THE SWISS QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1916, Page 6

THE SWISS QUESTION.

IS THERE DISLOYALTY! To the Editor. Sir,—l have been acquainted with Swiss .people this last twenty years in New Zealand in different capacities as working mates and also in business matters. I found them to be hard-working, industrious and honest. I always heard them speak very highly of British law and justice in comparison with other countries and of the generous manner in which they treat all comers to New Zealand. I never remember them speaking a disloyal word against' Britain at any time. We are not at war with Switzerland, and I cannot think of any sane reason why those thrifty people should be disloyal. New Zealand is their home. They have acquired a lot of property through their energy and hard work, and certainly would not gain anything by a German conquest, but would be likely to loose a lot. Therefore, I am inclined to think that ''Britisher's" grievance is inore personal than patriotic. Perhaps the Swiss being good farmers, they happen to get a better price for their calves or pigs than "Britisher" does, in which case this would be sufficient to get "Britisher's" blood ,ip to boiling point. But he has got his remedy. He can lay information against the guilty party and if he proves his case, he will get satisfaction, and the I guilty party will be punished if guilty fcho be, but mere insinuation through a newspaper column against a whole nationality doesn't appeal to me as being on all fours with British fair-play, the sole intention being the poisoning of the public mind against an industrious people. I personally know people who have wasted their lives through being jealous of those who had worked hard and denied themselves many luxuries in order to get a start in life. As to how people live, that is their own concern, so far as they keep honest with their neighbours. I had occasion to visit the homes of some Swiss people. I found them to be most hospitable and the quality and quantity of the food they lived on left nothing to be desired, so I think that "Britisher's" remarks are uncalled for anil flavored with spite It is not so many years ago since some of our Britishers were up in arms against assisting poor British emigrants from coming to New Zealand, and vowing vengeance on the Government if they did to stop it, as they reckoned they wanted all there was themselves. Oh, dear! What generous-hearted Britishers some of us are and how we keep that great commandment. "Do unto others as yßu wish others to do to you!"—I am etc. JOHN DIGGINS, Lepperton, June 20, 1916.

OTHER ASPECTS. Writes Mr. J. R. Stewart to the Hau'era Star:—You recently published a letter over the nom de plume "Britisher," which, while headed "The Alien Within i Our dates," is devoted entirely to an | attack upon the Swiss, who ' form a I very appreciable proportion of the population of Taranaki. All rational men have deep buried in their heart of hearts a feeling of love and veneration for the country that gave themselves or their progenitors birth, and surely it is not wise ( ,to embitter the minds of those foreigners, or their descendants who dwell among us, against our cause at such a time as this, when practically the whole world is at war Unless'a miracle happens we are a long way from the end of this "world war," and local brawling will only cause complications which should he avoided. Whore the enemy sympathiser can be clearly proved to have uttered treasonable words, or to have acted treasonably, I would advocate imprisonment and confiscation, if not more drastic measures, without hesitation. There are many others besides foreigners who require dealing with at once. If people who have lived for years under the protection of the Union Jack, and enjoyed a liberty which it is questionable can be found under any other flag cannot appreciate the boon and do their best to assist the national cause, then by all means let us get rid of them. j Admittedly far too many foreigners ire crowding in on to the rich lands of | South Taranaki, but we cannot, in fairness, blame these people for appreciating the valuable land; rather should wo condemn the avaricious land-owner who gives the foreign purchaser preference to his own countrymen because the foreigner is willing to give a higher price! Or, with more reason, condemn our own leniency in being short-sighted enough to permit the foreign element to li.onopolise land which should be jealously hoarded up to meet the requirements of coming times. Our Government has Irnmmmidrcrec! produce: let them, before it is too late, commandeer the v> tntble land and hold it in trust for future necessities. /