OUR CHARACTERISTICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 56, 7 March 1934, Page 6

OUR CHARACTERISTICS.

A "MODEST PEOPLE.'!

(To the Editor.)

"Platypus'" letter calls for some comment. It is ignorance of the laws of environment to state that a race, however small, possesses no individuality of its own. He might just aa well criticise a babe for not having one, for although not perceptible it is there lying dormant, to eventually emerge as maturity ripens. For, in comparison to Australia, both in older settlement and larger population, New Zealand is still a babe. But the New Zealander's chrysalis of individuality is persistently growing, and even in its yet embryo form can be seen and understood if probed deep enough. And they do not. mope, at least no more than the typical pavement adornment to be perpetually seen in Pitt Street or Bourke Street. Instead of procuring his psychological discriminating views from the city's footpath collar and. tie loungers, let "Platypus" take a flying visit to any relief camp throughout this little country, and he will then see the real specimen of a New Zealander, literally and cheerily pioneering, not unlike his British ancestor of long ago. He receives no "dole"; lie toils hard for his pittance. As for Americanising our Press, as j'aur critic suggests, by having the news published upon the front page, heaven forbid. Incidentally, his suggestion recoils upon his own head when he takes us to task for imitating or patterning other institutions. Various newspapers throughout Australia feature their news in the way he would like us to adopt. Again and again leading journalists from overseas have extolled the New Zealand Press as second to none. "Platypus" also says we dwell too much 011 our faults and not enough on our merits. Quite so. W 7 e are a modest people, too modest in fact, not given to patting ourselves on the back or boosting ourselves in excessive patriotic outbursts that are sometimes pedantic, if not humorous. But why, in his next breath, does "Platypus" criticise Aucklanders for proclaiming those same merits in boasting of their "wonderful array of beaches"? Whatever are we to do, 0 "Platypus"? NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT.