Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 727, 29 July 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND Sir,— I am pleased to see that the suggestion has been made that, in addition to the magnificent public response which has been made to the appeal for funds to assist the earthquake sufferers, there is still need of a larger national effort which will provide ample funds to deal, in a comprehensive manner, with the whole question of the complete restoration of the devastated area. The value of the suggestion of an internal national loan to meet the financial needs of the West Coast community —administered through channels to be set up by the Government—must be realised by all who have given serious thought to the subject. The principle must be accepted by all, while the details may be safely left to the Government to arrange. NATIONAL SYMPATHY.

ROTORUA-TAUPO RAILWAY

The idea is becoming prevalent that the present Government is one of spite. When the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates handed over the reins of Government he delivered a speech that, to my way of thinking, has not been surpassed in similar circumstances; a speech of conciliation, conveying the assurance of help in carrying our country through a period of industrial stress. Mr. Holland at once crossed the floor of the House openly to pay personal tribute to the manliness of the exPrime Minister. It is very evident that such sentiments have not been echoed by the new Prime Minister, who has made public a private letter belonging to his predecessor; a letter containing a grouch and dated October, 1927. Mr. Coates apparently attached so much importance to the letter that he left the “indictment” lying around for his successor to find and read! Long before he had seen the letter Sir Joseph had decided upon a policy of stopping all work possible in the North and concentrating upon the filling-in of the 76-mile gap in the South Island. It so happens that when Mr. Coates returned from the Economic Conference in 1926 he was confronted with abnormal unemployment problems, especially in the North. From that

time onward lie was constantly exploring every possible avenue to solve the problems. A scheme was required to absorb men and not merely relieve the unemployment. Early in 1927 the Rotorua-Taupo scheme was taken into serious consideration. The line mentioned was the only hope of relieving the unemployment situation in the North, and Mr. Coates is the only man in New Zealand with the vision and ability to see the job through. This tribute is from the pen of a wageearner, one who is employed on the lowest scale, and not from one who is interested in, or dependent on, vested interests. Our vested interest is our common heritage—the British Empire. CHARLES LAWRIN. Purewa.

THE 1929 ALL BLACKS

Sir, As a keen follower of the Rugby code I feel that in view of the defeat of the All Blacks in all three tests in Australia, it is high time that the system of selecting representative New Zealand Rugby sides was inquired into and an endeavour made to arrange some more satisfactory method than has been heretofore in operation. Despite the intense enthusiasm of the New Zealand Rugby public at large, it would seem to me that “the powers that be” and perhaps Rugby, players themselves have been apt to rest too heavily upon the laurels of the great footballers of the past, who put New Zealand upon the Rugby map, and are inclined to treat all opposing teams with levity and good-natured contempt. Nowadays we have sacrificed much to speed up the Rugby game; we have forgotten how to drop-kick, we hardly know what solid scrummaging means and. so far as our New Zealand representative sides are concerned, I also think we have forgotten how to goalkick. Our pride received a very severe setback as a result of the South African tour (which I grant was an arduous one). Still, have we profited in any degree by the lessons that team learned? I do not think so; at least, any beneficial result is not apparent. And now, with the visit to the Dominion of the English side very near, we have sent a representative teajn (Continued in next column.)

to Australia which has earned tbo distinction of being defeated in all three tests by a country where Rugby is only of secondary importance. Mating all allowances for illness and the obvious improvement in the calibre of the Australians, I c.o not think that the prospects for next year are overbright. We are apt, as I said, to underrate the ability of opposing teams, but if reports arc to be believed, the Englishmen to visit New Zealand next season form a very formidable proposition. I am of the opinion that the reputation of New Zealand Rugby is at stake, and would suggest that every endeavour be made by players and officials alike to ensure that the All Blacks of 1930 prove worthy of upholding the Rugby traditions of New Zealand. In conclusion, I may state that I do not wish to be regarded as being “oneeyed,” and in any respect to detract from the honour due to the Springboks or to the 1929 Waratahs. I wish, on the other hand, to commend them for their success. I still think, however, that had greater pains been taken in selecting sides in every sense worthy of the Dominion’s reputation, such defeats as we have suffered during the past two seasons may not havq resulted. OLD FAG.

A COURT CASE

Sir.— With your permission I would like to point out that the young.man who was sentenced at the Supreme Court on Thursday last for horse stealing was not ordered to be examined by the prison doctor “owing to a doubt concerning his condition being raised by a private medical man,” as the latter only examined the prisoner after the order had been made, and the prison doctor had made his examination. Tbo private medical man did not appear for the defence, but was engaged at the request of the Rev. Jasper Calder, who was acting in the capacity of amicus curiae. Far from being inexperienced, as his Honour’s words might imply, the medical man in question had 12 years’ experience of mental hospital work in England and New Zealand, so that surely his competence and skill in examining cases of this kind can scarcely be questioned. Though the City Mission authorises have no desire to traverse his Honour’s sentence, they would like to point out that his Honour’s own words in addressing the prisoner, that he was “self-centred, self-satisfied and boastful,” might easily have been quoted from any standard work on mental diseases, as they are absolutely characteristic of adolescent insanity in its early stages. BART CLARK. Organising Secretary* Auckland City Mission.

DR. PETTIT’S LECTURES

Sir. — With reference to my letter published in Friday’s Sun, I should like to mention that this was written before Dr. Pettit’s last lecture, when we were informed that he would answer written questions at a special meeting to be arranged. This was impossible at the second address on account of its nature: besides, it had nothing to do with Evolution, but the chairman confirmed my previous conclusions when he said: “A fool can ask a question which a wise man cannot answer/ This is quite true, but a wise man should be able to explain his inability to give a satisfactory reply. The Auckland University College professors allowed questions, and therefore, in the circumstances, would not the following quotation be more appropriate:—“No man can criticise a theory unless he first makes himself a master of the subject” (Ruskin). However, everyone sufficiently interested should be willing to write out his questions and to forward them to Pettit, provided that the doctor an 4 his colleagues at this meeting allow the audience to question his plies should they not be quite satisfied with any particular answers. Will he let your readers know through tbes# columns —he states he is a const reader of The Sun—if he is agreeabiQ to the last condition? P.D., A.U.C.