LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 414, 8 June 1915, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

APPEAL TO CRICKETERS. To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —In asking you fb allow me, as the executive head of New Zealand cricket, to use your.columns.to appeal to the cricketers throughout the Dominion to come forward to serve their King and country, I am following the example of my friends Dr W. G. Grace, A. C. Maclaren, and other well-known English cricketers. I only hope that the response *may be as gratifying as it was in their case, at least 75 per cent, of county cricketers at Home having joined the Colours, while practically all are doing some work in connection with the Army. There has been some adverse comment in the newspapers recently on the meagre response by representative Australian cricketers to the call to arms, and, while I do not wish to suggest that it is so serious in the Dominion, I am certain that there is much .room for improvement. I quite understand that many who would otherwise have enlisted are prevented by family or business ties from . doing so, and am, therefore, with the full approval of my colleagues, addressing this appeal, especially to unmarried cricketers between the ages 6f 20 and 30; * ; When we were all playing the game together last season it was not so easy as it is now to grasp the terrible urgency of the summons, but from my knowledge of New Zealand

cricketers, I feel assured that after the past 10 months of bitter conflict, and with the glorious deeds of their brothers at the Dardanelles before them, it will not be necessary to furnish any incentive to come forward at once, further than to point out that they will be fighting for the very existence of that Empire, to be citizens of which we are all so justly proud.—l am, etc., CECIL MOON. ' Chairman N.Z. Cricket Council. Christchurch, June 7. SOCIALISM AND THE BRITISH I.L.P. To the Editor of THE SUN.

Sir, —I should not like to have to ' say exactly how various organisations are linked with the International, and I am at present unable to refer to any authority. I suggest to Mr Sullivan that an article on the subject would be highly interesting to many. Practically, however, English Socialism becomes centred in the 1.L.P., that body, though certainly no h'ue-biue M Socialist one, being—most ludicrously—joined to the International Socialist Bureau. Thus it comes about that an English M.P., and a top-hatter at that, can overrule an International Socialist Conference, and, in actual effect* ■, speak in the name of English-Social-ism. In reality, English Socialists are in accord with their French and. Belgian comrades, and Liebknecht in Germany, in their attitude towards the war.

A tender-hearted friend suggests that some of my letter was "hotstuff" and calling names does no good, anyhow. I'strongly deprecate them myself, particularly-las ■sufesti- ; tutes for argument ;<but there isevidr-; , ence enough in my letter, aqjirthe.j few gentle epithets may be regarded* merely as expressions of disgust."*'! : really don't ,vfeel Inclined to withdraw one of them,, except, perhaps the epithet which should hardly be applied to a niair ; like Mr Mac Donald; One might sayhis intellect has a permanent squint..; . ; . Temperament largely rules the minds; of - men in; such matters as theii* attitude towards the war, and' temperament breeds the wildreyed'f doctrinaire, but one can hardly ex- : euse as "temperamental" the apparently deliberate misrepr«sehtatiori of; the truth, especially at the present" crisis, and considering the effect - such misrepresentation may Have.— I am, etc., A. R. KEELE. 61 Hills Rpad, HeathcoteGalley.

AN INCAPABLE GOVERNMENT. To. the Editor of THE SUN. ■ Sir,—The apparent incapacity -of the present Government to do,the. proper and decent thing, even in small . A matters, must s . be '■'*■ its supporters some anxiety and not a little disgust. The. latest illustration of -its ineptitude the.cayjilier treatment meted out to Jbir Saiidston. inspired by patriotic attachment to his country, Dr Sandston offered the Empire thek benefit of his skill and service at :Hl a time when the Empire was hot dmy inviting sueh offers* but *-

medical men to conie-i to the help of the sick and wounded. ; Any 'ftfinistei 1 'with a sense of the fitness ? of taingsrwould have issued Bte' Sandston the passports in the name' he had legally taken, The Government, however,* professes to be helpless: It shrinks. frdmbuFSting \tiie? gossamer barrier of red tape, even though it is quite prepared to inflict a veiled insult on a citizen who stands as high in the estimation bf the New Zealand public as does any '. member of the Massey Administration. We had a similar squeamish regard for red tape in connection with the interment of the late Bishop'

Grimes, over which the Government., hopelessly antagonised Gatholie feeK t ing in the country before it backed' down and did the proper thing. The crass stupidity of the Government in more or less personaraff airs'isuch

as these is calculated to give the most

perfervid Reformer cold feet.—l am, etc., -

LOCHABER NO MORE.

CYCLISTS IN THE PARK. To the Editor; of IHE SUN. Sir.—l rise meekly to second the sentiments "expressed in your journal this evening by "Knight of the Wheel." Really, this amazing; ana-., jchroriism.called the Domains Board.: ~ is an amusing body. It manages a public reserve, but doesn't represent the public; it is heard.of among the things that happen in the present, but it lives in the past—it is, in fact, in this age but not of it. It is a fretful survival of the ancient restrictions, a monument to the de- ■ cayed sentiment that excluded "that vicious animal, the people," from the preserves that were sacred to the lower and the upper ten. Hagley Park, in the view of the Domains Board, should be kept entirely for the w T orshipfill sheep and the meandering pedestrian who may idle a few sedate Sabbath hours there provided he keeps to the paths and prevents his presence disturbing the complacent mastication of the little woolly creatures of the golden fleece. That a public park, ' < which should be dedicated to the . > well-being and recreation of the people, should be shut up to graze sheep upon is really so preposterousthat a newcomer to this town, like. myself, found it hard to believe at first that the sheep had not merely strayed into the park and would be ejected at the earliest opportunity. But the sheep at least serve one useful purpose. They make admirable playthings for children, who chase them to their hearts' content and gain thereby much healthy exercise. I am always pleased to see a child chasing a sheep, to the child's physical advantage and the sheep's detriment, for it means that the infant is gettmg ysoniier real benefit from the park. But. please, don't tell the Domains Board, of this.—-I am, etc., A WANDERER. Christchurch, June 3.