Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 72, 16 June 1927, Page 10

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

COMFORT FOR T.B. CASES Sir, — “Ex-Patient” some time ago was confusing the shelter homes for chronics with a sanatorium resort for early cases. So “Women Patients” tell him. I must agree with “Women Patients”—but at the same time would inquire if the chronics, who need comfort, have it? Have they a rest room where wet days can be spent, regardless of wet lounges? Have they means of drying their (perhaps only) pair of shoes and one coat? Wet days, generally see up-patients huddled round a fire in a room, used as kitchen, pantry, and dining-room, with the clatter of dishes ever ringing in their ears. Are these patients, who need it most, to have no comforts? Is there no chance of securing fdr them a lounge room, with easy chairs; a place to which patients could retreat to write, rr a.d, sew, •or talk on fihe days as well as wet ? OBSERVANT VISITOR. HIRE-PURCHASE Sir, — What is wrong with the hire-pur-chase method of buying goods and how, precisely, has it hurt the susceptibilities of some members of the council of the Chamber of Commerce? Do these gentlemen wish your readers to believe that they are inveighing against the system from purely altruistic motives? The public, forsooth, is buying luxuries! I will not ask: it is quite safe to assert, that the articles it is possible for a wage-earner to buy under this system have been possessed by the critics of the hire-purchase system foi many years and classed as necessities It is safe to say that were it not foi this system there would be a great deal less volume of business moving in Auckland at present. Let these wounded economists imagine how manj easy chairs are occupied to-night, theii tenants listening to a gramophone 01 wireless —all made possible by what 1 choose to call the compulsory saving system, for that is what it amounts to. Let them confine their attention tc their own businesses and allow the wage-earner to ameliorate his wretched lot in whatever way he sees fit. CHAS. BAILEY. A NOTE OF APPROVAL Sir, Just hastily I want to express appreciation of your leader of yesterday’s date—“ Their Country’s Gratitude.” I am one of many keenly interested in all matters pertaining to peace, who would find that article much to their taste, after the stupid tales that have been told regarding returned soldiers’ pensions, etc. Going home in the train last night I heard a woman reading it out to her husband, and she said: “Good for THE SUN. .If it-iakes that line it will give us something we need badly.” I made up my mind to tell you. K. TRADE WITH AMERICA Sir. — The Prime Minister, speaking about th€» Dominion’s trade with the United States, says, that this “is five times against us,” that “we cannot go on at this rate,” and further that “we want to get our trade balance right.” What would happen to the world’s trade if every nation decided that it would buy no more from any country than it could sell to that country? Supposing China made this a rule, how would Britain’s “favourable” balance, which is in the ratio of ten to one, fare? Would Mr Coates back Germany if she were tc value than our imports from her? refuse to buy our wool to a greatei value than our imports from her? Germany’s “unfavourable” balance with

this Dominion was, according to the 1926 year book, as ten to one. Does Mr. Coates want Britain to accept his lead and cut down her purchases of New Zealand produce to the level of 'in- imports from Britain? Equal trade between all countries is an impossibility, and, if it were not, it would be sheer- stupidity. There is one point in regard to our American trade which the Prime Minister either ignores or is ignorant of. If our exports to the United States are SO per cent, short rf balancing imports from that country, Britain, it is safe to say, finds exports out of which America ultimately gets paid this balance. Britain therefore gets an SO per cent, “cut” aut of this trade. That is one reason tier visible trade with the Dominion is what some people call “unfavourable.” INTERNATIONAL TRADE. LITERATURE IN SCHOOLS Sir.— Your correspondent “Rationalist” is honest as to his object in attacking the Bible-in-Schools movement iTe is out to destroy the Christian religion, and wishes to see our Dominion m the same condition as Russia is in to-day m regard to religion. I hope those interested ' in the subject will make a note of this. He says Christianity means sulvationtsm. What he means by this is not clear. I cannot find the word in the dictionary. It is generally understood that Christianity means love to God and man—doing to others as we would be done bv: and the Bible meaning of salvation is being saved from sin, or selfishness His audacious statement that Christianity means nothing to 80 per cent, of the people in New Zealand is so utterly opposed to statistics and general knowledge that it needs no answering. Unfortunately, what he says about Christians being divided as to the interpretation of Scripture, is too true, and this is why they have allowed men holding his opinions to exploit them, to the extent of shutting out the Bible from New' Zealand schools for 50 years. Now they are becoming aware of this fact, and are also taking a wider view of religion generally; they wish to see the Bible restored to its position in our schools. He suggests that "Anderson’s Fairy Tales” and “Water Babies” should be introduced, as they are sufficiently good literature. It may be news to him that portions of both these works have been largely used in our schools. In my long experience as a teacher I have had to teach portions of Grecian mythology, fairy tales, folk-lore', the Tajmud and other fanciful subjects, and I think have taught them with profit; but I was not allowed to teach portions of Scripture unless they happened to be quoted in general literature, wiiich was .frequently the case. ILR.HL RATIONALISM Sir. — I have searched in vain Mr. Norman E. Burton’s letter, for some evidence in support of his title “An ‘lrrational’ Rationalist.” His whole letter simply lims to prove what a small body the Rationalists are. His argument therefore is that the beliefs of minorities' ire irrational. In that case, of ' course, all Anglicans are ir- j rational, because they are out- i numbered by Roman Catholics, and all j Christians are irrational since there ; ire more Buddhists. Surely logic, a rational attribute, is not Mr. Burton’s | strong point, nor does his information J as to over one million Bibles being j sold last year bear on the contention j nf “Rationalists” that it is not a proper ! book to place in the hands of children. Apropos of those figures it will interest Mr. Burton to learn that over 1G million Rationalist books were sold in Great Britain during the past 20 years, which is more than the number published by the whole 200 sects and j superstitions collectively. Isow as to those census figures. I

am a Rationalist, yet my answer t the query re religion in the 1921 census was “object to state,” on the ■ sideration that my belief concerned wj self alone.’ I see that 38,591 P er ®®*\j thought similarly. We are entitled £ assume that the majority of these ar outside the pale of any sect, and therefore rationalists, in that they ceased to rely on arbitrary assumptio '■'f authority. In addition we find 3 ,? of no religion, 3,736 did not s P e J 3 ?S 1,382 were of no denomination. 3jW ■ were freethinkers, 726 agnostics, * atheists, and 430 rationalists, makes a total of 48,164 as agai 44,540 in the same classes in Rationalism is far from a spent Has Mr. Burton not heard of th ® l ***l tionalist Press Association, membershii) wide-Hung over the , globe? Among its honorary ates we find the names of Arnold nett, Hon. John (’oilier. Edetl Pnilpo™** Sir Robert Stout. Prof. Sir Ar : rtg . Keith, Sir Ray Lancaster, and a no - of other eminent men in the re ® of letters and science, whose namep household words, and who would gard with tolerant amusement the ble efforts of your correspondent t little their convictions. r A. £*• NOTICES TO CORRESPONDED 0.M.-THE SUN opens its eorrespo ’|lj ence columns to all comer®. *. seek to collect the views -* readers on religious, political. cipal and other questions that __ interest to them, and are - cerned with what view jfts take. But we cannot allow > freedom of our columns to a® rioting. “Mother.”—As there appears to befjjj R siderable conflict of opinion . subject of the negligence or t j,c complaint was made, and <j<> culpability of the defendant, not think it advisable to publish * letter.