THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ST. GEORGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8432, 2 May 1907, Page 7

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ST. GEORGE.

A WELLINGTON PAPER

CRITICISED.

The annual Report and Year Book, 1906, of the Royal Society of St. "George is to hand. The report \ remarks, inter alia:—lt is our practice to send our Report and Year B*ok to most of the leading journals through; • out the Empire, without regard to party politics, and in pursuance of this custom we mailed a copy to the . New Zealand Times. We were unaware that this paper represented the • views of Little Englanders, or even ♦jthat there were such in the loyal 'Colony of New Zealand. In a leng- • thy article of nearly two columns this "leading" journal indulges in , a wild tirade against patriotism, and is particularly irritated at the use of what it terms the "adjective" English. Upon our article on "The New Minislry," in which we alluded to the practical exclusion of Englishmen and Irishmen from the Cabinet, it pours out the vials of its impotent wrath. What, we wonder, would it . have said if an English Premier had so excluded Scotchmen from his Cabinet? We quoted Lord Macaulay and Mr Morley in support of our contention, and we pleaded that Englishmen who founded the Empire, who pay nearly 90 per cent, towards its up- ; keep, who man its Navy, and who provide four soldiers out of every five for its defence, should have some ; share in its .management. We predicted, and the history of our country proves, that their exclusion would be folllowed by calamity. After the experience of one session only, we appeal to »our countrymen in Newfoundland, Australia, in Natal • and if. the Transvaal for confirmation of our statement. The words uttered by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, "Wake up, England!" with which we concluded our article, thia loyal paper stigmatises as "a shriek." The exceedingly able article contributed to our Year Book by Sir JohwGolomb, "A Plea for a Wider Patriotism." it clumsily endeavours to construe to our disadvantage, but this is how that well-known writer referred to our work: "The Royal Society of St. George, by encouraging and cultivating the instinct of patriotism, is really contributing to the stability of the We ask this, ' "broad-minded" journal whether there are not Irish or Scotch Societies in New Zealand? Docs it also condemn those, or is it the English •only who ate wrong in occasionally turning their thoughts to their Motherland? Are they alone to be inhibited from giving expression to a natural affection for the Old Home? I cherish still and hold apart The fondest feeling in my heart For where, beneath one's parent sky, Our dear ones live, our dead ones lie. This sentiment, so beautifujly expressed by the Poet Laureate of England, will, we hope, ever find an ■echoing response in the breasts of | our far-off brethren. j l The late Prime Minister of New ' Zealand, an Englishman whose statesmanship, patriotism, and probity were unimpeachable, and whose memory we hold in honour and respect, was an old member of our Society with whom we were in regular correspondence. We ask our country- • men in New Zealand whether they will follow the advice of the New Zealand Times or the noble example of Richard Seddon?