‘Not Obliged To Stay9

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31096, 27 June 1966, Page 1

‘Not Obliged To Stay 9

CN.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 26. If British migrants did not like New Zealand, they were welcome to go home again, Mr J. R. Firth, an Auckland public accountant, said to the People’s Universities’ Association today.

The “pommie-fixation” of New Zealand had gone fa.’ enough, said Mr Firth. “If we

are to achieve true nationhood and an uninhibited sovereignty of our own, we must set out purposefully to shed many of the links which still tie us to Britain. In many ways our attitudes and actions are still those of a dependent colony.” It was understandable that mnny English migrants still regarded England as home, Mr firth said. But they must accept that New Zealand was a nation of independent people establishing their own way of life and culture. “If they wish to adopt our country as their home then they must be prepared to

adopt cur nationality and the different way of life that goes with it. Those who are not prepared to make this change are the or es who will continue to d< serve the abusive label of ‘pommie’." Mr Firth said he was a fourth-generation New Zealander, and very proud of it. “We must all of us, and particularly the immigrants, r.ricntate our thinking to the idea that we are New Zealanders first, la-t and always; that we are an independent people iin command of our own desI tiny and not being sheltered ■by or directed by any other i country," he said.