REPLY TO CRITICS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 52, 1 March 1918, Page 3

REPLY TO CRITICS.

QUESTION OF NATIONALITY.

A petition, the result of a recent meeting of Auckland women, is now in circulation, says the New Zealand Herald, praying for the removal from Government office of all persons of German blood. The attention of Mr A. M. Myers has been drawn to the petition, and it has been suggested to him that he should follow the example of Prince Louis of Battenburg and resign his Ministerial office.

In a letter answering this suggestion, Mr Myers says : One quite understands the delicacy of the motives of Prince Louis of Battenburg in retiring from active participation in the direction of the navy, but in comparing his case with mine the factshould not be overlooked that the Prince was very largely German in blood—although so loyally British in sentiment and character —whilst I am a natural born British subject, having been born under the British flag, and that I have not a single relative outside the British Empire. Immediately on the outbreak of war in 1914 my two brothers —resident in England—enlisted, in order to do "their bit" for the Empire and for freedom. Captain Leo Myers- —although 46 years of age at the time hostilities commenced—enlisted as a private in the Ring's Royal Rifles, and, as so many others have done in this war, gradually worked his way ap from the ranks until he obtained his captaincy. He spent several arduous months in the trenches in France before being invalided Home, and, as soon as recovered —not being medically passed for return to the trenches —he was appointed to an important command in England, where he is engaged in training troops and other defence work.

Lieut.-Colonel Bernard Myers, C.M.G., on the outbreak of war, gave up a lucrative medical practice and enlisted in the R.A.M.C. in England, afterwards being placed in charge of the New Zealand Military Hospital at Walton-on-Thames. If you will permit me to say so, it is largely owing to the untiring efforts and abilities of my brother Bernard that this hospital came to be regarded as the model military hospital in during this war. Later on, my brother . was appointed Deputy-Di-rector of Medical Services, in charge of the whole of those services- _in England. He has twice been mentioned in despatches, his C.M.G. having been conferred upon him during the past year. In addition to my two brothers, I have many relatives fighting for England and the Empire. To my own personal knoweldge, the number of my family connections fighting under the British flag in this war is nearly 40, seven of whom have made the supreme sacrifice, and several others have been wounded.

As regards my mother, I have never heard of any relative? of hers existing in Germany, but—with her two sisters and two brothers, being orphans—emigrated to Australia nearly 70 years ago to join other relatives already there. Ten years afterwards they took up their residence in New Zealand, and, as early pioneers, went through all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, possessing ill the qualities of vigorous citizenship. My mother's name was Ehrenfried—a name well known and respected in { Auckland and Thames. One of her brothers, the late Mr Louis Ehrenfried, J.P., was Mayor of Thames for ' some years. When he died he had one of the most impressive funerals ever witnessed in Auckland, second in importance only to that of the late Sir John Logan Campbell (my late partner), and who was known as the "Father of Auckland." The epitaph on the, tombstone of niy late uncle is as follows: —"Inspired, by a deep-seated love-of God a|id humanity, he strove to fulfil- the duties of citizenship." Mr Myera then mentions his Mayoralty of Aucklandj and writes gratefully ?f the unique expression of appreciation received by him when he retired after four years of office. He also points out that his fellow citizens have returned him to Parliament three times, arid states that at last election his majority was the second largest in the Dominion, the largest being polled by the Prime Minister. He refers to his work as a Minister, and recalls the stand" he took in connection with the military training .scheme at a critical time, in appreciation of which an illuminated address, signed by 203 local bodies, was presented to him.

I would also like to point out, proceded Mr Myers, that I had no desire, personally, to become a member of the NationarOovernmentj but, having been requested to do so by my leader, I accepted the duties in connection with the portfolio of Customs, Munitions, and Supplies, etc., and have done my best to further my country's interests to the best of my ability. After two and a-half yeare of conscientious work as a Minister in the present Government, during which times —by placing my business experience %t the disposal of my Departments—l have been able to save the taxpayers of this country some hundreds of thousands of pounds, and also to olace the working of my Department on*a basis of thorough efficiency and moothness, and also, having regard to the fact that—if I may not be thought egotistical in saying so—the great bulk of my fellow-citizens throughout the Dominion have expressed themselves as satisfied with my work as a Minister, I do not see that I should be justified—on '.. he instance of a few people, who, however patriotic and honest in their intension, are quite uninformed as to my exact antecedents, and as to my British origin—in resigning my position, as though there were some question as to my loyalty, or as though there were any grounds at all for the suggestion you put forward in your letter under review. I am a member of the Jewish Faith. Patriotism with a Jew is an ethical passion, and love of country is the highest af religious commands. That country and State which ensures to the Jew equal rights and freedom with his fel-low-citizens ie the one which claims hie full recognition of the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. The fact that Jews, as a people, do not'possess a country of ther own is an element making for the strength of their attachment to the land of their birth and adoption. ' • •., My father's family have resided in England for over 20O.years, but my grandfather went to-Russian Poland as a rabbi; where' my father was born, he, however, returning t o ' England whilst still a child, and-where he was brought up and educated.' He was a naturalised British subiect before he married my mother, -and- emigrated to Australia about 1859, and .mv wife ie the daughter of the late Mr B. W. Levy, of London, who was' granted the Freedom of Liverpool, Manchester, apd Salford, in recognition of hisT generous gifts and services to those cities. v Concluding. Mr Myers save:—l myself- share with .my ■ fellow -citizens all their hooes and asbirations, and would give up life itself rather_than submit to anv sovereignty than; Briteih. German militarism must be defeated, and the whole of my endeavours is to work for and to -promote-unity of effort towards that consummation of all our sacrifices and sufferings in this : ; great- war.