WE MODEST CAVE-MEN

NZ Truth, Issue 1149, 8 December 1927, Page 1

WE MODEST CAVE-MEN

Gunboats Hasten To Quell Our Savagery "RAISING STANDARD OF REVOLT"

. The fight did not take place— -— dignity would not allow it. But it is, I believe] since J that year that m cultured European circles New Zealanders have been considered the . worst barbarians on the face of ; the globe. ■" :■'''■ '

New Zealanders are fond.'- of laying the charge—r^with-consider-ablejustificatipii---against America that her .collective knowledge of geography is lamentably lacking. But what could possibly be more stupid, ill-considered, and positively dangerous to a young, free, clean, virile and progressive country as unmitigated rubbish such as this allegedly 'superior French paper "puts ove»" to its probably multitudinous readers ?

T/he newspaper m question, "The Comoedia," purports to cater for the higher arts, the intelligent, etc., and it 'seriously asserts that New Zealanders are cave men' with a palate for nice, clean, edible missionaries! Were it not for the newspaper actually publishing ,the remarkable intelligence, such crass editorial ignorance would be almost, unbelievable. What would the learned newspaper say if some sober New ' Zealand -journal were to philosophically assert m its privileged editorial columns that the French were, ' J Savages against civilized man, m that by developing! a 't^ste i for frogs and: snails they were croakiiig immoderately and assuming -sshell backs?"

Of course, it is merely a question of individual blunder and by no means a general opinion. The danger is m the newspaper as a medium of cultivating thought and moulding. public opinion passing on an unconscious but doubtless dangerous lie to its readers Vjrho may or may not be scattered.

The enlightened French, however, reciprocate the steady glow of good feeling that flows towards them from even enlightened "savages?" from this rem6te but staunchly patriotic part of the world.