WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 7

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

Sir,—As a Britisher and a resident in one of Britain's outpost possessions—a small one, it is true, but by no means one of the most insignificant of them—it strikes me as peculiar that no adequate notice has been taken of tho accession of George V to tho Throne, with the exception of a meagre Government Gazette. It is reasonable to think that such an important event as the accession of a monarch to the throne of. the world's greatest and most powerful nation' would bo marked by somo official ceremony, ■with the idea at least of impressing on tho native mind here the' dignity of our Empire, and the respect duo to so great a ruler. .The death or the accession of one of tire local Arikis is an occasion for considerable ceremonial display, and that our monarch and theirs should be passed over without even a verbal public announcement, or ail assembly of whites or natives, to commemorate tho event, is at least a sign of lack of initiative on the part of his Majesty's . representative . here,, inasmuch as he has failed to grasp the opportunity of impressing upon the natives the respect duo to so . great a monarch, and enabling the European population to demonstrate their loyalty and affection io their King and Empire. This great event appears to have so little significance on the part of the local Administration that it is hard to realise that' we are under British rule, or that we have a Britisher at our head here. Trusting you will havo room in your columns for a plaint from such a remofo corner of tho Empire.—l am, etc., H. GIBSON. Rarotonga, June 23, 1910.