PATRIOTISM OR PAROCHIALISM?

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 210, 19 August 1927, Page 5

PATRIOTISM OR PAROCHIALISM?

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In your issug qt 16th inst. there appears a letter signed “New Zealander,” in which is raised the question of patriotism, it being asked if the principal of the High School “has the right idea of patriotism' because he informed local outfitters that the regulation school cap could be obtained from a certain source in England. Now patriotism, to my mind, signifies loyalty to our King and Empire, of which we in New Zealand are only a part, and a small part at that, while the Empire is (or should be) one. Your correspondent surety has a distorted idea of patriotism ,f he considers it unpatriotic to bnv British goods. Why, Sir. it was .ot so long ago that the retailers of Hastings were displaying placards urging us to do sol Mr. “New Zealander,” please be consistent. Tn support local industry is all very well, as long as local industry supplies a serviceable article. But consider this: Reference to the latest number of the New Zealand Official Year Book will show that four-fifths of New Zealand's production comes from tho soil; and it is considered bv those best qualified to judge that New Zealand i s not fitted to be a manufacturing country. Everybodv knows ours is primarily and essentially n pastoral country. To whom do we sell our produce? Statistics show that four-fifths go to the n ld Country. Sir, we are all aware of the troubled times through which industry in Britain is passing: and a very little thought is sufficient u> tonvince one that the more we help British industries the greater will Britain's purchasing power be, and the more of our produce will she purchase. Even “New Zealander ’ must see that in helping British industry we are oniy helping ourselves I

Space will not permit of my referring to the amount of British capital which has been expended in developing this land of ours, to the ceaseless protection afforded to us through he long years by the British Navy, and to Britain's part in the war, and tho crippling of her industries thereby. While we in New Zealand may well be proud of the part played bv our troops, what was our share in that gigantic struggle compared with that of the Mother Country, whose “blood and treasure wore poured out like water” ? <

Sir, 1 apologise if, m conclusion. I strike a persona] note. “New Zealander” has accused of unpatriotic action one who bears a distinguished record of active service in the late war. Mav 1 ask if a similar honour can be claimed by your correspondents 1 am New Zealand.born. Sir, and proud of it: but I am equally proud to sign myself—

BRITISH FIRST Hastings, 18/8/27.