Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 492, 23 October 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Sir. — Ann ,F. Hewitt’s explanation of Christian Science teaching regarding sin is nonsensical. It is impossible to make sense out of it. According to Christian Science sin does not really exist. It is merely an illusion of “mortal mind.” But Mrs. Eddy declares that “mortal mind” is also an illusion. If so, sin is an illusion of an illusion, the shadow of a shadow. Mrs. Eddy asserts that “there is no mortal mind”; it does not exist. But how can that which has no existence suffer from the illusion that sin is real, or from any other illusion? If “mortal mind is a myth,” how did the myth originate? NORMAN BURTON THE PRICE OF BREAD Sir. On a recent visit to England I was astonished at the difference between the cost of a 41b loaf there and the price charged for the same here. On August 20 last the price of the 41b loaf In England was Sd, but when I arrived here a few weeks ago I was astounded to find the price in the Waikato to be still Is 2d, cash over tile counter. Two-thirds of the wheat and flour consumed in Great Britain has to be imported into the country, but the British Board of Trade sees to it that the staple food of the people is not subject to profiteering and as the price of flour rises or falls, so the price of bread is increased or decreased, accordingly. The world price of wheat is now 4s 7d a bushel, cheaper than it has been for years, yet the people of this country are paying very little less for bread now than in the boom times. The Government of this country, although it professes to be concerned with the high cost of living, is taking no steps to put an end to this extortion. FAIR PLAY. MORE ABOUT CABARETS Sir, During the past week or so, I have read with a certain amount of interest the letters from Mr. Schmidt and others concerning cabarets, and Dixieland in particular. I am neither young nor old, but I have experience enough to know that if night bathing is allowed, a moral laxity will follow. Romantic youths who imagine that flappers will not dance in their bathing costumes have a lot to learn. There will be some

to do it just because it would be “just so terribly daring.” It is no use giving gallant assurance that these things would not be: for the curse of Eve is still borne by the women of the world, and the fatuous susceptibility of Adam is still ill the nature of man. JASPER PONTIFEX. Our correspondent evidently overlooks the fact that the management has the last say in the question of suitable costumes on the dancing floor, and the manager of Dixieland has already expressed himself clearly on this point.— Ed., Tha Sun. TRANSPORT BOARD Sir, In reply to my critic in The Sun, permit me to state that I am a strong believer in a transport board, but I will vote against the thing that it is proposed to set up and call a transport board. Let us wipe all suburban borough boundaries off the slate and elect our board on the Parliamentary franchise. The trams will become the property of the board and the city will bo lucky to unload them. The board being the trustees for the owners (who would be the ratepayers of the whole metropolis), will see that the trams get reasonable protection, but this does not mean bludgeoning all private buses off the roads. Through buses could be run as long as all passengers on the tram route had to pay a fare equal to the full length of the tram line, plus one section beyond. When the trams need more protection than this, it will be time to scrap them. However, our trams, if well managed, would pay well without the absurd bus regulations. I only hope that some of the outer bodies will call meetings to explain what is proposed before the vote is taken. E. STEVENSON. POISONED RABBITS Sir, — I would suggest that the time has come when greater supervision should be exercised on the rabbits coming in to the Auckland market. At the moment unskinned rabbits, irrespective of quantity or grade, pass straight from the rabbiter to the retail vendor. Officers of the Veterinary Department have apparently no control over the trade. Under such conditions, poisoned rabbits can be sent through, and as a great many more can be obtained by poisoning as compared with trapping, there is a growing tendency to market rabbits caught this way. Again I would suggest, if the

health of the public is to be guarded greater supervision should be exercised. ONE IN THE TRADE. The manager of one the principal firms to whom this complaint was referred stated that they dealt only with trapper*Poisoned rabbits bore an unmistakable colour and if any were sent in they wou.d be rejected and payment refused. a would be impossible, he stated, to poisoned rabbits off as trapped, and as in as he was aware it has not been triedIt was also stated that poisoning is only resorted to in localities where distance from the markets makes t ran s porta, tic too costly. In the more accessible districts the rabbits are trapped and tm both carcases and skins can be rnarKe __ instead of the skins only, as is the when the animals are poisoned.—M. • Sun.

RELIGION AND POLITICS

In the course.of a sermon in which ho advocated his hearers to vote tor candidates supporting Bible in fe< plio -• the Rev. A. i<- Wilson is reported as stating that “It is not the function of the State to teach particular creedor doctrines.” I heartily assent, in the name of logic would ask x Wilson how he can advocate Bible n Schools, and at the same time hoia that vital principle of religious tr - dom. Consider, the Bible in programme provides for Bible re - ings, hymns and a prayer. Ca ” t be said without prevarication, tnau such exercises contain no doctrin • Every hymn and prayer and most Bible readings contain some reilgioudoctrine or other. Certain of doctrines may be common to ev • Christian sect, but that does not man them other than doctrines. In spite - his inconsistency in desiring so **. form of Christianity in schools, -J* Wilson opposes the idea of the J? ' teaching any specified body of L nr - tian doctrine. Now it is exactly^ _ similar grounds to the latter that no Christians oppose the idea of the fa undertaking any Christian or religio doctrinal teaching or exerci whether specified or not a whether common to all sects or n Our principle is the same, but non-Christian carries it to its log_ * conclusion and insists on absolute State neutrality in religious matt -• whereas Mr. Wilson would* extend n* just principle to Christians on v£* * • eluding all others, and advocating » qualified neutrality. A ~ A-Lw*