MR DE VALERA'S HOMAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21948, 9 May 1933, Page 10

MR DE VALERA'S HOMAGE

TO TUB EDITOR.

Sir.—lt was with no small amount of astonishment that I saw the effusion of your correspondent "J. O'Sullivan " appearing in the Otago Daily Times this morning. Opinions such as he expresses would be welcome in Dublin, perhaps, by certain people, but they are quite out of place in this, the most loyal of the dominions.

I wonder what your correspondent means by living in New Zealand, which really belongs to the Maoris, and I wonder what attitude he would adopt if the Maoris were to shoot his father or brother without warning because they dared to live in their country? The Sinn Eeiners consider that they suffered from English domination, but this is far from being the case. Ireland was the principal training ground of the British army in peace time, and many thousands of soldiers were provided for by purchase of Irish produce, live stock,

horses, etc. In addition, every British " Tommy " spent his pocket money every week in Irish theatres, at football matches, race meetings, and in Irish shops. All that has gone, and the British " Tommy " is sadly missed in Ireland today, I can assure you. There is another foreign domination which Ireland will have to free herself from before she will ever "make a do" of it, and that is not England. Your correspondent seems to be proud of Easter week Well, most people have another feeling for the action of his kidney in attacking Britain without warning when she was fighting with her back to the wall. I know and love Ireland, regret very much to see its Government getting into the hands of people with such irresponsible views as those expressed by your correspondent. Let me inform Mr O'Sullivan that he under-estimates the patriotism and spirit of the men of .Ulster if he imagines-that they will ever consent to be governed from Dublin, no matter what Government is in power in England. —I am, etc.. Loyal New Zealander. Dunedin, May C.