BOOK CONDEMNED

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21368, 12 March 1941, Page 8

BOOK CONDEMNED

NEW ZEALAND CRITICISED RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND “OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENTS” (By Telegraph.—Press Association) OAMARU, Wednesday A vigorous condemnation of passages in the book “Contemporary New Zealand,” was made by Mr Frank Milner, headmaster of WaiLaki Boys’ High School, at a big pubLic meeting last night. This book, said Mr Milner, was compiled for the 1938 Conference on British Commonwealth Relations. It was outrageous that the statements he objected to should be permitted publication in a work sponsored by the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, and he was astonished that Mr Downie Stewart had passed them. In Chapter I. Mr J. C. Beaglehole referred to “This psychological retardation in the continued use of the word Home for England.” The same cnapter quoted an article by Professor Findlay, who was imported from South Africa to Otago University to offer New Zealanders the following impertinent criticism: “Fundamental disease; New Zealanders’ form of idealism. They have made fairy vows and are victims of gnostly loyalties. Their higher energies are expended in vivifying a system of phantasies and are unavailable for the uses of ordinary life. The object of this idealism is a visionary, idealised England which keeps New Zealand permanently in a state of feeble-mindedness.” “Disadvantages Derived” Another passage said, “There is no necessary identification of interest between Britain and New Zealand.” “Also the disadvantages we derive from Commonwealth association are overwhelming. * “These doctrines are also sponsored by Dr. Sutch, Mr Nash’s protege, who advocates cutting the painter from Britain,” said Mr Milner. “England gave us security, protects us with the Navy and gives us our only market. These men are trying to cram down our throats that we owe nothing to England. Mr Nash went around Europe. Russia, Germany, etc., trying to fulfil his promise to get new markets and didn't get even sixpence worth out of the lot.” Mr Milner said the typical of these men was the following passage: “The interests of New Zealanders lie more clearly with the struggling Left Wing parties of the world that with any system of institutions, however deeply and splendidly rooted in history. which wouid oppose those parties.” Most New Zealanders would resent such an interpretation of their character by such individuals as Dr. Sutch and Professor Findlay, added Mr Milner. United States coast guardsmen rescued 250 fishermen when the ice on which they were fishing broke away from the mainland on the American side of Lake Erie yesterday.