A VEXATIOUS SUBJECT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10120, 30 October 1917, Page 6

A VEXATIOUS SUBJECT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—A groat amount of controversy, with bitternc.-s of spirit impart'd therein, is in existence, as a result of many appointments to public positions, the recipients being those v. ith foreign sounding names, in many (Vises a gross, injustice being done To many estimable men, who, by file way, belong to the territory termed the Scandinavian country, who are loyal to Great Britain. In tin’s connection, the writer holds no brief for any non-combatant, individually or collectively, at (bo present juncture. Again, (he highest military and legal authorities have laid it down plainly that, any naturalised person is a. British subject, entitled to all the privileges which we enjoy as Britishers. ,If that is a coned, decision, why labour the question any more, with everlasting pinpricking a.-, regards any one unfortunate, enough to possess a foreign-sounding name?; Sentiment is apt to sway our judgment 1 and lead us on to dangerous ground. II our civilisation has done all that we claim lor It. we should ho able to discriminate rightly. In such cases many will and do contend that it is purely a matter of personal opinion its regards the loyally of any non-com-batant -nations. All should be included inone category, and be termed doubtful, with the result, no appointments to public pod lions should be tolerated, under any eir cumstane.es, by any duly naturalised' person, or bis descendants, irrespective their qualifications, in inv opinion, this aspect of' flie situation, sir, is too severe, and drastic. 1 am, etc., _ BRITISHER. Palmerston North, Oct. 2b. ■