IN DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2388, 18 February 1915, Page 7

IN DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

CANTERBURY SOLDIER 'RESENTS TRESS COMMENT. The following letter is printed in the "Egyptian Mail', 1 (Cairo), of December 30:—, Like your correspondent Trooper 1. W. M'Cristal, of tho First Australian Light Horse, I am also somewliat surprised at your apparent iguoranco of matters generaly connected with tno Now Zealand Forces a.ud tho countrj itself. Although New Zealand boasta only olio million inhabitants, still they have provided no fewor than, 10,000 men to do duty for their King and country; there are another 10,000 znen waiting if the oall comes for them to go to the front. In your correspondent's remarks one notes an underlying current of sarcasm with regard to the paltry 6000 we have provided. Ho says that Australia is larger than England, Wales, Scotland, and Irelaid put together. New Zealand is also larger than England, Scotland, and Wales, so his description of tho size of his own particular continent is not very muoli to the point. I think, however, that, taking the size and population of the two countries into consideration, you will find that New Zealand has dono lier full share in comparison with Australia. He says that the procession oil December 23 was "as nearly as possible" an Australian one, but in this respect he is quite wrong, and, except for the presence of the Queenslanders, the New Zealanders comprised the greater portion of the . troops out. We have absolutely no wish to take any credit that does'not wholly belong to us, nor is there any reason why any misunderstanding should arise as to the Australian and Now Zealand Forces, for their uniforms are not at all alike. Your correspondent wares quite eloquent wit'h regard to many things that are quite beside the point and generally his opinion on Australasia and Egyptian democracy, not to mention the grand procession to Berlin, with banquets waiting us in the Palace Gardons, appears to be nothing put "bosh." If Trooper M'Cristal expects banquets awaiting .him in the Palace Gardens, then I think he will be a trifle disappointed. We New Zealanders do not expeot anything of this description. Rather do wo expwt months of tho very hardest work in muddy' trenches, and we expeot to go through all the hardships oonsequont on such a bloody war. However, all tie world over there appears to be tittle known of New Zealand. To jog forgetful memories, or to enlighten tne ignorant, I might say that New Zealand is a scantily-populat-ed place in the Pacific Ocean that has produced Anthony Wilding, champion lawn tennis player of the world; Riohard Arnst,'of rowing fame; Bob. Fitesimmons, one of the greatest fighters for his weight the world has ever seen; the "All Black" footballers;' and last, but not least, the world-renowned Carbine, who won the Melbourne Cup under lOst. ,21b. (or lOst. 51b.), and afterwards sired Spearmint, the winner of the English Derby and Grand Prix de Paris. No doubt this last part of my letter will be considered by many to be quite unnecessary, but surely a land that has produced, suo'h stock should be better known by the world generally, and I sincerely hope that the New Zealand troops here at present are advertising their country well and creating at least a good impression in beautiful Egypt.—Yours, etc., MAORILANDER. Ist (Canterbury) Regiment, New. Zealand Expeditionary Force. The editor' of the "Mail" makes an effort to soothe the feelings of the correspondent in tie following footnoto to the letter:—We can assure our correspondent that nothing was farther from our thoughts than to indulge in sarcasm or irony _at the . expense of New Zealand or 'its fine troops. The visit of the Now Zealand and Australian forces here lias been specially welcome,' as'it has given us a chance ■Rj realise more vividly what' a vigorous and reliant race has developed "down-under" from the Anglo-Saxon stock, '