ELIMINATION OF “AUSTRALASIA.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 18

ELIMINATION OF “AUSTRALASIA.”

CAMPAIGN IN ENGLAND. AUCKLAND, February 17. Endeavours made in recent years to discourage the use of the term “Australasia have not been entirely in vain. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce, which has been -agitating against the use of the term for the past six years, has. received the following letter from the High Commissioner in London (Sir James Parr), in response to its latest representations:— “Your chamber can depend upon the utmost co-operation of my office in makin” known New Zealand's strong feeling against the use of that word ‘Australasia. As a matter of fact, for the past four or five years a very strong campaign has been waged by my predecessor and.myself (since I have been here) in the direction indicated, and a great deal has been done. I have perused the file on the subject, and find that no occasion is allowed to pass when the word ‘Australasia’ is used without drawing the „ attention ot those responsible to New Zealand s desire in the matter. The names of at least two journals have been •changed as the result of these representations, and the editors of the various newspapers have also been circularised with the very best results, as the file _ correspondence shows. As 3 matter of .fact, nowadays one very rarely secs the word Australasia used in the newspapers of Great Britain. On more than one occasion letters have been written to responsible organisations and people in New Zealand drawing attention to ‘.he use of the term in their own publications, and suggesting its discontinuance. So far as propaganda in this country-is concerned, I will, as I have already stated..further any steps that you may take, but I can assure you that already New Zealand s dislike of the word ‘Australasia’ is so well known that its use on this side is becoming, as it ought to be, quite a rare thing.” . . The letter was received, satisfaction being expressed with the excellent results obtained. , , . A , A statement that the word objected to still appeared in the School Journal was referred to one of the members for confirmation.