WHO ARE THE BRITISH?

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1919, Page 6

WHO ARE THE BRITISH?

Sir,—For sometime past it has been customary for 1 public men to make slanderous statements about some of our New Zealand citizens. What is the meaning for this? As a loyal British subject, I would like to point out that till true sons of the Empire are ready to support her, and, if need be, to lay down their lives for her, and to uphold her traditions with" that spirit handed down to us by our forefathers, and who have proved themselves in the late war worthy" sons "of worthy fathers. But what kind of an example have our public men shown us? Truly they have blackened that fair name which was placed in their keeping to uphold. The first great blot they put on her good name was introducing conscription without consulting the people, and by trampling the British flag and all it stands for in the mud, and this will be handed down to future generations as a movement j)f disgrace to our public men. History but repeats itself in this case, as in the days of the Covenanters, who (fere driven from their homes and sacrificed themselves tor a principle rather than submit to the tyranny of a king. And in this fair New Zealand to-day ! inanv of our citizens have been subjected to the same kind of cruel treatment, have been imprisoned, and slandered and Buffered torture at the hands of those in authority, have been deprived of their civil rights rather than submit to such un-British like actions, and yet the perpetrators of this claim to be loyal British subjects. Shame on such men I Personally, I stand for every British institution, the right of free speech and freedom of the person; will at all times fight for these. She is my country—l can wish for no better—and I will do what I can to protect her against those who have so ruthlessly trampled her traditions underfoot.—l am, etc., G. Maekie. Kaima ta, 4th December.