SPIRIT OF PIONEERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 15

SPIRIT OF PIONEERS

Sir, —Being a descendant of grandparents who arrived in New Zealand in 18-12, it puzzles me how our Prime Minister, with his colleagues, can think that the spirit of New Zealanders is with them to-day iu their centennial efforts and manner of administration. Tho pioneers placed not only first things first, but had freedom of speech and action. If we wish to commemorate our forefathers' achievements, we should try. to recapture some of their spirit. It seems a sacrilege to think it is the spirit of communism, and not the spirit of Knglish democracy, that is ruling us to-day. The Government is calling for patriotism to be expressed with sacrifice. Thank God we have men who are willing to respond, but can we thank our Government for any service rendered to them, oven for free train rides? Yet the Government expects us without any lead whatsoever to give au account of our handiwork. There is one thing tho Government is trying to do, and that is to split our minds into two sections. Loyalty to the Empire on the one hand, and distrust with the channels through which that loyalty has to be expressed on tho other.

Farmers' wives! Because we find it difficult, not only to produce more, hut to hold and retain production, let us not bow before a , penny„per pound extra for butter-fat. wool or meat, and sell our heritage for a ine.ss of pottage. Let us not sink our, identity, but try to recapture to the full the spirit of our forefathers; who wore a united people, working for a united purpose. Let us say, as New Zealand women, we will stand together, town and country, to rid our fair land of these communistic aims, and celebrate our centennial year with thankfulness to God in the true British patriotic spirit. Buxiehfat Supplies.