NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 276, 4 September 1939, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

SALUTING THE FLAG. An incident at a theatre recently impressed me greatly, says and American writer. In honour of Memorial Day, the first feature on the programme was the display, on the screen, of a waving United States flag, followed by the words of the “pledge’' that all school children know. The middle section of the house was almost filled with young children. As the flag appeared a few youngsters stood up, and soon the whole body of children were on their feet, with their arms extended toward the national emblem and their young voices repeating the pledge. The spontaneity of the children impressed me. Those who understand and love an emblem of government and power will surely; grow to understand the principle of justice and impersonal right. This incident, prompts a question as to how New Zealand children greet their national flag.

MOBILISING THE EMPIRE. A sense of impotence seems to have seized Britain in regard to Tientsin, writes Sir Francis Younghusband, in a letter to the' “Sunday Times.” May I, ns one who knows that place, show how far from impotent we British are? Japan is causing the trouble, but it is from China that wo bold the eoncession, and China is even more interested than wo are in resisting Japanese pretensions. She would, therefore, be only too ready to make practical suggestions as to ways in which not only this distant island, but those nearer constituents of the British Empire, India, Burma, Malaya, Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, could supply her with material and moral encouragement while refraining from affording them to Japan. If we acted on these suggestions we might definitely tip the balance in favour of China in her struggle with Tapan, and the latter might rue the day when she deliberately estranged this great Commonwealth of so many nations concerned in the welfare of China.