“ IN ENGLAND NOW.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 21 December 1928, Page 9

“ IN ENGLAND NOW.”

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —I read Mr Rattray’s impressions of England, etc., in Tuesday’s “Star,” and arrived at the conclusion that Mr Rattray had become a thorough Englishman, as the running down or belittling England is the Englishman’s privilege, and I notice in your issue of Wednesday a letter from Mr G. T. Robinson, another convert. I fancy the idea of Englishmen running down their own country is just to be different from others who skite so much when they have nothing really to skite about. Mr Rattray and Mr Robinson, however, have somewhat given themselves away, as they openly show that they are only' playing to the gallery at England’s expense. Now, Sir, as you have devoted so much of your valuable space to the open slather of poor old England, you will, I feel certain, give me space for a reply. I am a Britisher, and therefore have a right to belittle etc., England; but, like other Britishers who have travelled, I have come to the conclusion that any man who runs down his Homeland is not worthy of the name of man. I have had nothing but praise for New Zealand since my arrival here. I have seen how much New Zealanders loved their country', and I naturally felt that as I love England so will they love New Zealand, but it would hurt, rather than correct, to make comparisons. I have spent the last fifteen years or so in trying to advertise New Zealand produce, etc., on the snowball principle, bygetting each friend to get into touch with five others, the latter to get into touch with five more and so on; but the horrible blow I have just received by Mr Rattray first, followed by Mr Robinson, has somewhat damped my ardour. On second thoughts, I have decided that two such opinions cannot in any way', upset the good relationship between Home people and ourselves, and I can only say that I feel sure that very few true New Zealanders will endorse the two opinions referred to. On the contrary, one and all must agree that the outburst is simply ludicrous and not worth arguing about. What would we think of Englishmen or others visiting us and then slating off without reason in their own local Press? I will not attempt to answer any particular part of Mr Robinson’s discourteous letter, but will merely say that whatever England is we follow her in every way—we are utterly dependent on her and we should all be proud to think that we are all descendants from, and owe a great debt of gratitude to dear old England. I can assure y'our readers that England to-day is better than ever before. There is just one question I should like to ask: If England is only half as bad as Mr Rattray and Mr Robinson make it out to be, then why do thousands upon thousands of visitors from all parts of the world, including America, flock Home every year, and having once visited that beautiful country’, they send thousands and thousands of others? My answer is because without a doubt England is the most attractive country in the world, the most historical and the most free. And after England give me New Zealand.—l am, etc., IMPERIALIST. Christchurch, December 21.