“GOODWILL WITHIN THE EMPIRE."

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1934, Page 4

“GOODWILL WITHIN THE EMPIRE."

(To the Editor.) Sir, —When reading yo.nr report of Mr Bonayne’s lecture on the exploits of the New Zealand Tunneling. Corps during the late war, and noting that young Territorials were present, at the lecture, I could not help thinking what a great opportunity the lecturer had missed in that he could have, drawn the young men's attention to the advantages we enjoy by belonging to the British Empire and telling them that it is only by the loyalty of the young people that we can continue to enjoy the protection of the British dag. Most of our young people are not aware that, owing to our isolated state, we arc solely dependent* for our protection on the British Navy. The lecturer could have drawn attention to the wonderful tunnel under the Mersey which was opened by His Majesty the King only last weelc. This great engineering feat is the work of Tommy tunnelers, than whom there are no better in the world. Surely it was an honour for the New Zealand tunnelers to be attached to such men. Instead of an Empire builder, Mr Ronayne gave the impression of a “ little” New Zealander—little, in that he made silly jokes about selling “mock” chami pagne to the Tommies, thereby giving Iho Territorials Ihe impression (hat Tommy is every sort of a ford, whom you can put anything across, and further, the impression that all the “ Diggers’’ were so versed in the tastes of wines that the barman could not put his stuff across them. There are lots of funny yarns to tell the lads about the war without this continual holding of Tommy up to ridicule. It is in the worst of taste, and gives the young colonial the impression that the British are so much inferior to themselves, thereby weakening the bonds and goodwill of Empire, a. matter which is likely to Injure the young New Zealander much more than the folks in Britain. Anyone who has the future of this country at heart should take every opportunity to point out our* isolation, and who are neighbours. This could t»e taught best in our schools. I hen, Instead of this “narrowness,” we may be more humble when we remember the great advantages we en- f ;ioy by belonging to Britain. We may get the goodwill of the British 0 overnment fifty times over, but unless we can convince Tommy and his wife that we are the fine fellows we have formed (he habit of telling ourselves we are, we may dodge a “quota” but still (ail to get the market for our produce. The Danes really admire and respect the British, and the British know it, whereas, there is a gradual and increasing idea growing among the younger generations out this way that we can do things “so much better etc.” Then we are shocked and surprised because “Tommy” prefers to deal with the foreigner. How maiy

ow Zealand bovs know that many

! Tommies wore ashore on Gallipoli 1 li mil's To for o, the New Zealanders, and ! that Britain had more casualties there ‘ than we sent troops all together. Com- : parisons are truly odious. Mr It on ay no also said the French were 1 ‘ casual.' ’ ■ Casual or no, a French general was in > supreme command at the close of the l war, and no Frenchman is “casual" 1 whilst, fighting “for" his country , whilst the enemy is actually “in" his ■ country. Mr Ronayne would not he a ■ success either as a. delegate to the . Longue of Nations or on the diplo- ; matic staff. I had the pleasure of i meeting four members of the New i Zealand Tunneling Corps returning . from the wa?;. Three were English. The fourth was an Australian. Captain Foster mentioned at Mr Roni ayne’s lecture that Territorials wore not forming up in .sufficient numbers in Whangarei. He stated that one reason seemed to be that employers would not let their boys “off." The true j reason may be that employers are not jinking boys “on." Owing to great shortage of labour during the Avar, girls were taken on by employers of labour as a. matter of necessity. Now youths are offering in increasing numbers employers in this and every town are continuing the nation-wrecking policy of still employing girls, A boy must have Avork and the prospect of a home of his oavu in the future, otherAvisc he has nothing to fight for, A missionary friend of mine told me the reason Avomen do all the work at the islands is that man, in his savage state, had to be free and ready to fight. If that is our idea — leaving the boys without Avork so that they Avill be free to fight—then let us be quite decent and honest about it. Let us establish and maintain permanent j camps Avhere the boys can be clothed, J ted and paid to train for the only j“job" we intend to give them. Let | flu. “user" pay, as avo say about the roads. There are other reasons why some boys do not join the Territorials.. Some may bo fatherless OAving to the last war. Others, again, may Avonder Avhat their fathers gained by gi% 7 ing their youth to fight during 1914-IS, when iioav the country they fought for asks them to maintain themselves, their Avivcs and children, on £4 per month relief .pay. Only recently a Digger died from exposure in this country. Let ns do our duty to onr soldiers in the last war. Give preference to boys and youths Avhen employing young labour. Give them a real stake in their country. Then they may think avc are worth protecting. Abo at* all, let ns do onr utmost to pi event our young people from groAVing up narroAv and ignorant of their duly, not only to Ncav Zealand, but to the Empire. I am, etc., ALBERT SHEDDING. Tikipunga. 2.>/7/.14.