“Disloyal” Cartoon?

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12609, 19 July 1935, Page 5

“Disloyal” Cartoon?

. PUBLICATION IN FARMERS’ UNION ORGAN. \ TREASURER OF- WOMEN’S DIVISION RESIGNS.. “Since I am a loyal New Zealander and because I wish to exonerate all members iof tho Women’s Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union from responsibility for tho publication in tho Fanners’ Union’s official organ of a cartoon of his Majesty the King, I must resign from my position of treasurer,” declared Mrs J. Poav, at the 'conference of the Women’s Division at Wellington on Tuesday niglit, after reading her annual report. .

“I am faking this stop because the Women’s Division is officially connected with that organ,” .she continued, “and I wish by this means to make it clear that I resent the publication of that carto-Qn. ■ I am taking this step to exonerate . our division from responsibility. Loyalty makes me do this. The cartoon was disloyal.”.

FARMERS’. UNION DISCUSS CARTOON.

“JOLLY' GOOD NAT BRED SORT OF THING. ‘

NO DISRESPECT TO KING

POLICE SEE NOTH ING WRONG. (Press Association!- ) • WELLINGTON, July IS A.,cartoon in ‘Point Blank,’ the official organ of the Farmers' Union Was discussed by the conference today. The president, Mr. . Poison, said that when the cartoon had been shown Li-iii it did not occur to him that it was offensive to- anyone. It wag.vsiieh a jolly good-natured: sort of tiling that he merely laughed at it, and thought no more about it. He understood that an anonymous complaint had been made t 0 tho -police about the cartoon. The police had investigated the matter, and had reported there vu s nothing libellous-or offensive about‘the cartoon whatever Tt was unfortunate that ciTence should have been given to anyone. In tho same issue there was a very loyal article expressing the Farmers’ Union view regarding Hj s Majesty's Jubilee. His Majesty knew that there were no more- loyal subjects in the world than tlio' farmers of Now Zealand, and they would be the last people in the- world to- be offensive in any way to him. The speaker thought, that- unnecessary feeling had been shown about the matter, because when one- looked at the cartoon it was a jolly good, ha Lured sort of tiling, and n 0 disrespect was imputed to His Majesty. He thought it was a rather good joke on the Prime Minister, but nothing more than that, Mr. G. L. -Marshall (Wellington) said lie thought it would l be better if the King’s - figure were kept out of any cartoon•

~.Thc editor cf the paper, Mr. J. Mb. Oormick, said when the’cartoon was submitted 1o him for publication, he thought over it but 'remembered having seed cartoons of Tlis Majesty in other publications. The Commissioner of Polic,, had received a letter in connection -with flic Cartoon. Ito had interviewed the Commissioner, who said he just wished to draw attention to tlie fact that a complaint had been received. The Commissioner had stated there was nothing illegal in the cartoon at all, and that there wa s nothin-- wrong so far a« the police -were concerned. He (Mr. McCormick) could • assure the delegates thcro was no intention of disloyalty..

Mr. H. 0. Meilsop Said lie had taken it on himself to write dissociating tho Auckland province from the cartoon, only because of flic fact that it was largely recognised in journalism that it was bad form to caricature tho King. 'Mr. Pokon, sa.d h'e did not th.ink there was any necessity to discuss the matter, which 'Was their dropped