"A DOWN-RIGHT FALSEHOOD."

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1919, Page 2

"A DOWN-RIGHT FALSEHOOD."

To tho Editor. Sir,—l notice a letter headed as above in this morning's News, from James Kelly, editor of tho New Zealand Tablet, complaining about my statement, that he had said that King GeoTge was a dog that ruled Ireland. That I am not singular In so reading his doggerel verse Is proved by tho fact that the editor o? tho Nation, published In Wellington, on tlie 11th August, has an article dealing with this same subject, on page 3of his paper. This article is headed "Tho Disloyal Tablet. His Majesty !ho King insulted. What says the New Zealand Government?" Then, again if you look up the New Zealand Sentinel for September Ist., 1919, published in Auckland, you will find on page 8 of that paper an article ; headed "Rome and Sedition," dealing with Mr Kelly's doggerel and pointing out that It* re- ; fleets on King George. But let your readers ; Judge of the matter for themselves. Replying to a correspondent Mr Kelly puts it thus: ".T.C.S.—Thanks for reminding us of the x x x old* prophecy fouud in a bog, that Ireland would be ruled by an ass „and a dog. and—that the old prophecy has come to pass, for! George is the dog, aud Mncpherson tho ass." 1 Now, Sir, there is only one George that rules 1 Ireland, and that Is King George. There Is the plain and simple fact, staring you In the face. But Mr. Kelly says it is a downright falsehood to say that he says it! He further says that I twist this to my' own ends. I have twisted nothing. But just look at what Mr "Twister" Kelly trys on, by way of exculpation : ' "The reference was a doggerel rhyme sent In by a correspondent who referred to Macplierson and Lloyd George, This fact vfia made plain in a later issue of the Tablet." But Ijloyd George does not, and never did, rule Ireland. Where .then, is the application of "the prophecy?" Mr Lloyd George is known all over the world as T/loyd George." and not anytrliwc, nor by any one as merely "George." Then, why did Mr Kelly lhank correspondent, .T.C.S. . for this worthless piece of doggerel that did not apply, and an old woman's prophecy that had neither application nor fulfilment? lie must be fairly bursting with gratitude when ho deals it out in ladlefuln for worthless trash I Sure, now, it is himself that is "found in a bog."—l am, etc., -T. 0. Taylor. Lepperton, 13th SepteinUl9l9.