Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 274, 9 February 1928, Page 10

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

A MISUNDERSTANDING Sir, — I have been somewhat vexed to learn that several letters appearing in The Sun on “Maori Pronunciation,” signed “Zealandia” have been attributed by many people to me, perhaps because I recently gave a talk on some such subject at IYA, and people don’t always read their papers with the care they should. Please grant me space to say that I did not write the “Zealandia” letters, nor do I know who did. I thank you very much; I’ll do as much for you (if ever I can). J. F. MONTAGUE. TURNED TURTLE Sir.— If the New Zealand Navy can knock its new gunnery practice target over as neatly as it capsized after its launching in Freeman’s Bay yesterday, the citizens of Auckland need not fear attack by Japanese or American gunboats, nor grumble at having to pay a share of the £IO,OOO spent on the naval Aunt Sally. But who would have thought that, as naively explained by the builders, the target turned turtle quite in accord with expectation, though in the opposite direction. It fell to port instead of to starboard. Did it have too much champagne at its christening? One wonders if the four men aboard the contraption knew it was bound to capsize. They did not appear to enjoy their abrupt immersion. Perhaps they were to be paid overtime for the ducking. If their plight were foreordained their presence on the target at least showed that their pluck is exactly the stuff of which the Navy is made. LONGSHOREMAN. “THE KING’S PORTRAIT” Sir, I am very gratified to note that “Citizen Claudius” has candidly admitted his curiosity, and incidentally I must deny emphatically the “vein of hypocrisy” which, he states, runs through my letter. Apparently he has a strangely perverted sense of perspective and I respectfully beg to draw his notice to the absurdity of his remark regarding the perusal of the “Citizen’s Say” column. For -what other reason, may I ask, did he write to the Editor of The Sun, if not to bring his complaint before the notice of the public? There is, if I may venture to point out to friend “Claudius,” a vast difference between reading a newspaper—yes, including the letters to the editor—and deliberately prying into some unconscious person’s business! I am also very' intrigued to learn of “Citizen Claudius’s” great interest and pride in

the work of his office-messenger days. Truly, what a paragon is in our midst! But, I am still unconvinced that America is going to create an uproar over the unpatriotism of the British because a New Zealander accidentally stamped his business letter upside down, and I venture to surmise that most of The Sun readers are of the same mind. Disloyalty to our King is at all times a true New Zealander’s most remote thought and I am positive that no disrespect was intended in the case that “Citizen Claudius” has quite unnecessarily chosen to place under notice. “CITIZENESS CLAUDIA.” RAWLINGS SCHOLARSHIP Sir, — It is generally understood that the above scholarship is entirely for the benefit of children of parents who cannot afford them a secondary education. If that is correct it would be of interest to many to know if those who secured them this comply with the conditions laid down. The securing of assisted secondary education means a lot to the child of a working man and any provision that has been made for such children should be jealously guarded. Perhaps the trustees could enlighten those INTERESTED. Mr. C. C. Baker, secretary of the Rawlings Trust, which has now been in existence for over 40 years, says he will be pleased to supply anyone interested with required information. It would hardly be possible for him, however, to discuss a man’s private affairs in the columns of a newspaper. The will of Mr. Rawlings, the founder of the scholarships, declares that they must be awarded to the sons of poor people It is entirely within the discretion of the trustees to decide the awards and the financial circumstances of applicants’ parents. “Incomes that were considered good before the war are not so to-day,” replied Mr. Baker. “We contend that we have fulfilled the conditions of the trust in every instance.”— Ed., The Sun. THE S.P.C.A. Sir,— Through the medium of your columns I am hoping to enlist the sympathy and help of all animal lovers who may read these lines. During the two enjoyable years I have spent in this country, X have on a few occasions had to seek the aid of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which at once gives prompt attention when notified of cases. Through this X have found out how really badly the Auckland branch of this most deserving society is in need of funds, in order to carry on its good work. Owing to lack of funds there is only one inspector employed in Auckland, and it is obvious that one man is overtaxed and

quite unable to deal effectually with such a large district, particularly •* no car can be provided for his use, as® therefore much valuable time 4 » I®* by travel in public conveyances. The society is entirely dependent on voluffl" tary contributions, and I know there must be many people in this city would willingly give practical assiSj* ance as well as sympathy in till® splendid cause, if they would owl realise how much it is needed. The object of this appeal is to raJm enough money to purchase a small GW for the use of the inspector, and only people are generous enough, employ more inspectors, so please wu you help me help the society? aJr amount, however small, will be ' fully received by the hon. treasurer,*** Richard Arthur, Queen Street, AUc land. , PHYLLIS BRADLEY 86 Mountain Road. SECRECY OF BALLOT Sir, aithtf Would you kindly inform me through the columns of your p paper or privately, whether it _»* sible for the party in power general election to discover by tb of any system the vote of any or are the ballot cards strictly the hands of the scrutineers. what becomes of these ballot after the results finally “Quite impossible,'* replied wftSt electoral officer for Auckland. papers, he explains, are forw&rd 1 to the Clerk of the House of tatives after a General E!ectl<»n. remain at Parliament House and are then burnt, according i in the presence of the Clerk of u* and the Clerk of the Writs. . are never opened. This ha* ijf. practice for many yeargv—-Ed-