PUBLIC OPINION

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12197, 23 July 1925, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

RED AND BLUE (To the Editor, “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —As a now tired and bored reader of the “New Zealand Times,” that is continually accusing members of the Labour Party for changing their political colour from red to pale pink, I would like to ask where is the “Times’s” consistency these days in changing from Red (good old Liberalism’s colour) to a very deep Conservative blue. Be careful, Mr Editor, that you do not go too deeply, and reach jet black. Red was the colour of Seddon’s Liberalism, whose party was largely composed -of -the present Labour Party which has now formed and is still building up a great political organisation which nothing can stay. Surely Labour has every- claim to be the successors of the Seddon policy, so lamentably neglected bv Ward and Wilford. The “Times” is quite all right, Mr Editor; it is only the print you put in it.—l am, eta., C. GOUGH. Pahiatua, July 21st. [This letter is the subject of editorial comment. —Editor. “N.Z. Times.”) THE NATONALPARTY (To the Editor, “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —As a visitor to the city from the electorate represented in Parliament by the seconder of Mr Atmore’s amendment to the Address-in-Reply, which urged the fusion of the Reform and Liberal foroes, one was naturally shocked at your leading article in this morning’s “Times.” It will be recalled that our member’s speech in tho House last week was almost approaching a tirade of abus# of Mr Coates, whom he (our member) seemed to consider was the block in the way of the rescue from oblivion of the remnant of that once “grand old party,” the Liberals. We in the backblocks are not at all concerned about the formation .of the Nationalist Party, as our member, although At times appears to he supporting first the Liberals, then the Lib.Labs., then Labour, and now the Nationalists, will always be found on the side of Reform when by his so doing an election can be warded off. In any case why should we concern ourselves about this change of name from Liberal to Nationalist of this derelict party? Did not Mr Wilford and his remnant act in the same manner just three years ago, when it will be remembered they became the “United Liberal-Labour Progressive” Party? Since that time no one would argue in favour of retaining the word “united,” as Mr Wilford’s party certainly cannot be classed as such, and being policyless they are hardly entitled to “progressive.” Not in any way representing the working olasses, this rather sorry group of politicians cannot lay claim in anv way to add the word “Labour,” and having long sineeceased to be Liberal in anything but imagination they have forfeited the right to sail under the banner of “Liberalism.” I ask then, what could poor Mr Wilford and his group do other than make oAe last ' desperate attempt to save themselves from political oblivion by as. suming a new name for his party? So please', Mr Editor, just bear with these unfortunates during their period of political delirium.—l am, etc., OORRIGANITE. Wellington, July 22nd. EVOLUTION (To the Editor of “N.Z. Times,”) Sir. —Your correspondent, “H.E.R,” quotes copiously from various authorities regarding what has been humourously termed “the sublime maggot theory” of the universe. “H.E.R.” is evidently a firm believen.-in evolution and takes it to be a oertain certainty. If this is so, perhaps lie may kindly —irrespective of what this or that professor says—lnform, us— 1 1. How man made his first appearance. 2. When man made his first appearance. 3 • Where man made his first appearance. 4 Why, if the Ascidian larva has climbed the -teep ascent of the mountain-side of being, and through tho mouse or rat, and whatever lower form is had reached “the Simiaaae of ‘the old world,” and finally its human stage, others also have travelled upward and become weasels, mules, asses, camels, skunks, etc., and then a sudden frost has seized upon the grand life impulse, to which such wondrous results are ascribed? “ 5 Why no single bear by its efforts to catch fish, has been known to give birth, say, to a cetaceous infant ? As evolution appears to be a small number of happy accidents, surviving from a large number of unfortunate misadventures, which have perished and disappeared, l would be glad if “H.E.R.” would throw more light on the subject.—l am, etc., ■ B.A.d, Wellington. THE HUNT (To the Editor, “N.Z. Times.”) Bir, —Apparently a certain section of Americans are endeavouring to resurrect the old question that Englishmen a generation ago refused anymore to worry their minds about. The question was: Do you think man was descended from a monkey? The words “scienoe” and “Darwin” are, again being bandied about by men who . may know little of either. Now, first let it he stated that Darwin did, not say that men were descended from monkeys. All that he proved in his hook, “The Descent of Man,’ 1 was that, the functions and organs that keep life in man are similar to those that operate the life of the rest of tho animal creation; that, in as much as there must of necessity he a survival. of the fittest, therefore it is quite possible that man has originally evolved from what is known as the animal world, or lower creation. Thus Darwin leaves the theory and carries it no further, but others coming after him have carried man’s genesis to the protoplqpm or germ, or even the monkey. Now, it may be conceded that all life on this planet has ejertain defined characteristics, which seem to prove that all life comes from one source, and that tho rules of life run through all the bearers of it; but there is something that man cannot understand, and that is that in spite of his animal qualities the gap of mentality between himself and lower animal is so vast. There are three tilings which distinguish man from the mere animal. Man can make fire, can talk or converse, and can make weapons for himself. No animal can do any of these things of its own initiative. The animal may make sounds that imply its feelings, hut on the subject of converse it is absolutely impotent. If a monkey worming itself by a fire was seen voluntarily to pint a piece of wood or coal on, to make it burn up, then indeed it may be claimed as a relative to man.

