Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 443, 27 August 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

SUFFERING ANIMALS Sir, I havo read Ruth Crisp’s letter in Citizens Say under the heading "Suffering' Animals.” Why, if a human being has a corn or a chillblain, should he be killed? Footrot in sheep to any experienced sheep-owner or shepherd is quite curable. Sulphuric of potash or many well-known pastes and dips will cure this complaint. To kill a sheep 6n account of footrot is absurd. SHEEP. HOME-MADE SUMMER TIME Sir.— If "Sane Standard Time” had mentioned the nature of his business that is going to suffer through the inception of Daylight Saving his letter might carry some weight. Otherwise it does not. If indoor amusements lose some of their patrons the ordinary person need not worry over that as the extra hour in the open must be for the benefit of the people. When you hear of the old bogy of mothers not v being able to get their children to retire in daylight one wonders how the homes are managed in places where, under standard time, it is as light as late as Auckland is under daylight saving. Christchurch has an hour’s more light, in the summer evenings than we have here, therefore, for that reason alone we require the scheme more than the South Island does. In fact as we are situated, both north and east of the South Island a good solution would be permanently to advance North Island time half an hour, when our sunrise in winter would, according to the clock, be the same as Canterbury and we would reap a huge advantage in the evenings. An alternative improvement would be, instead of .putting the clock on an hour in one jump to advance in two halfhour stages at an interval of two or three weeks. Trusting Auckland pbople will stand to their guns and have some scheme of daylight saving for the future. NO AXE TO GRIND. THE ALL BLACKS Sir,— Criticism seems rife over tfie selection of the All Black teams for* the various test games, and a great many unnecessarily ill-natured things have been broadcast on the subject. Surely it is better that we, who take interest in the national game, should rely on the committee of experienced footballers on the scene of action rather than take notice of expressions of opinion coming from irresponsible and anonymous writers a few thousand miles.away from it? A hint that it has come to be a matter of "safety first” with our representatives has been wafted over the sea, and if so, the selectors are,

no doubt, acting conscientiously in picking the strongest defensive team of undamaged players at their disposal. Certainly, accepting this theory, it difficult to understand the absence in the last test of such sterling players as Nicholls, Scrimshaw and Rushbrook, who have consistently proved reliable in defence and most dangerous in attack in the games in which they have played; but, no doubt, good reasons can be given for their rejection on that particular day. It is amusing to observe the clever change of tactics of the Springboks when they learn from the personnel of the selected team that £he All Blacks intend to act on the defensive. They apparently then decide to play a fast, open game, under the circumstances, and ring a surprise on the New Zealanders. How well they succeeded is a matter of history. It is unthinkable that the All Black selection committee should betray the confidence placed in it by allowing personal animus to bias it in picking the team on such an occasion. Anonymous letters, when loaded with- venom, may be classed in the same category as popping with a rifle from behind the security of a brick wall at a person in the open; if they wish to indulge in venomous personalities, let them put their rames to their letters. It is some 40 years since the writer “popped” his head into a football jersey, but still, taking a lively interest in the brav§ old game, I think that everything in connection with it should be kept as fair and above board as possible. With all good wishes for the success of the All Blacks in their final games. R.S. Putaruru. PITY THE FARMER Sir, — As a casual observer it has often struck me as being more than passing strange that while there seems to be a consensus of opinion regarding the one and only cure for unemploy*uent, viz., “Get them to go on the land, ’ there is all the time running side by side a desire to make farming less attractive to anyone who may be contemplating “giving the land a go.” Anyone who has knocked about this country at all and kept his or her eyes open, and is not blinded by a silly city bias, must admit there are few if any. legitimate tillers of the soii who make anything more than a mere living, and then only after working hours unheard of in town, and under conditions that would never toe tolerated in any other calling. And still, while everyone is clamouring for land settlement, the average townsman gloats over the fact that there may be a drop in the price of milk. Personally, I am no more generously inclined than the next person, but I like to be fair, and if I can afford to pay 9d for my bottle of beer, I surely

cannot grumble at 7d a quart for an article produced under Governmem supervision and admittedly food «»• plus ultra for man and beast. Let the city dweller give the man on tbf land a semblance of a chance; let him remember that he lives indirectly by the man on the land; let him never forget that the more and the oftener he squeals about the price of one primary product, the oftener will he repent it, for there are thousands on the land to-day who, I am certain, are just about “fed up,” and are only too ready to chuck it and "join the mob by which they have been set free.” F AIRPLAY. A QUESTION FOR MR. ALLUM Sir, — I wonder how Mr. Allum would like to stand waiting in Queen Street, as 1 had to on Saturday last, from 12.50 to 1.15 p.m., for a car to take him to Edendale terminus. During this period of twenty-five minutes no car for Edendale went along Queen Street though five for Eden Park did so. I believe I am correct in saying that Mr Allum has stated that cars are never taken off the service and used to convey people to sports or racing. Of course, I recognise that people wishing to be conveyed to a football match are just as important to the Tramway Company as those wishing to get home. Finally, when a car did come along (packed) it carried us to Edendale Swamp onlyl Here we were all bundled out to scramble into the following car while the original car switched over and returned to the city' (This is often done on the Edendale route, and is especially appreciated on wet days.) By the time we reached the terminus there could have been no through oar for 30 minutes. Now, sir, I would like to know what legal right the Tramway Company has to turn us out of a car after we have paid a through fare, and whether it does not compel opposition companies to run vehicles to schedule no matter what sports are on? FED UP