WITHOUT HONOUR IN HIS OWN COUNTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 30 November 1927, Page 6

WITHOUT HONOUR IN HIS OWN COUNTRY

(To the Editor) Sir, —That beautiful appreciation of Bill Surrell,(Our Bill) reprinted in Monday's issue from "Everyones" should have produced a thrill of civic pride through the veins of each of Nelson's citizens. But the thought also struck me that there was much in it that should also prodiice shame. Not shame for what had been said of our illustrious citizen, but shame that people and things in this fair city are far too often unhonoured and unsung. We have many things to be proud of, things of which 90 per cent, of our citizens are either totally unaware or unaporeciative. How many amongst our people have ever seen the tablet in the Town Hall com memorating the services of Bill Surrell (our Bill)? I wilLgo further and even ask how many have ever seen the Town Hall. We are too modest concerning our city and its citizens. How many of us were aware that we of all New Zealand had been selected as the people whose appreciation of art was so great that we would pay 5s each to see a movie? It makes one's blood tingle. It is easy to indulge in self-reproach, but how many of us sent messages of farewell to Bill, Alderman Bill, when he left these shore's? Truly a prophet is without honour, etc.; it remains for gentlemen like the King and Admiral Jeilicoe to do honour. But it is still not 100 late to give honour where honour is due. We could easily have a letter signed by every grateful' citizen giving credit for several work's for which one can readily see no one else but our Bill could have been responsible. Who unaided laid onl and made the Queen's Gardens? Who was instrumental in laying the foundation stone* of the motion picture industry in Nelson? Who was responsible for excavating our harbour and using the spoil to make that famous climb known as the Zig-Zag? We have occasionally in the past received publicity abroad from the reflected glory of our honoured sons, but seldom, I think, have we received such a compliment to our wealth and brain power as was contained in the sentence referring to (he 5s seats for "My Four Years in Germany." Failing a suitable letter from the citizens, do you think it would be possible to have the above suggestions forwarded to the editor of "Everyones." We cannot and must not allow any honoured citizen of ours to hide his light under a bushel, particularly 1000 candle power.—l am, etc., PLET3RO. Nelson, 29th Nov.