THE HOME CONNECTION

Evening Star, Issue 23834, 14 March 1941, Page 5

THE HOME CONNECTION

MR MILNER'S REPLY REBUKE TO “ PESTILENT POLICY " [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 13. The Speaker of tho House of Representatives, Hon. W. E. Barnard, said to-day that, in his capacity as president of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, his attention had been drawn to the remarks made by Mr Frank Milner, at a public meeting held in Oamaru. “ As the book, * Contemporary New Zealand,’ was published in the middle of 1938. and most of it written in 1937, Mr Milner’s views hardly seem to justify the Press Association message,’ Mr liavnard said. “ Does Mr Milner wince at the idea of calling New Zealand ‘ home ’? In view of the publicity given to his opinions, a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs will shortly be held to consider his statement.” JUSTIFICATION FOR REMARKS Mr Milner replied to criticism of his speech as under : “ In reply to Mr Stewart's query, 1 have to say that 1 did, in full conference, dissociate myself from the assessment of New Zealand’s attitude to Britain as given in ‘ Contemporary Now Zealand/ Did ho do the same? 1 may say that I. went to tho 1938 Empire Conference resolved to keep my mouth shut. In spite of high Governmental precedent to the contrary, I did not think it seemly for delegates from microscopic New Zealand to educate the Empire. I did, however, make one break, and that was to attempt to castigate the protagonist of New Zealand speakers for his distorted version of Britain's Far East policy. • “ As for Mr W. E. Barnard’s reprimand,” Mr Milner continued, “ I regret he docs not know the context of my remarks. 1 made a protest against the resuscitation of Professor Findlay’s unfortunate characterisation of our loyalty to Britain as ‘national feeble-mincledness.’ This was recently contributed by Dr W. B. Suteh to the Mafch, 1941, number of ‘National Education.’ I did not disinter the corpse. The exhumation was done by Dr Sutch, who snuffs up its putrescent odour with his customary avidity. As for ‘ Contemporary New Zealand,” i used the first chapter merely to illustrate the continuity of this pestilent policy of deprecating our imperial affiliation in order to’foster camoiiifago republicanism and economic self-suffi-cieno.-.”