The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1919. CONDONING GERMANY'S CRIMES.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1919. CONDONING GERMANY'S CRIMES.

A request to the Taranaki Education Board at its meeting on Wednesday, made by the New Zealand | branch of the British Empire lit. j ion to allow a circular headed "A German Naval Victory," to be distributed among the school children, elicited from Mr. Trimble some remarks that should not be allowed to pass unchallenged. Be based his objections to compliance with the request on the grounds that he did not believe in keeping up the spirit of hatred, and though he admitted that Germany had done many things which no one could condone, yet he advocated that it was the duty of everyone to heal up the wounds as quickly a., possible, and that if the dreadful things done bj/ Germany could not be forgotten, an attempt should at least be made to forgive, and that could net be done by keeping up the spirit of hatred. How can he reconcile the .statement that Germany had done many things which no one could condone, with the subsequent contention as to the duty of forgiveness and the prompt healing of wounds, is not evident. It is not the desire of the British Empire Union or any sane citizen of a civilised country to advocate a campaign of hate against Germany. Rather would they prefer to allow Germany a monopoly of such congenial tactics, but th-.re is a vast difference between perpetuating hatred and drawing obvious lessons from infamous atrocities. We have no hesitation in saying that in the hands of a wise and capable teacher there are many incidents of the war from which profitable lessons in morality and humane conduct can be utilised so as to inculcate the most lofty sentiments by means of comparison. The philosophy of the armchair or street corner variety may sound soothing and comforting, but surely the feelings of those who have suffered as the result of German fiendishness have some right to consideration and remembrance. Germany is a beaten foe, but far from being repentant. We venture to think that if Mr. Trimble had been one of those soldiers on whom liquid fire had been played or poison gas had been turned when lined up against the Huns in a trench, he would not be so ready to forgive and forget. However, he is not alone in his denouncement of the publication of deeds of o 'our German friends," for Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, the Socialist, writing in the Socialist Review, said: "The man who rakes in the garbage heap of atrocities, I hold in almost as great detestation as I do the criminals who perpetrate the deeds." It is surprising that no member of the board brought the subject into its true perspective. If the decision of the board represents the general feeling of the community then there should be no memorials to fallen heroes, or victims of German terrorism, no object lessons in right and wrong doing, merely the presence in our midst of the maimed and mutilated, and "the sooner the idea that everything. German v, as bad is banished the better for everbody." Extremes arc always objectionable, whether of hatred or erroneous views. There appears, however, to be no valid reason why the incidents of the war should not be impressed on the minds of the children and applied to matters of everyday life. It vould seem that the board was oterpersuadod by the pacifist generalities and sophistries of Mr. Trimble, and though he doubtless acted according to his light, that dees not absolve the board from coming to a decision which we venture to think will not be endorsed by any broad-minded or patriotic parent in the district. NEW PLYMOUTH'S INTERESTS. It was not so long ago that New Plymouth was bracketed with Nelson as a delightful but somnolent centre, whose people in their waking periods were mostly engaged in decrying their town a:id everything associated with it. And i* is not so surprising that an impression S'. uncomplimentary tc New Plymouth got abroad. A town is largely what its people make it. If they evince no confidence in it themselves outsiders cannot be expected to form a favorable ji.dginent of it. On the other hand, if they show, by their speech, and actions, faith in the town, then they instil confidence outside. Seven years or so ago a movement was inaugurated to remove the wrong impression current regarding New Plymouth and to make better known the advantages of the town from a holiday and residential point of view. The Expansion and Tourist League was formed, and, backed by the leading citigena, and heloed by adequate aubßcrip-

tions, it set out on a publicity campaign ■-that, it can be fairly claimed, has-created r.n .altogether different atmosphere both I in the town itself and outside, and attracted annually really more visitors j than could always be accommodated. | J'.esides, a central tourist bureau, inj charge of an enthusiastic secretary, wag j established, and how essential it has; become is shown by the tact that every yiar several hundreds use its services. Imriiij; the war the League has necessarily had to curtail its operations, chiefly because of the reduction in subscriptions, and for some time only a handful of citizens havo been carrying on the work. They, not unnaturally, are not ii.clined to go on without the support of the townspeople as a whole, for whose benefit they have unselfishly wrought in the past. They suggest, now that the b.-isis of ,the organisation Should be broadened and its operations extended, and instead of a few' providing the .-iiicws of war as in the past that an ellort be made to induce from 300 to 500 to become members at an annual subscription of a pound. This would provide ample funds for the work upon which the League is engaged and enable it to considerably extend its usefulness. Apart from attracting holiday-makers to the town and providing facilities for them on arrival, it is thought that a proportion of the large number of people who leave the south every year to settle in the Auckland district could be diverted hither. It is also suggested the League could give its aid to town-plan-ning and beautifying and scenic preservation, and inducing the building of more dwellings and providing further accommodation for visitors—for which there is a great and ever-growing need. Then there is the road and railway development of the province, which is intimately bound up with New Plymouth's fiture in which, it ia thought, the League could take a hand, as well as in every other movement for the betterment of the town and district. There is no doubt there is ample "scope for such an institution, and it would be a thousand pities if it were allowed to die out altogether, as is possible unless the public evince a keener interest in its welfare than of late. The adjourned annual meeting takes place to-night, and we appeal to all citizens who have the interests of the town at heart to make a point of attending and showing their sympathy with a movement which is capable of rendering even greater service in the future than it has done in past.