MESSAGES CABLED TO LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 280, 25 November 1937, Page 6

MESSAGES CABLED TO LONDON.

(To the Editor.)

For *ome months I have viewed with concern the appearance in London newspappre of cabled messages emanating from and damaging to New Zealand. The messages take two forms,, and have been pent in some case* by the newspapers' own correspondents and in some others by a Prese agency. They consist of: (a) Statement* reported to have been made by Ministers of the Crown; (b) general statements upon political and economic questions. In the first case, statements mad<; bv Ministers upon policy matters have been t-eized upon and cabled without any apparent thought ha to the interpretation likely to be placed upon them by people overseas, especially the investing class. In some cases they have been in such a condensed form as might lead to misinterpretation by those who are unaware of the circumstances and political reasons for which they are made. In the second plsoe, the. selection of new* and the wording , of some messages often betray political bias. Government legislation sometimes being shown to the worst advantage. Whatever the merits or demerits of the Xew Zealand Government are, let that issue be decided in Xew Zealand. It should be the object (if. every Xew Zealander, whether at home or .aroroad, to win affection for and confidence in the land of his birth. The type of message to which I refer i* not helping of us who are attempting to do this. Thousands of people in Great Britain have money invested in Xew Zealand, and it ie as distasteful for them as for Xew Zealanders here, no matter what political views they hold, to read reports which may be interpreted to presajre the ruination of the Dominion. Xew Zealanders have a reputation for being sound in their judgment; in future. I hope, correepondents to English newspaper* will exercise that judgment in preserving and building up, not destroying, the name of the best country in the world—Xew Zealand. W. BARRIXGTOX MILLER (Formerly of Gisborne). London, Xovember 3.