Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 994, 10 June 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

THE LIBRARY Sir, — . I am pleased to see that Mr. John’ Barr has at last drawn public attention to the great need for extension of the Public Library. This is a matter to which I drew the attention of your readers almost two years ago, and about six months ago you were good enough to publish another letter of mine upon the same subject. It is more than time that the reference department, in particular, was completely overhauled —enlarged to about twice the present floor space, and completely restocked with all the latest information. And I hope others of your readers will take the matter up also. It. M. THOMSON. SEX EDUCATION Sir,— To the letter of “Thought Broadcasting” I have no time to reply. She has all my sympathy. To your correspondent, “Wake Up,” I should like to say that my daughter was fully versed in all sex matters by the time she was six years old, and was never taught that babies were found under gooseberry bushes. She knew by instinct the moment she was born, and the knowledge was fostered instead of being torn down and substituted by a ridiculous lie which no child with any intelligence could be expected to believe. She is sorry for her little friends at school who “do not know,” and though she never tells them what she herself knows, she has a supreme contempt for their mothers. FIELD PUNISHMENT No. 1. FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT? Sir, As a landlubber who does not “go down to the sea in ships,” but who moves about all day among shipping folk on the waterfront, may I say a few modest words, in support of your many correspondents, on the luckless Maui Pomare? Some weeks ago you published some letters, evidently from disappointed local master mariners, who resented the Government’s action in sending over to Australia for a master for its ship. That certainly was a foolish action on the part of the Government, or the departmental head who was responsible. The wonder to me is that there was not a more general complaint. In The Sun of the 27th inst, “Seafarer” points out that the officials of the Cook Islands Department have had no nautical or shipping experience, and that the Maui Pomare should be handed over to the Marine Department to run. This is also the opinion of everybody connected with shipping on the Auckland waterfront, but then it

Is hardly fair of “Seafarer” to expect a Government to know that a ship comes under the heading “marine.” Maybe the Government, in the first place, confused the Cook Islands Department with Cook’s Tourist Agency, seeing that one sometimes calls at that well-known institution for boat tickets, etc. To hand the Maui Pomare over t.c the Marine Department at this stage would hardly be fair to the officials of that department. So I suppose the marine freak will limp about from port to port, arriving occasionally with a cargo of rotten bananas, until she finally falls to pieces. Another little discussion on the waterfront is the Government’s intention of executing repairs in Wellington in future, instead of Auckland. The Maui Pomare will spend a week in Wellington for that purpose this voyage, before coming to Auckland to load. This means that so much work which Auckland engineering firms and workmen were getting will now go to Wellington. Maybe; before long the ship will leave Auckland out of her itinerary altogether. “Seafarer” mentions that “criticism without suggesting a remedy is useless,” and recommends handing the ship over to people who are experienced in marine affairs. It is not too late yet for the Government to effect that remedy. If something is not done very soon the only remedy will be a Royal Commission. It will be interesting to hear what the Maui Pomare has cost the Government this last year. I have it on good authority that she will cost the taxpayer close on £30.000 for the year ended March 31. 1030. Anyway, it will be very interesting indeed to see the real figures when they are made up. LANDLUBBER. “EVIDENCE OF THE SENSES” Sir.— Your correspondent “A.E.C.” is a typical Didymus, a believer in the existence of nothing that his “reason” cannot understand; his “reason” being the impressions conveyed to his mentality by the evidences of his senses Nothing else is to him a fact. “Reason” is his one and only guide in all matters within and without his world of comprehension. If true to his contentions he must believe the world to be flat—for the evidence of all the senses shows it so in appearance. He cannot accept the modern science of the Cosmos without the exercise of faith. much faith, and a faith in the main incapable of direct or indirect sensory proof. He cannot believe in the universal ether, because this rigid body—harder than the densest stee’—cannot be perceived by our “senses.” He cannot believe ; n electricity; in the law of gravity; in the thousand and one chemical, physical and physic laws and forces that govern every detail of our planetary (Continued in next column.)

existence, because he cannot perceive them with the aid of his five senses—hence his “reason.” his only guide, refuses an acknowledgment of their inbeing. He refuses to believe in God, because he cannot see Him, weigh Him, analyse him. and reduce Divinity to component parts by scalpel and crucible. “Straws show which way the wind blows.” Your correspondent cannot understand what is meaat bv “C.U.M.” by an “intelligent causative purpose.** There is nothing vague about these words. They are plain English and good English at that. If “reason” be one’s only guide, it will, if followed to its logical conclusions, inevitably lead to madness. The gieat metaphysical philosophers of the present and past age logically prove by the use of “reason” that the world bag no existence in fact—and that no human individual has existence. I challenge “A.E.C.” to produce by “logical reasoning” any atom of proof, however small, in support of his own existence—and yet he will not believe in anything—not even in a God, Creator, or Intelligent Causative Purpose—unless he can prove existence by what he calls reason and logic. The ordinary intelligent man accepts the existence of the ether, electricity chemical laws. etc„ not by a sensory knowledge of them, but by their manifestations, for he knows that, given an effect, there must be a cause. Electricity manifests itself in light, power, etc.; the ether in the etheric waves, gravity by its attraction to the earth's centre, hence we believe in their existence. “God,” or “Intelligent Causative Purpose,” surely is manifest in the wondrous universe that surrounds ua and in which we live, move and have our being. I would respectfully suggest that “A.E.C.” make a study of some of the most widely read and greatest of metaphysical philosopher!! such as Kant, Schlegel, Lessing, fcchleicrmacher. or Nietzche (the latter for choice to begin with), and he will see for himself where the guidance of pure reason leads. IT. KIRSCHENBAUM. ORGAN RECITALS Sir, — At last Thursday's council meeting I endeavoured to persuade some of my fellow-councillors that the time had arrived when some retrenchment should take place in our civic administration, but only one of my colleagues showed any inclination to favour my retrenchment proposal which I brought forward by notice of motion. Of tbs various matters I dealt with, I ask* sir, that you will allow me space in your columns to place before the public just one of the items that the Mayor and councillors determine shall continue indefinitely. I refer to the cost of our organ recitals which cost the ratepayers a* least £1,500 per annum. Reviewing the figures in an official report supplied by the Town Hall for a period of six months, during which organ recitals were rendered, we received from those attending the recitals an average of £3 18s 7d gross for each performance. In the six months our was £3l 9s. On the same law average the year’s earnings won c amount to £62 18s gross. It will thus be seen that we are not paying a dividend on the outlay. If the community will not attend tr.c recitals, are we justified in spends? the ratepayers’ money on something that 99 per cent, of the people show they do not want? , There is a given percentage * music-loving people who deeply app r ’" ciate listening to our beautiful and by all means let them have it, hu not at a cost of £1,500 a year, wnw some of our most essential work * “starving” for the want of attention, which means, want of necessary' ca=hI suggested to the council two yea ago, and I suggest it again now*, tn we should run our organ recitals m ' larly to some other cities, that we sho have three or four honorary organiand pay them, say, three guineas each performance. We have s#?ve g£ capable organists in this City w would be pleased to display their tai on this beautiful instrument. •„ Notable organists. during ‘ sojourn in Auckland, hav-* expressed desire to exhibit their skill on this strument, but for some obscure rea? they have not been granted the opp l '** tunity. W. H. MURRAY. Council!*” 1