CRITICISM OF BOOK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 89, 14 March 1941, Page 4

CRITICISM OF BOOK

REPLY TO MR MILNER.

CONTRIBUTORS’ VIEWS. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 13. Hon. W. Downie Stewart, in the course of a reply to Mr E. Milner, stated that when Mr Milner said bo was astonished that he passed certain statements in the book entitled “Contemporary New Zealand,” Mr Milner forgot that he (Mr Stewart) was ■ tho first to draw his attention to the passages complained of while the book was in the manuscript, and consulted him on the chances of getting the passages amended by the editorial commit Uh. It was Mr Milner, if he’/remembored rightly, who had pointed out that, in spite of these passages, the author had saved himself from, censure by ending his chapter in high praise of the value of the-British connection. The editorial committee, while divided, insisted on the retention of the chapter, since the book made it clear that each contributor expressed his own view. After months of correspondence, the Dunedin group of the Institute of International Affairs had failed to persuade the editorial committee to (jut ou t the passages objected to. Mr Milner had quoted Dr. Sutch as wishing to cut the painter from Britain, but wasn’t it disingenuous to implv that he did so in this book? Finally, why didn’t Mr Milner disavow these passages at the Sydney conference and not raise his voice three years after the incident? As for Dr. Findlay, Mr Stewart said he noticed he had just completed strenuous training in a •Territorial camp and should he judged by his actions, not his words. INSTITUTE TO MEET. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 13. The Speaker of the House of Representatives (Hon. W. E. Barnard), in his capacity as president of the New Zealand Institute or International Affairs, said to-day that his attention had been drawn to the remarks of Mr Milner. “As the book ‘Contemporary New Zealand’ was published in the middle of 1938 and most of it was written in 1937 Mr Milner’s views hardly seem to justify a Press Association message,” stated Mr Barnard. “Dees he wince at the idea of calling New Zealand ‘Home’? In view.of the publicity given to his opinions a meeting of the executive of tile New Zealand Institute of International Affairs will shortly be held to consider his statement.”