THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1910. TOO MUCH PROTEST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 989, 8 March 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1910. TOO MUCH PROTEST.

Judging by the amount of editorial space which several metropolitan journals are devoting to the matter it appears that some irresponsible American newspaper has published statements about the financial condition of New Zealand, whicji are not in keeping with fact. The seriousness with which this action is regarded in some quarters is really laughable. The Hon. T. McKenzie, Minister for* Tourists and Health Resorts, was so impressed that at Cheviot, the other day, he referred to the matter publicly, and waxed so tremendously indignant over the manner in which New Zealand has been slandered that' he seems to have thrown the "Lyttelton Times" into a condition almost amounting to frenzy. It is certainly only right and proper that New Zealanders should be jealous of the honour and reputation of their country, but common sense should be always combined with patriotism, otherwise the "patriotism," so-called, sinks to the level of an absurdity, or worse. Upon reading Mr McKenzie's remarks ore cannot help recalling the Shakesperian line "Methinks, he doth protest too much." One of the statements, which the American paper in question published was: —"New Zealand plunged headlong into debt." Well, as a matter of fact, during tie past fifteen jears New Zealand

has borrowed enormous sums, and 1 such borrowings are without doubt a form of debt. Of course, everyone hopes that it will prove highly advisable to have borrowed sa largely, but the policy is one not unattended with danger. The fairly recent drop in the price of wool demonstrated that fact beyond dispute. If the prices for our produce had continued low for another sea-son—-well, we do not think the present Government would have been in power to-day, and a very great many harsh things would have been said about its financial policy, and have gone uncontradicted. Of course, the dissemination of falsehoods about this country cannot be defended upon any ground whatever, but the amount of harm that such statements are likely to do is absurdly magnified. The vigour of the Ministerial outbursts about such matters makes one feel a little alarmed. However, New Zealanders need not worry because an American' newspaper publishes a few absurdities about their country. In British financial circles, to which the Dominion Government looks for loans, they know all about New Zealand's financial condition—they know quite as much as our Ministers, and, probably, have a much better appreciation of the true position of affairs. Mr McKenzie, himself, must surely have enough common sense to realise this fact. Although New Zealand could still borrow a good many more millions on the London market the financal condition of this country is not everything that could be desired, and we may add that we hope such Ministerial outbursts, as we have alluded to, are not due to the smart pricking of an uneasy conscience.