Untitled

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 January 1913, Page 3

"It is really very good of you to take so much interest in other people's affairs," said the Ilon-T. Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, in reply to Mr T. C. Gregory, of Bristol, who has been bombarding him with literature setting forth the wickedness and the oppression of the New Zealand system of universal training. '• You possibly forget," he adds, " that we are working under a Constitution which gives us cortain rights, and you are overlooking the fact that we have been in the habit of working out our destiny in our own way without so nmoh exterior, unappreciated advico. You also forget that what is being done has the almost unanimous support of our Parliament, and that our Parliament is responsible to New Zealanders and not to outsiders. It may be news to you to learn that not only is our defence system not keeping desirable people away from New Zealand, but, on the contary, far more are applying to go to our grand country than we can possibly find shipping accommodation for. The action you are taking, if it has the effect you claim for it, quite suits us, because, in keeping away those friends of yours who think the country not worth defending, you are unconsciously helping us by leaving passenger space in our ships for those desirable people that we want."