THE INTERVENTION

New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 912, 1 February 1957, Page 5

THE INTERVENTION

Sir-I have just heard an eminent New Zealander broadcasting in Lookout. He stressed the impotence of Britain, ter loss of préstige, and her very serious financial difficulties. He concluded that it was time we made new affiliations with America. Surely he did not mean what his words seemed to imply. What sort of renegades are we that we should consider deserting. the Mother Country in her hour of need? We owe everything to the fostering care of the Mother Country. She gave us complete liberty, and never once infringed upon it, except to restrict the settlers in their exploitation of the native race. This, though it enraged the settlers at the time, has redounded to our credit. We are proud of our Maoris, and of our treatment of them. When, despite the restraining influence of Britain, we managed to precipitate a Maori war, Britain still sent troops for our protection. What power but the might of the British Navy allowed this infant colony to refuse admission to all the undesirable and indigent hordes that were ready to flock here? This gave us the inestimable advantage of being able to develop our country largely with European stock. In- credible as it may seem, we had the temerity to refuse entrance to British subjects-that is, to those who paid for the Navy that allowed us to exercise this power, In the twenties, when unemployment was strangling Great Britain, her Government three times asked us to take British migrants and settle them on our waste land. She offered a most generous share of the cost, and to take back all misfits. Yet three times we definitely refused. Britain has demanded nothing from New Zealand, not even exclusive trade rights. Of the circumstances that brought about Britain’s present loss of prestige, there will be various criticisms and opinions, but in the end they are our responsibility. The results, the humiliations, or possible triumphs are ours. We waste our time on_ recriminations. Rather let us rouse New Zealanders to remember that we are British, that we belong to the Commonwealth, and that loyalty should prompt us to stand by the Mother Country in her darkest, as in her finest hour.

HELEN

WILSON

(Hamilton).