A NEW ZEALAND CUSTOM.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12617, 9 April 1934, Page 2

A NEW ZEALAND CUSTOM.

Mr Bernard Shaw, in his talk at the Chateau Tongariro, repeated bis criticism of one New Zealand custom. “I was horrified when I landed here,” he said, “to hear you talking of ‘Home.’ It is not the home you should brag about, because I have been there and it is not a credit to you. Look at your own New Zealand infant mortality rate, half that of the British Isles. Compare it with that of the British Isles, and you can never acknowledge any relationship with them. If your ancestors had done great things lor their nation and made it prosperous; if Britain, through the activities of your grandfathers, had become a nation where the infant mortality rate was less than yours, you might boast of it, but why should a man boast of a grandfather who was banged or spent his days in a mental asylum? You should really apologise for Britain’s infant mortality rate. It is a disgrace to civilisation. And you should say, ‘I belong to New- Zealand and am proud o? it. If the British Isles people don’t pull up a little, we will have to cast them off as disgraceful relatives.’ ”