ENCOURAGE THE BRITISH

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1915, Page 8

ENCOURAGE THE BRITISH

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,— The notification that the GoVernment has decided to order engines from America instead of from England will be read, I trust, with feelings of the' deepest disappointment by the vast majority of the people of this Dominion. No one who has considered the attitude of America during the war can think that her national spirit has been' anything but, at the best, indifferent to the cause of Great Britain, and her ambitions un* worthy of the cause of justice and freedom which she professes. That attitude can best be fought through her pocket, and the Government and the people should determine that, at any rate for the period of the war, if not, as ib should be, for ever afterwards, our work shall go to our own kin, irrespective of cost or mere convenience. What does it matter if the engines are not here by Easter, or if the cost is greater because the brand is the British Lion and not a dollar-blinded Eagle? Holiday-makers, who at this time would probably be better at home, can surely go a trifle slower, and if the extra cost of the engines is to be grudged to English workmen when they need it most, then we are not fit to call ourselves Imperial. We haye paid dearly enough for cheapness of the German variety. We are still payihg in our best blood and in treasure not to be repaid in our time. Let us beware of cheapness elsewhere !— l am, etc., % FOR ENGLAND. Wellington, 27th January.