CORONATION MEMENTOES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1045, 7 February 1911, Page 6

CORONATION MEMENTOES.

MADE IX GERMANY. Sir,—As a'memento of the Coronation of the late King Edward VII the children attending the State schools in Nov.- Zealand were each presented with an earthenwaro plate. The idea probably was that the children should take them home and eat their meals from them, and the portraits of Edward VII and his Queen would continually remind them of the nation to which thev belonged, her history, her world-wide influence, her cpmmerce, her colonies and possessions, and her influence at tho present day. Tho young minds of the children ■ wero to be early impressed with all this, which would grow with their growth, and though far- removed from the Motherland, would remind them, when grown up, that they were citizens of a great Empire. Three such plates duly found their way into the family of a thoroughly patriotic Britisher. _ The father turned them over, and to his immense disgust found they were "made in Germany." The mighty country the children -were taught to revere could not even make its presents to its children in her own country. There is, I understand, -to be a great making of medals to be given to school children to. commemorate the coming Coronation. Will they 100 be "made in Germany"? And what can children think of a nation that cannot even make at home its own gifts to its children? It would be interesting to gather the thoughts of such children, but tho thoughts of some of the fathers might be too vehement for publication. Tho plates were smashed, but whether by indignant father or disenchanted children history does not relate—l am, etc.,

EDWARD POWELL. Haveloek, Marlborough, February 2, 1911.