Petty Parochialism

NZ Truth, Issue 604, 13 January 1917, Page 1

Petty Parochialism

A Query From the Tranche* All the way from "Somewhere In France," comes the following from "A New Zealander," a soldier from this country, "doing bis bit" m the trenches. He says, under date 22/U/ f l6: , Deer "Truth,"—Am forwarding you a clipping from the "Auckland Weekly News," received m the trenches. Your special attention . la drawn to the part underlined. It has puzzlod the "Now Zealand" portion of the New Zealand division considerably, as wo always, up to now, thought Auckland was a portion of the Dominion. We should, therefore, be grateful if you could satisfy our curiosity by tracing the ancestry of tho "Auckland" race, and thus effectually dispel any lingering doubts m our minds ■ as to who this new ally of burs la. On referring to the clipping, w"e find that It" Is "a short article headed !*New Zealand era m Action," published m the "Auckland .Weekly News," August 3, 1916. The article deals with the attack on Pozicres and is .couched In the i usual y patriotic- terms.* In the course of the article. we read: Our Aucklanders and our New Zealanders, standing and falling side by side with kinsmen from near and far on the battleground of the Somme, share In dcods that thrill our hearts," etc., etc. Well might "A Now Zealand er" Invite "Truth" to enlighten him. It is olthor petty parochialism, or the newspaper is sulTcrlnt from ncnllo decay, but, then, Auckland was always, the backbone of Now Zealand, until it was found to bo Jolly.