Are We Too Docile?

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 266, 6 August 1937, Page 13

Are We Too Docile?

Sir, —Referring to your sub-leader in Tuesday’s “Dominion,” you ask: “Assuming that we are drugged, so to speak, with a sense of complacency, how did we become so?” The people are constantly being told by public men in the newspapers that they are the chosen people living in Utopia. We lead the world in most things, we have the highest standard of living, there are no snakes or millionaires; in fact, without going into further details, people are left with the impression that haying arrived, there is nothing further to strive for, except, perhaps, to beat the Springboks. As a matter of fact, a few snakes or similar enemies of men would perhaps sharpen some wits and one or two millionaires would be able to show how to run a few industries efficiently. . . . Professor Shelley spoke truly when he said that plain speaking is not favoured. The people must only be given something with jam on, or votes will be lost at the elections. Anyone comiug from another part of the world who dares to criticise is at once put down as anti-New Zealand, and lie is censured.—l am, etc., J. E. HORSFIELD. Hawera, August 4.