J’ACCUSE

Dozerdust, Volume 1, Issue 5, 9 July 1943, Page 4

J’ACCUSE

(By

Now Zealanders & . In the Old World you are highly spoken of as a progressive and courageous people, ever ready to espouse the weak against the strong; valiant champions of Truth; scorners of potty schemes of personal advancement; upholders of the rights of depressed peoples throughout the world. It is to you that I appeal for justice, fair play and a sympathetic understanding*

Since the 'arrival, some time ago, of the N.Z* Division, tho lives, security and fair nemo of all mosquitos, sandflies, fleas, ants, mice, rats, spiders and hornets... ..the whole insect population of Now Caledonia in fact, has been abused and libelled in a manner that doos nob become you, rend is grossly unfair to us.

Let me assure you that we hold no grudge against you on this account. We like you. The admiration that is universally yours, we are the first to acknowledge. Take my tribe for instance. You had no sooner set foot on this. Island than we wore ready to welcome you# it was not just one or two, but wo literally swarmed. upon you. The most highly respected joined with the most disreputable in singing your praise.- Wherever you: went wo wont. The solitude of' the- jungle? tho eerie swamps and the lonely hills? found 'us with you© We followed you io bod ß Yea, as the good book says, wo l? eticketh closer than a brother 11 *

The disregard you displayed towards uffi is even more marked in your attitude towards the rents who are probably our moat ancient and wealthy group™ Ever since their landing here centuries ago they have been most industrious and have contributed greatly to our culture* They too, have not been sparing, in their attention to you, as you know* You always find them in your blankets at night; in your pants firat thing in the morning and in all your personal effects. ’• You do not appear to appreciate ants of the best class in your pants which is perhaps the highest honour they can pay; You may not know that the origin of the now famed Hula Dance symbolically expresses the early settlors joy whan he first sat on an ant hill*

I have hoard that the solicitations of our fleas do not oven meet with your approval* That is regrettable. You have fleas in your own country, even as you have rats and. mice which you maintain at great public expense in largo public buildings® A highly respected rat friend of mine recently told me how ho was 'most ‘ ill-treated when one night he was attempting to sample a National Patriotic Oaks. He was sitting up on hind logs doing his best with a very poor tin opener when a large boot was flung at him. Teat, mon, is very poor appreciation of a very genuine interest in what you oat. Wo do not

wish to oat your food, but wo want you to ent nothing that may weaken your magnificent war effort.

It is not my wish to catalogue our troubles, but I must draw youf attention to the complete and, I might add, wanton disregard of private property shown by the Works Service Engineers as they and tear up Ant Hills, destroy Spiders Webs, and in a few hours completely fill in vast lakes which have boon the preserve of ancient Bull Frogs and people of my race for centuries 3 Wo own this fair land, it la you who are tho foreigners, it is we who have to remain., As an old and honourable Mosquito, I implore.you not to rob us of our heritage.