THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1908. DISREGARDED!

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9059, 20 February 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1908. DISREGARDED!

It is the boast of New Zealand that she has for years been in the van of nations iu respect of advanced legislation, especially of a humanitarian and socialistic character, and that the whole world when riot copying her laws has been looking on with admiration at her attempts to solve [social problems, or envy at the success of those attempts. We in this southernmost dot of the vast British Empire have, adopted an attitude the converse of that of the fabled "pelican of the wilderness" which,sti:king its head in the sand imagines that its huge body is also out of view. In our case we have been upraising our diminutive head, and fancying that the whole world has been admiring it. What a blow to our pride it must appear when the leading journal of the Empire—"The Times"—in reviewing the history of the world for 1907, fails even to recognise our existence. "The Times" devotes ten columns to the review, and does not mention the new jjdominion even under its minor heading "Miscellanea!" The great mystery with which Sir Joseph Ward was almost bursting when he returned from the Imperial Conference, and which was received with varied feelings—mostly ironically hilarious—when disclosed, has been passed over in contemptuous silence by the "Thunderer." Our

wonderful progress in financial, commercial and social affairs have not seemed worth while noticing, and our experimental legislation is not alluded to by the faintest possible note of admiration or disapprooation. Even in the matter \pf the earthquakes of the Empire, which have elicited notice from "The Times," New Zealand is still left out in the cold —and yet our record in that respect is one of the things which usually is the theme of discussion and awe among'outsidjrs, as snakes form the theme of all that is terrible in Australia. Still New Zealand may take heart of grace. This far south dot of land—or series of dots-—can afford to ignore being ignored by even so great a paper as "The Times," for it does not depend upon outside eulogy, nor need it fear hostile comment. Its "infinite variety" is Cleopatrian, and its merit as set forth in the Year Book speaks trumpet-tongued of progress and prosperity such as no other dependency of the Imperial Crown is capable of showing in proportion to extent of territory and population. "The Times" may ignore us—and it ha« probably done so merely because there are no great diplomatic questions involved in our existence political, commercial or social—but "facts are things that winna ding," and the fact of our progressiveness is literally writ in gold. Within our borders lie all the elements of success, and it may be said that we shall flourish if not, as Addison says, Unhurt nmlil the war of elements, The wrecks of matter and the crush of worlds. at least we shall survive the fact that "The Times"has thought fit to pass us by in its outline history of the woild during the past twelve months, and has only incidentally mentioned that such a person exists as Sir Joseph Ward.