THE NEW ZEALAND ENSIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11986, 7 June 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE NEW ZEALAND ENSIGN.

[bit j,p.» bvt op islands.] Jt -will lie remembered tlitit during the ses- ' sion of 1900. a considerable amount of interest was brought about because of the ill's roduction of a BUI dealing with our colonial Ih.v . The Bill ns introduced, proposed a j : radical was brought about because the troduction of a Bill dealing with our colonial flag. The Bill us introduced proposed a radical change. The Act as passed confirmed, so far as our Legislature could do it, our old flag, -with four flaming: stars in » ■ slightly improved form— the pattern as issued "by the Education Department to the public schools. So far as the outside public are concerned no one was made acquainted ■with the reason why the change, was at first accepted by some folk as being tlennitely settled, and when . the", feeling jof deep resentment was shown throughout the colony there Mas no disposition on the par* « our officials to pass on • the • blame to others. But br putting together a few bits of information it would appear that some official . in one of the Departments in London, with the old Downirig-street traditions still linger--352 within' him, thought four red stars on a. white disc good enough for our New Zealand markings in the ensign, and so he' /;/// ordered it to-be"./; , : ".*';., //. :■ ; vf Probably very few people anticipated the storm of opposition that arose. The Bill introduced to bring about a change resulted in the former state of things being con- ; >/«/•/ nrmecl. ; Mr.'•Monk took the lead, and, with •his 'accustomed' energy successful championed the flajj that had become familiar to us all." ,: - '• -• Y , -.. * . :,/'But even now the situation does not seem to be perfectly safe. "As * tins ;is a matter of Imperial concern ; bo the "Act was reserved for the Royal assent, and that assent has been a long" time coming. f , /,.../; But now a funny part of the story comes in. All the energy was'expended in preserving the blue ensign, used afloat by ves- ' sels the New Zealand Government service, and anywhere ashore. Any merchant vessel wishing to carry a distinctive New Zealand marking in the red ensign has to be content with the disc and the four red stars— gether out' of harmony with our proper New Zealand Southern Cross. - /' Whether from a' feeling of contentment with the grand old red ensign; in its simple form, or from a feeling of resentment against the disc and stars supposed to he. taken to bv us, the sailors have not taken to it. '". "Now, this is not a desirable state rof things. . The' authorities in Wellington are courteous ': to the last degree in answering questions, ;■ but they can scarcely be expected to.move unless they, have the reason .to give that they are being moved from outside. Mr, Monk, who has hitherto been the champion, when hie gets down to Wellington -may.very, well make inquiries, and help in getting matters put straight. As" regards the red ' ensign the number of people wishing to introduce the New Zealand stars may not be such, as to make it a matter of great portance. At the same time, it may be ; pointed out that all pur, colonial markings should be in harmony. Taking the .-Com?. : ".: monwealth flag as a precedent we find that they have the identical markings in the red " as in the blue ensign. .. Our four stars may : *• ■£■ also be inserted in the red as in the blue • ensign,; only that the reds in the centre , of the stars should be made a little smaller than when in the blue ensign. And whilst the flag question: is under discussion ; .the badge in the Governor's flag should be made HI; V blue with the proper New Zealand stars.