Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

THE CHURCH AND POLITICS Sir, — After reading your report on the coming election, at which meeting: Canon James expressed his opinion of the members of Parliament in no uncertain tone, it strikes me that the Church is also in need of some more suitable men to try and lead us to have more loving and tolerant thoughts toward our fellow-men. Fortunately Dr. Averill endeavoured to take the raw edge from the crude utterance made by the canon. Let us hope that the ‘‘canon’s roar” will not frighten our prospective and present members of Parliament from standing up to fight our battles for liberty and freedom of thought. PISTOL. THE JERVIS BAY Sir, Surely there is irony aplenty in the alleged unfortunate plight of the s.s. Jervis Bay somewhere in the Indian Ocean. According to The Sun’s cable columns the above steamship wirelessed to the warship Enterprise asking for help, “as a band of desperate stowaways is creating trouble.” The Enterprise replied that she was unable to help owing to the majority of her being in camp. Surely this presents in a rather ludicrous light the vehement pronouncements of our naval authorities (especially at disarmament conferences) on the alleged vital importance of continuously and adequately “policing the seas,” “patrolling the trade routes,” etc. A clear case of “asleep on the beat.” BUNTLINE. THE SOUL Sir. — Allow me briefly to reply to C.E.NI. (19.6.28). (1) Soul, ego, self, etc., are really names for the “sarr- 1 non, which is of a composite natureintegrated strings of experiences mcerplaying upon an organism. In cases of “multiple personalities,” each distinct “self” frequently alternates with its own distinct memories, behaviour, and character pattern. Which one of these “selves” possesses immortality? Psycho-analysis gives a purely scientific interpretation of this phenomenon, too detailed to give here. The soul, apart from what may be called “personality.” more than “eludes” analysis —it cannot be found for analysis to be attempted. (2) Ido not deny that some weigh the evidence. But how many? The belief does not persist because of these odd ones, but by those who overwhelmingly receive it at their mother’s knee. (3) I am not dealing with the existence of a spiritual Being. This is a “cobweb accumulation” on the soul idea, having nothing to do with its origin. The modern theistic

1 conception (“modern idea”) is in continuous unity with primitive man’s interpretation of dreams, etc. The anthropological history of the soul idea, can be definitely traced back through preceding stages of culture to primitive man. With him the idea “originated” as stated. I do not say that the modern idea is a “survival.” _ I said an “evolution.” The idea and its supporting arguments change as advancing knowledge shows the primitive and succeeding positions to be untenable. PKOFANDM VULCUS NEWMARKET TRAM STOPS Sir, In reading the papers a short time ago, I noticed that the Newmarket Council is divided in its opinion as to which is the best place for the tram stop. It seems to me that it is simply a dispute between two sets of shopkeepers at either end of the street. The first consideration should be the convenience of the travelling public. I understand that the idea is to have an island in the middle of the triangle, and to reach that safety zone the pedestrian would be compelled to run the gauntlet of the furious motor traffic that is allowed at the present time. It is proposed, seemingly, to spend a large amount of ratepayers’ money to make the position far worse than it is at present. The scheme is impossible. except that the motor traffic would benefit slightly, as it would have a straight run through Newmarket and save the few minutes that are lost at present by motor-cars being compelled to wait for a tram to unload passengers. It is time that the outside ratepayers took a little more interest in the doings and sayings of our worthy council. RATEPAYER. EDUCATION AND ITS OBJECTS Sir.— From Lord Bacon to the presentday educationist there is a long span, marked by advance in most departments. This being so, it is rather remarkable that there is not much difference, after all, between the view of Bacon (quoted by Sir George Fowlds) and the modern idea of education. To Bacon the benefits of learning were; (1) The pleasure of gaining knowledge; (2) the social distinction of being educated; and (3) the practical advantage of knowledge added to ability. To-day, according to the best authorities, the aim of education is threefold—vocational, cultural and social. The third aim, social or civic, is the one that has made least headway. Sir George Fowlds has given expression to some very helpful suggestions, and deserves the thanks of all who are interested in the most vital of presentday questions. J.H.B.