FLAGS AT LANCASTER PARK.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16841, 22 May 1920, Page 10

FLAGS AT LANCASTER PARK.

TO THE EDITOR <>F 4 4 THE I'REKS." | Sir, —Lancaster Park, we were led to believe, was to be the property of the citizens of Christchurch for all time. There is no rule, or regulation, in connexion with it that forbids any club hoisting their club flag, or a national flag when playing on the ground. Mr H. B. Gould said at the meeting of the Board of -Control that he ' had never seen any other flag than_the Union-Jack hoisted over the pavilion. Did warrant his forcing that rule on the people of Christchurch, who now own the park? No sijch rule exists, and if it ever docs come into existence, then j Lancaster Park will not belong to the | people of Christchurch, but a clique, j M< - T>. ReeFe said that the custom of < hoisting the Union Jack prevails on all the big grounds of Melbourne and Sydney. Let me inform that gentleman ■ that at St. Patrick's Day sports in Syd-' ney and Melbourne the Australian flag is hoisted in, conjunction with the Irish flag, and not the Union Jack. The official flag of New Zealand, also its national flag, is the blue ensign, which every New Zealander should be proud to salute as the flag of his country, and the sign of freedom, whether he is native or imported. _ If any : flag should have been hoisted with the Irish flag on St. Pa£rick's Day it was tho New Zealand flag, if only to show tfio contrast between the two countries. But it seems incredible that Mr H. B. Gould should be so. ignorant as not to , know that the Union Jack is just as foreign in New Zealand as the Irish flng—in fact, quite as foreign as his high-handed action is to the spirit of the majority of the people of Christ-. , church.—Yours, etc., ! LANCELOT DALRYMPLE.