GAELS INCENSED.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19460, 27 December 1934, Page 7

GAELS INCENSED.

DY HIGH COURT JUDGMENT. “ MISGUIDED SOLOMONS." United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. 'Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 24. “ Misguided Solomons ” is the heading over a leading article in the News Chronicle commenting on the Australian High Court’s judgment in the Kiscli case.

“ The High Court,” it says, “ lias set the heather on lire with a vengeance by declaring that Gaelic is not a language but a dialect. “ The blood of every true Highlander will boll. Surely there must be some in Australia, if even only a few. “ Tlie High Court will have reason to regret its imprudent judgment.”

The High Court recently squashed the conviction or Egan Kisch, the Czecho-Slovakian author, as a prohibited immigrant. The Court, by majority, uphild the objection that Scottisli Gaelic used in the dictation test by the customs authorities was not a European language within the meaning of .Section 3A of the Immigration Act, 1901. Sir George Rich, who presided, said Scottish was not the recognised speech of a community organised politically, socially, or on any other basis. In ordinary practical affairs it played no greater part than a local dialect might. Mr. Justice Starke dissented. Gaelic, he said, was one of the oldest forms of language used by people In the British Isles. In his opinion it was a European language within the meaning of the Act.