THE UNION JACK.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2490, 17 June 1915, Page 8

THE UNION JACK.

Sir, —Will you permit me to correct an erroneous statement which appeared in yesterday's Dominion on the subject of the Union flag? The word "jack," as applied to a Hag, has no reference whatever to the union with Scotland, nor to any historical personage, but means a flag (not necessarily a Union flag) of less than full size, flown under conditions (of occasion, place, weather, etc.) which would make the use of tho full-sized flag inappropriate or inadvisable. The term "jack" is applied to quite a variety of other things that are below the regular standard of size, quality, efficiency, or dignity. Some familiar examples are the jack at bowls and at cards, jack-knife, jack-plane, jack-of-all-trades, etc. The fact that any small knock-about .flag, British or foreign, was called a jack long before the union with Scotland took place sufficiently disposes of the sentimental fiction that the word is allusive to the name of a Scottish king, notwithstanding the countenance extended to that baseless fabrication by the Admiralty in its oflicial description of the Union (lag. —I am, etc., BASIL STOCKER, Wellington, June 16, 1915. INCURABLES HOME PATIENTS. Sir, —After reading tlis lotter of today's issue, signed "A Visitor," I think it is scandalous to ask those old ladies at the Incurables Hospital to give up their comforts. We are doing all wo can, giving up everything for our boys, and 1 don't think there is any need to ask them to inconvenience themselves. Hoping that a more ablo pen than mine will save the situation. —I am, etc., ANOTHER. VISITOR. Woodvillc, June 15, 1915. GERMANS IN NEW ZEALAND. Sir, —I have lived in the back-blocks most of my life. Still we got a paper now and then and keep a fairly good track of the war. Also, most of us in this part have sons or brothers at tho front. Our patience, however, is being strained. We hear so many rumours in the country. Is it true, for instance, that we are still paying old age pensions to Germans in our midst? If true, are wo being taxed to provide tho pensions? Do or do not those same Germans secretly rejoice on receipt of news (ike the Lusitania? Isn't there enougli German money in New Zealand to keep their own aged and poor? Or are wo to shoulder this burden while their nation commits any crime or atrocity it thinks fit? One of these days, when another crime like the sinking of the Lusitania is perpetrated, the patience of tlie groat mass of the people will snap altogether.—l am, etc., ANOTHER BACK-BLOCKER. Pcmbert.on, June 10, 1915. [It is a fact that there are peoplo of Herman and Austrian birth drawing the old age pension in Now Zealand, just as there are people of French and Italian and Scandinavian origin drawing it. It should he remembered however that before any person of foreign birth can draw the pension he must, be naturalised, and also that like all other British subjects he must, have been 25 years in the country, and must satisfy a Magistrate that ho is of good character. The pensioners are no doubt people who have lived as good citizens of New Zealand for at least this long period of years, and, if so, they are entitled to the pension under the law. The decision as to whether an applicantshall have the pension or not rests solely with the Magistrate hearing the application. If bis decision is favourable to the applicant, the Government may not withhold the pension. If they did such a thing, the applicant, could obtain redress in the Civil Courts.]