The Union Jack

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31124, 29 July 1966, Page 12

The Union Jack

Sir,—The correspondent, who, with Kiplingesque unsubtlety romanticises that “we are British to the core” and “we love our flag” has had his perspective obscured by visions of cricket and village pubs, tea and crumpets on the vicar’s lawn, etc. If accepting a flag as a land’s symbol, we manifest our “love” in an eccentric manner. One sees Finnish flags waving beside isolated lakes, in beauty and placidity; Swiss flags beside mountain chalets; Norwegian flags fluttering on great bulkcarriers in mid-ocean. One can generalise about these flags: they are clean, wellkept, and honoured in a quiet (unwaving) manner. But Union Jacks! They droop from smoky British buildings and ships (go to Lyttelton and look) in all grubby states of dejection. The flags outside King Edward Barracks at the festival last year were a disgrace. One even hung on a nail in a city auction room for weeks. Many Kiwis even doubt how many stars are on their own flag.Love?—Yours, etc. ANTI-ROMANTIC. July 28, 1966.