Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 99, 18 July 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT Sir, — In reply to the Look-Out Man on the tragic dfeath of Mr. O’Higgins:. You say that “every decent-minded citizen must wish to see his assailants brought to the gallows.” Well, I hope I am de-cent-minded, and I would like to suggest, through your paper, that if all decent-minded people were to make up their minds to abolish capital punishment, we would be much further on the road to “Peace on earth, good will to men.” If the Irish Free State could see its way to commemorate the memory of Mr. O’Higgins in this way it would be the highest tribute they could pay to his memory. He was near to the Divine intelligence when he forgave his assailants before he died, and what right have we to be less forgiving? “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” saith the Lord. Perhaps, if we try this play, there may be no more murders in Ireland. I write this as one who loves Ireland and longs to see her in her proper place among the nations. Trusting I will not be misunderstood. MERCIFUL. ONLY A DOG Sir, — THE .SUN is to be congratulated on its article on the scandalous conditions of the Auckland City Council kennels. One wonders how the members of the council feel on these cold nights if they think of the wanton cruelty that they allow to continue at the so-called kennels. Could you, sir, or any of your readers state what objection the council has to treating the dogs in their care in a humane manner? Were the kennels properly constructed, and run in a sanitary manner, and weekly sales held, they would soon pay for themselves. May we expect a reply from some member of the council? BIG BEN. THE S.P.C.A. Sir, — Walking along Ponsonby Road this afternoon I read the following quotation outside the Unitarian Church: “The old order changes, yielding place to new, and God reveals Himself in many ways.” Shortly afterwards I purchased THE SUN and read the sub-leader on the unfortunate dogs which find themselves in the hands of an inhumane City Council. This state of affairs is an abomination, and one which should not Ibe tolerated in any enlightened community. And many people ignorantly blame the S.P.C.A. for the present state of affairs. But the fact of the matter is the work of the S.P.C.A., like many other similar institutions, is not sufficiently encouraged by either the public or the newspapers as a general run. Humane education remains the Cinderella of the sciences, and the work of many societies goes unencouraged and unrecognised by the public. HUMANIST. * A HOME FOR DOGS Sir, — The article about the city pound in Friday’s SUN certainly should bring before the public the necessity of a dogs’ home. The pound with its concrete cells is bad enough, but it is a palace compared to what it was some years back, when a small party of ladies started working to improve the conditions. One sent straw to start with; another cleaned the place out herself, and another fed and found the dogs homes, even to the extent of advertising for them). After years of work came the forming of the new S.P.C.A In forming the working committee of the new society, none of the old workers were included. Well, they say new brooms sweep clean. Perhaps they will start a dogs’ home, but somehow I don’t think it possible without the enthusiasm of the members. I may here point out that a member is only on a par with the general public, there being no meeting in which he or she can take part. It is only a matter of paying a fee. The society has no office of their own, neither is there any propaganda, but we hope all this will come right in time. Consequently, I wish to appeal to the public to come forward and become “live” members, as this is a necessary society, not a social one,

but one for all classes, and by your help we will get a dogs’ home and do away with the old trouble. A MEMBER. T.B. SHELTERS Sir. — Dedicated to the fallen, a costly war memorial is being erected in the Auckland Domain. And while citizens bask complacently in the reflected glory of this magnificent tribute to the quiet dead, their elected representatives on the City Council are conspiring to inflict a hardship on a few of the war’s victims who did not die —not quite, anyway. Well might these broken soldiers from their shelters gaze across the Domain at Auckland’s magnificent monument to their dead comrades and ask, “What price glory now?” If the inmates of the T.B. shelters in the Domain are contented, what decent excuse have the authorities to offer for seeking to have them removed? Can it be that our City Fathers have come to regard the shelters and their inmates as ghosts at the banquet? WYPERS. LAW AND LAW MAKERS Sir, In the bad old days when the Court of Star Chamber reigned supreme, judges gave their verdicts based upon what they considered was the spirit of the law and thus became the despots that undoubtedly ruined the Constitution and caused all the misery and distress of the revolution. Any mind can translate the spirit of an Act of Parliament in any manner, according to its particular viewpoint, but if the letter of the law is not sufficient in inflicting fines on citizens then it is not for magistrates or judges to enlarge the scope of any particular Act, but fdr Parliament to amend the law. Are judges appointed to administer the law as they find it, or have authority to extend it in any direction to suit their own ideas? I understood that the amending or stretching of the law was the sole right of Parliament. HAROLD SCHMIDT. THE “NEWSOGRAPH” COMPETITION Sir, — I am desirous of acquainting you of my appreciation of and thanks for the compliment paid to me by the judges of the “OW Ironsides” Newsograph Competition, with reference to the typewritten sketch which I submitted and which was fortunate in winning for me the first prize. My thanks are also due to the management of the New Regent Theatre and THE SUN, for their combined conception of such a novel competition as the above, which really opens a new avenue for stenographers who are artistic, and, incidentally, blessed with patience and perseverance. SYDNEY H. BERNARD. Mount Eden. “IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM III” Sir, — Although the subject is unsavoury, it is impossible to allow the silly assertions of “Ulster” to go unchallenged. Says “Ulster”: “The Orange Order was founded by Bishop Burnett, July 12, 1688 . . .” To begin with, there was no Bishop Burnett in 1688. A secret politico-religious society was founded by Protestants in Ireland in 1795 for the purpose of upholding the Protestant religion and ascendancy and of opposing Roman Catholic influence in the government of the country. “Ulster” is wrong in his facts, wrong in his history and egregiously wrong in his inferences. This society, because of its habit of lauding the glorious pious and immortal memory of William 111., was called by Irishmen “The Orange Society” and its members “Orangemen.” My authority: Benjimin E. Smith, M.A., L.H.D., editor-in-chief of the Century Dictionarv. FINBAR O’GRADY. 16-7-23. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS Ratepayer.—Rather too personal. Fair Play.—Your letter has already appeared in another journal.