SANDY'S CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 November 1950, Page 4

SANDY'S CORNER

PROGRESSIVE MANGAMAHU. Our Mangamahu observer says that John Polson has consented to stand for the mayoralty of Mangamahu—with a slogan of more footpaths for the people, and greater respect for representatives of the Land and Income Tax Department.

DISTINGUISHING TITLE!

Apparently Australians are afraid of being taken Tor displaced persons, or immigrants, and have applied a title to make some distinction as between honest-to-goodness “Aussies,” born in “rabbit-land,’ and those people who have come from “other parts” to the continent of kangaroos, rabbits and racing. Henceforth all new arrivals are to be known by the title of “new” Australians. “Some ‘new’ Australians were caught by a strong surf and had to be rescued,’ says a news item. It will be quite interesting to watch the progress of this method, and perhaps we in the Tote Isles will be able to adopt it, also. Trouble is the word “old,” which necessarily follows so closely in the wake of, or ahead of, the word “new,” isn’t quite so popular. It would be rather infra dig to be known as an “old” New Zealander and be but 21. And another problem with us in the Tote Isles would arise from our island rivalry. Some people would want to be known as “new” New Zealand mainlanders,” as distinct from common “new New Zealand North Islanders.” And, further than that, people who are in the sheep farming business would want some clisting’uishing title to pick them out from people who get their living from cows! It is all a cow of a problem, and we have a feeling that it would save a lot of trouble and worry if people who are born and bred in the “Tote Isles” would stick to the old fashioned, 1914-18 war title of “Diggers”—“new Digs” and “old Digs.” As a matter of fact we have three titles now. Somebody, however, might want to go even further back than that and tie us “real” New Zealanders to the days of Captain Cook, “Pig Islanders.” It wouldn’t sound so good, would it, to be known as “new pigs” and “old pigs?” And “true” and “new’ would be a bit confusing, too. Better stick to our present title. “Tote Isles” originals, and “Tote Isles” new arrivals, and let it go at that! Leave Australia a’ono. wi.h her rabbits, her kangaroos and her racing!