The gap between mankind and the lower animal is too great to be bridged,

for however low a man may be, in liis own order of creation, he is still the lord of the animal world. Is it not •jurious that man’s knowledge of himself is so limited? He has studied earth’s history, and seems to be getting to a knowledge of its earliest origin, but as regards himself he 4 is faced with a great blank. Prom the earliest time; of history or records, say, 10,000 years ago, he is found to be practically the same as to-day, _ except, of course, that he has acquired a great advance in mechanioal knowledge and all its advantages. As a whole he has not much changed, indeed in some instances he has certainly degenerated. What about the time when he was forming himself into raoes? Well, we know absolutely nothing. During our own times he has divided himself into nationalities, but before that there is a great blank. We wonder how life oomes to this earth, and cannot understand how the knowledge should have been kept hack, therefore legends and prophesies have had their opportunity to flourish, but mankind, in his pride of prestige, believes that ultimately the truth will come to him. Life did come to the earth, but how. when, or where we know not.. There are only one of three ways in which it could arise, and that is either from outside, or by creation on the earth by Divine power, or spontaneously. If from outside, then it could come at different times, and each advent would account for the difference between, the various lines in which it now exists. If by creation, then he who can create can regulate the laws of his creatiop. Tf earth can. spontaneously give life, then let us kiss the mud of our streets, being our own mother earth to which we will return and in her bosom give life to the plants, that feed the animals, that become the food and slaves of mankind. So commence again the eternal circle of evolution.

However life may have commenced, there seems a chasm beyond which our knowledge cannot pass, therefore how futile to say that science points the way. Science can only theorise after all, and when there is so much of truth that can be learned a teacher touches dahgerous ground when he lays claim to teach the law of evolution. Wlrnt is known can he taught, and what is unknown should he left to the discussion of those who may ho properly mentally qualified to obtain good from the research. A teacher who. forbidden to teach religion to his pupils, from long experience of its dangers, still ventures to persist in doing it, is as guilty as he who desires to teach evolution of tho descent of man when greater authorities have been able only to say, “Not proven.’’—l am, etc., C. W. TANNER. Wellington. GRAMOPHONES IN SCHOOLS (To the,Editor “N.Z. Times.’’) Sir, —With reference to your report in the “Times” of July 21st, we desire to correct some of the speakers in regard to their remarks on the subject of gramophones in schools and local industries : (1) It was stated by Mr Watkins that the successful tenders for gramophones for schools quoted the landed cost of their machine to the Government in order to advertise them. As one of the successful tenderers we emphatically contradict this statement, and further state that His Master’s Voice machines were sold to the department at a higher price than is sold to the trade in New Zealand.! (2) The Hon. Sir James Parr stated, in the course of his reply: “The British manufacturers assure me that the whole make of the article we get is British,” but a member of the deputation interjected, saying “It is a lie.” In answer to that member, I can assure him that the Minister’s remarks are perfectly true, as far as the Gramor phone Company ie concerned. The facts are: The Gramophone Company, Ltd., is a British .company, incorporated in 1900. Its factories at Hayes, Middlesex, are the largest talking-machine factories in Europe. They are the only British factories equipped for the complete production of gramophones and records! The Gramophone Company does not have its cabinfets, spring motors, or essential parts made outside; it makes its own. (3) Reference New Zealand-made Machines: The majority of the New Zea-land-made machines are really only assembled machines, and the hulk of the expense of the completed gramophone is imported. The sound-box, tone arm' motors, and all the fittings are imported into New Zealand, and a very considerable amount of them are imported from Switzerland. Germany, U.S.A., and some from England. The imports into New Zealand in 1924 were as follow: £ Germany 1,356 Switzerland 8,834 Sweden 438 U.S.A. 38,874 A big proportion of this is for parts and accessories for manufacturing of gramophones in New Zealand. In addition, the timber used in the machines is mostly imported. The actual amount of labour involved in manufacturing talking machines in New Zealand is a very small item of the completed machine. —We are, etc., ' E. J. HYAMS, LTD., Representing! the Gramophone Co. July 23rd. JUST AN IMPRESSION (To the Editor, “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —My impression of the proposed fusion of the Reform and Liberal parties into one homogeneous whole, to be known as the Nationalist Party, has become abortive through the fault or failure ,of Mr J. Gordon Coates, the Prime Minister. In order to facilitate fusion no stipulation as to portfolios by Liberals' was made. The Prime Minister was given a free hand, and it is reported that the members of his Cabinet save one gave him a free hand in the reconstruction of a Nationalist Cabinet. That was MpCoates’s opportunity to bring about an immediate fusion of parties, and end a three-cornered contest In the country at the general election. Mr Coates has failed. He alone is responsible for the failure of the fusion negotiations. All the camouflage raised to obscure the position will not obliterate the true fact from the minds of electors. The Conservative newspapers may rave about change-artists and trash of that kind, but all their ravings will not change the impression that has been made upon electors generally. All in all it is a poor compliment to Mr Coates’s genius as a statesman and as a man inspired—as he says he is—to seek the well-being of this Dominion.—l am, etc., HOMO SUM. [Our correspondent notwithstanding, the fact remains that the Liberals insisted on a reconstruction of the Government, and reconstruction of the Government could not have meant other than a share of portfolios for the Liberals—Editor. “N.Z. Times. J