AMERICANISATION?

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12012, 15 March 1920, Page 8

AMERICANISATION?

To tho Editor. ■ SIR,—I feel, now that Chautauqua week is almost over, it is time some protest was raised against the Americanisation of this country. Let us thank our visitors for such pleasure and instruction as we, according to our several natures, have derived from their entertainment, hut let us tell them now that we do uot wish to do anything more to increase the American atmosphere in this, our British Dominion. I hasten to e.ay that I feel all broadminded and sensible persons must agree with much of the serious side of that which Chautauqua puts before us, and from some points of view it is good to see the mass of the people absorbing such ideas, instead of making oiir present kind of picture shows their solo form of mental stimulus. But we are paying too dearly for that; for whereas men and women can perhaps discriminate ami learn without allowing themselves to be unduly influenced, it is otherwise with children. It seems to me most extraordinary that we should not only be blindly submitting to the Americanisation of our young people, but should actually be inviting this state of affairs and paying for it to take root among us. It is impossible tp believe that Chautauqua comes simply to elevate our minds and it is the Americans themselves who make tho idea impossible. They declare they are not here to make money, but what about the Meat Trust, which is ousting our own frozen meat from British markets, and is assuredly laying its dead hand on the meat industry in New Zealand itself? What about the many industries that America has seized while Britain was engaged, to the utmost of her powers, in saving the civilised world—America included—from the unspeakable menace of German dominion? Do our boys and girls know that in American school children, after saluting the Stars and Stripes, are asked “Who Won the Great War,” and are taught to reply “America,” whereas America was in many respects more hindrance than help, and in any case had to be equipped at British expense. For this Britain had actually to borrow money from America, thus helping to place her in her present position of dictator in the financial world. Do they know that American meat is capturing- the British market, while New Zealand meat is being kept back until a drop toad per lb is predicted for it? Are not qur children, and with them many of our older inhabitants, being taught to acquiesce in this state of affairs, and does not this make Chautauqua a very paying proposition from the American point of view? Let us wake up before it is too late, If Chautauqua really has the elevation of the world at heart let it confine its attention to cleansing the Angean Stables of graft and corruption in its own country and let ns attend to the elevation of our own people lor ourselves. We want less in tne way of American books, films and notions generally, and more of our own British ones. We do uot blame America tor not entering the war earlier, for we know her difficulties, but we do blame her for being boastful and domineering now instead of humble and chastened. In spite of the fact that America made huge sums of money, partly out of bud ammunition, while we and other countries were straggling in blood and tears, wo do not wish to quarrel with her, .for-that is precisely what the want. We belong tq the same family and must face tho world together; but instead of sitting blindly at America’s feet, we should treat her as that member who has uot yet proved herself, certainly not as tho one from who we take our colour. —I am, oto,. "FAOm”