LETTERS IN WELSH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1940, Page 12

LETTERS IN WELSH

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Owing to the fact that I have been away from Wellington since March 7 this is the first opportunity that I have had of replying to Mr. Morgan Dayies's statement in "The Post" of that date. Firstly, Mr. Davies states that if "the price of the privilege" of Welsh people writing in their native tongue is to have me open their letters, the majority would prefer not to do so. Yet, does he not realise that I was nominated by a conference of Welshmen to broach the matter with the Minister of Defence, because it was the wish of the Welsh people in New Zealand for me' to act lon their behalf. Mr. Davies implies that 11 am wasting the time of the Minister of Defence in pursuing the subject of censorship of Welsh letters. Surely a man offering his services, with no thought of pecuniary gain, is in no way hindering, but rather endeavouring to assist, the Government. If Mr. Davies's love and loyalty to his native land are of the nature stated, how can he constantly take the attitude he does on his own account and without the authority of Welsh people in the Dominion?

Regarding the figures submitted by Mr. Davies. When I was in Wales in 1937 figures were supplied to me by the Welsh National Party from statistics compiled by them, which clearly showed that one and a quarter millions of the population of Wales spoke only Welsh (in 1937). The Census of Welsh-speaking people in Wales has been repeatedly disputed by the abovementioned party on the grounds that persons capable of saying "Yes" and "No" were entered in the Census as being able to speak English.

Finally. Mr. Davies has conveniently

hidden the main point at issue; that Welshmen are prohibited from making use of their native tongue in correspondence. So far as I am concerned the matter is now closed, and it only remains to see whether the Governs ment will take advantage of the offer [made to it by the Welsh Societies of New Zealand.—l am, etc.,

JOHN TUCKER,

Palmerston. North,

March 8, 1940,