"THE JAPANESE HOUSE-BOY".

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 17

"THE JAPANESE HOUSE-BOY".

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —I am against the transmission of " Japanese House Boy " numbers for two reasons, one of which has been defended by " House Boy " and the other by " Catholic." The first is that these numoers are an anathema to my ears. For four years now I have tuned in to the YA stations, as I am a sincere lover of good, classical music, and as these stations intermittently put on a few good records. But. after four years, the humour of the piece leaves me'cold. Sometimes I do as "House Boy" suggests—l get some other station; but other times I listen with patient resignation 'to the never-ending crises and anti-crises evolved by the puerile Frank, while the Honourable Archie—why " Honourable? " —dithers and philanders peripetically with magnificent indecision. What a moral to give to our young generation! I am only glad that I was not so patient this time when I find that I can advocate the doctrine of coming to a rational decision and standing by it. As pleasant, however, as this digression is for me, I must shelve it and come back to the path. The second, the political reason, is the major one for me, although "Catholic" has accused me of being incapable .of analysing the political issues at stake. I may lack the senility of judgment shown by " Catholic," in which case I also lack its decay. I was not aware of China's Communism until recently, and as your correspondent endorses this alleged fact, then more than ever am I behind China. Any action which smacks or the Imperialistic hand of Fascism arouses my ire. One only needs to glance at Italy and Germany to-day to see what is wrong with Fascismpeoples over-burdened with propaganda; no democracy, no freedom, mere pawns in the "battle of life. Contrast this scene with that of Russia—freedom of thought and speech, true democracy, etc. I could expatiate for hours. From studies of both countries I am convinced that Russia under her guardian angel, Marx, will do more for the world than even Mussolini, and Hitler. Let Japan once be secure in China and she will later sweep downwards across the map to Singapore, and then where will Australia and New Zealand be? So I recommend this boycott of Japanese goods and Japanese propaganda. Down with it before we live to regret a taste of Fascism.—l am, etc., Up China. Dunedin, Oct. 27.