KIPLING LETTER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18975, 27 March 1936, Page 16

KIPLING LETTER

LOYALTY TO EMPIRE PEOPLE OF DOMINION MESSAGES FOR CHILDREN A spontaneous testimonial to the loyalty of New Zealanders was given by Rndyard Kipling less than a month before his death on January 18. It is contained in a letter owned by Captain 1). Kce, of the Church Army, who returned to Auckland this week after a brief .visit to England. Captain Kee, who is in charge of the Church Army's work among New Zealand children, had decided to form a "children's corner" in the chapel of the army training centre, which is in the former Children's Home, Richmond road. He wrote to Kipling, and also to the former Governor-General, Viscount Bledisloe. for "messages" which could be framed and' hung in the chapel. FAMOUS AUTHOR'S VIEWS

In reply, the captain, received a, typewritten letter from Kipling, dated December 23 and addressed from the famous author's home, "Bateman's," Burwash, Sussex. It was as follows:

"Dear Captain K>-e,—Many thanks for your letter of the 20th, just in. Cm afraid 1. haven't anything by me that would fit the purposes of your

'Dominion Children's Corner.' but if there is any quotation out of my verses that would d'o, you are quite welcome to it. My own experiences of the New Zealander in his own country and the Boer War and the Great War were (hat lie was as loyal to the Empire, in matter and spirit, as anyone could wish for. And (bat is saying a good deal Wishing you and yours a happy New Year. .Most sincerely,—Rudyard Kipling." Lord 1 Bledisloe's message, which was signed by himself and Lady Bledisloe, ran:—" 'God is Love.' May the children of New Zealand who visit this corner realise that God is a friend, of boundless compassion and love, and, while ever looking to Dim for help and guidance, strive to do nothing which is displeasing in His sight." Captain Kee aiso received irom the parish of St. James', Blackheath, Birmingham, in which he formerly worked for a number of years, three small religious pictures in colour. Two of these, presented by the Sunday school and .gymnasium respectively, have silver plates attached to the frames, stating that they are gifts to the children of New Zealand in token of affection for the captain. The third is from the scoutmaster in charge of the Blackheath Church of England group of Boy Scouts, which Captain Kee founded. A further gift is a coloured plaster relief of the Virgin and Child, modelled by Miss Cissie Webb, of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and presented by the artist.

It is Captain Kee's hope i fiat, he may be able to strengthen the ties between New Zealand children and their cousins in Britain, lie made hundreds of friends among little, folk throughout tlie Dominion as a member of the Church Army "column" which conducted parochial missions during the past two years. In neuj'ly every parish he produced a Nativity play, which the children performed in the church for the enjoyment and edification of themselves and the grown-ups. t