concern of the Lord's Kingdom. Robt. Strong, Minister New Church, Newton P.oad, Auckland. Sir,—To give a little finality to the recent discussion,, would you permit Darwin to speak for himselL On the last para of " The Origin of Species " he says: " There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having Been originally breathed by the Craator into a few forms, or into one, and that while this planet has gona cycling on according to fixed laws, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and wonderful have beeji evolved." Mount, Albert., Herbert. Mason. TThis correspondeace is now closed.— Ed., Herald.] ECONOMY IN PUBLIC SERVICE. Sir,—ln dealing with this question th 9 Government and Parliament have apparently acted on. the principle that when retrenchment is necessary the remedy is to reduce salaries. It may be that this , policy is adopted because it is the easiest form of economy and entails less work than digging down to find the. root of • the eviL We.believe that we are voicing the general opinion when we say - that the question of economy in our departmental administration 13 more dependent on a revision of the whole system than on a reduction of salaries'., At any rate a sound policy' would aim at finding a solution by a combination of both. It is undoubtedly annoying to the business man to see extravagance and waste of money going on byreison of a faulty eyctera at a time when real saving is so essential. There is ample <svid«noo that some of our , departmental officers are wedded to out-of-date methods. Theru are grave doubts whether, speaking generally, either the Public Service Commiusionere or departmental heads (taken as a whole) have the business experience to overhaul the system and make reforms which alone can' effect real economy. We feel, no member of Cabinet, even' including the.-.Prime Minister, has sufficient personal grasp of details to say exactly where reforms can be made. We need only call attention to one instance, viz., the policy of a " further cut" in our railway service, because there is a loss Of revenue. We ask writhe official remedy is to .render leas service and 'charge more for it, why- raise the rates to a ,jr.oint which drives away business? When s business concern shows a loss its policy is to try to give the same or better service at less cost by j cutting out waste.. The difficulty; aft critics have in judging the position- is to • . get at actual facts. Every outside observer sees evidence of serious waste of time and material and of out-of-date methods involving unnecessary work, but. directly anyone seeks a remedy h* is up against a wall of officialdom. For this reason the Welfare League has advocated, and will continue to advocate, the assistance: oii outside advice. AKrmra P.- Harper, Secretairy, N.Z. Welfare League. . EXHmmON DRIVE. "-.-'. Sir,—ln the Hhhat.t> of 23rd. inst. Mr. G. ,M. Eowlds drew attention to tte Waitakere Ranges as one of the city's best assets and suggested that a great scenic highway should bo constructed : along the ranges. Motorists in -criticising the proposal suggest that the Exhibition Drive should be.metalled as a frm instalment of the scheme. Wi'ih regard to the Exhibition Drive the foUowinj facta may he of interest. My- father has repeatedly, requested the Wiitemata County Council,.through the riding member, to do something toward putting ite portion of the road in order, hut so far nothing has been done. Thinking that perhaps the Government would do something toward the road I wrote to the Horn. Sir. Parr telling him that if b* could get a grant for the road I would guarantee that the settlers would conifribute at least.£loo and provide most of the labour required for metalling the road from the tea kiosk to the reservoir,. the portion under the control of the Waitemata County Council My letter brought the reply from the Minister for public Works that besides myself the only person to benefit by the work would be a Citv Council employee. I supplied a list o'f those who actually owned land along the road and pointed out the possibilities of the road as a tourist drive. This brought the farther reply that '•doubtless if the. road were prcjperry formed up and metalled it would mike a fine motor drive" and classing it as a work '"'which must.he regarded.as more or -less of luxury." The road has deteriorated through neglect every year and now even in summer it i 3 very little used sa motorists mW not risk the ruts and the chance of having to turn hack. In winter the road is a disgrace and a good example of the fact that unmetalled. roads are absolutely useless for any traffic at any time of'the year. <Tobe of sny further use the wad must be .metalled as soon as possible sasd I consider thati the Tourist Department should* contribute' part of the cost as the Waitakere BiwgeJ are a national asset and not mewlv a city one. The road could then be pusftetf on to- the Karekare-Waikumete Road aaslso on until the whole of Mr. Fowldii scheme is-carried out, WI&jSggERS be metalled as it goes, arid net,forgtfg that Titirangi and the «**ttfcgg,is the natural approach to the ggg* , Ran?* s - «u j