NEW ZEALANDERS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27750, 30 August 1955, Page 9

NEW ZEALANDERS

Sir, —As. a newly arrived migrant to New Zealand, I am struck by the similarity of the customs and traditions in this country and in Britain. But the minor differences stand out all the more clearly because of this. At a city theatre recently, I note, that unlike the British custom, the National Anthem is played at the opening of the performance and not at the end. This New Zealand custom gives dignity to the occasion, but unfortunately, when the New Zealand anthem is played at the end the crowd stream out of the' theatre with complete unconcern. To the visitor, this implies one of two things; either the New Zealander values his National Anthem but little, or. as is more probable, he does not recognise it. when he hears it. The effect on the stranger within the gates is, tc say the least, most disconcerting.— Yours, etc., POMMIE. August 29, 1955.

Sir, —“Look Around” suggests that we in New Zealand are lacking in respect and courtesy, but neglects to say with which country these comparisons are being drawn. In the first place, the writer shows a lack of courtesy by writing the letter to “The Press.” The writer is evidently a new arrival of four vears’ standing, most likely an immigrant; and, as such, is more or less a guest of New Zealand. It is extremely bad manners to criticise a host. As the writer suggests, I have already had a look round Australia, United States, Canada, Great Britain, and eight European countries, so I can draw comparisons much to the credit of New Zealand. Quite a number of Britishers leave their country for the first time and then complain of the lack of soccer matches, football pools, dog races, and “arf an’ arf.”—Yours, etc., A DIGGER. August 29, 1955.