FOUND—THE SUPERMAN

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1852, 11 September 1913, Page 5

FOUND—THE SUPERMAN

Sir,—While Mr. G. B. Sbaw, Mrs. Bosant, and a few other philosophical cranks have been searching tho world over for the superman, lo ancl behold, wo havo him hero in Wellington—Mr. A. B. Atkinson. For a piece of selfpraise, his letter in your issue of today, Septembor 1, would bo hard to beat. It is liko the "Pharisee's prayer" brought up to dato. One can imagine Mr. Atkinson thanking God that bo is not liko other men, even this Canon Garland. I always thought it was-best left to others to sing our praise or blame. Not so with Mr. Atkinson. He prefers to sing his own. Evidently he behoves if he docs not do so, nobody elso will. He should.como dotfn from that mountain-top with his pop-gun, and become a mere mortal agaiu.

Now for a fow- of his specimens of good taste. . He accuses Canon Garland of being a stranger from Australia. It may be news for Mr. Atkinson that, in the eyes of tho law in New Zealand, Canon Garland and his good lady, Mrs. Garland, have fulfilled all that tho law requires, namely, twelve months' residence for British subjects to attain full rights of citizenship. They have done so, and are now enrolled on the Parliamentary register; therefore they aro not strangers, and their citizenship is as good as Mr. Atkinson's. Sir, at tho present timo tho people of New Zealand aro entertaining somo members of tho British Parliament. I wondor what their opinion would bo of men of Mr. Atkinson's salf-laudation.

Again, I should like to remind Mr. Atkinson that Canon Garland did not seek tho position ho holds. It was a strong appeal from tlio churches' who compose the bulk of tho people in favour of tho "Biblo-in-State-Schools League" that induced him to accept the position; and in spite of all the tall talk of Mr. Atkinson and his alleged "irreducible minority," Canon Garland still has tho confidence of the said churches. Mr. Atkinson and a few of his associates would like to sow tho seeds of disruption, but they aro not likely to succeed, as the Bible-in-Schools League is gaining in strengthovery day. Of course, wo don't expect to convert Mr. Atkinson and his liko. Mr. Atkinson, being trained in law, naturally wants to appear as a martyr. His choice of juries does him credit. Reading between tlie lines, lie is to'ing to induce that other organisation, namely, the Prohibition party, tj take sides against tho League. Well, all I can say is, if ho thinks he is going to help his Prohibition friends by these methods ho is vastly mistaken. Does ho think that by such methods he is going to buttress up tho waverers. A few more of his fulminations would drive some into tho opposition camp. By the way, I was not aware Mr. Atkinson was a bit of a poet.. It surprises ono to discover what geniuses there are running loose about Wellington. Well, Mr. Editor, I don't claim to bo any good at that, but for Mr. Atkinson's edification, I will quoto a bit of Bums':— 0, would somo power th' giftie gi'e us, To see oursel's as ithcrs see us. It would fu' mony a conflict free us, An' foolish notiou. I am, etc., THOS. M. MILLIGAN. September 1.