REPREHENSIBLE CONDUCT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 297, 25 May 1915, Page 4

REPREHENSIBLE CONDUCT.

In his address at New Plymouth' recently Mr. llornsby made some "very pertinent remarks relative to "reversion to type." In the light of the windowsmashing episodes that have been occurring of late it would appear that the Germans have not a monopoly of the process of reverting to type—the type of those who ruthlessly destroy because their blood lias been fired by the lust of wanton destruction. Years ago in •what is known as the "Pit" country of England it was a custom among the miners when a new face appeared in the district to say, "Here's a stranger; heave a brick at him," merely because the newcomer was a stranger. That was a relic of barbaric times when every man's hand was against his neighbor. The same spirit is running riot to-day, only it takes the form of ''Here's a German's shop; let's smash the window!" British justice is based on the principle that a man accused of a crime is assumed to be innocent until he is proved to be guilty, but a section of New Zealand manhood has reverted to type and deals out what it intends to be punishment witnout waiting to ascertain wfiether the victim is innocent. Nothing can be more reprehensible than this so-called anti-German spleen which vents itself in window-smashing for which the insurance companies are the victims. Moreox er, innocent parties are made to suffer and this is lowering the Dominion morale besides reflecting on the good sense of the people of the localities involved. The young men who feel so bitter against the Germans should enlist and let off their surplus enthusiasm in the manner best calculated to be of service. One of the evils of this senseless campaign is that thoroughly leval citizens are victims of persecution merely because they possess foreign-wr-wling names. The whole sorry busi. U"ss is so un-T!ritisb that it is intolerable. Hie law as in force is amply sufficient to deal with those who speak derogatorily about the British and their zni al) {ha; •; nwesss-y Lb sue'"

cases is to inform the police when the culprits will lie dealt with effectively. It is to lie hoped that common-sense will now prevail, mid that we shall hear of no further breaches of the peace in this eonneetion.