PREDICTIONS—AND CRANKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10507, 7 February 1920, Page 8

PREDICTIONS—AND CRANKS

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.’’) , Sir,—Heading the morning and evening papers continually, I observe 'that there is as yac quite a large number of cranks .(supposedly educated ones) at large in the world. They take hh* form of astronomers and meteorologists in general, and these cranks distribute the "good oil" as to when the world is going to end, when we are to receive earthquakes, tidal waves, hurricanes, cyclones, blizzards, etc., etc. And as per usual they are out of their reckoning; but atill the people believe in them. You will often overhear the remark, "Oh Mr Clement Wragge is real clever ” ’ Well, what fool cannot tell when it' is going to rain if you have it ©very day in the week? Here, in Wellington, you would not bo far wrong, only at present there is a drought on (no ram for four days). What, however, I wish to point out is this: While these star, ■razing cranks are spreading these sensational reports, what is going on amongst the population? Why, net this: Weak-uerved girls and women are in fear of going to bed in case an earthquake comes, or a tidal wave comes up and drowns them; and not only tbe women, but men—hundreds of them—. Book what December 17th. accomplished—the death of close on 10,000 people 1 throughout the' wbrld) from nor you i; /breakdown and shock. Now-, after their failure to end this world, they are on a new tack. A movement should be made to prohibit these cranks spreading such reports, as they are stark, star, ing mad, and I have an idea there is still room in Porirua for the bunch of them. I think that when the peopU of New Zealand look hack and remembel Halley’s comet and half a dozen othei disturbances that were to have brought about the end of the world, they will come to the conclusion that all them cranks are childish; in other words, their knowledge and brains are “napoc fini.” "NOT TO BE POOLED.