“HOME.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2358, 26 November 1908, Page 2

“HOME.”

A NEW ZEALANDER’S LETTER

' In the London “Standard” of- October Ist. appears a letter under the above heading, contributed by Mr. Philip T. Kenway, late of Poverty Bay. It is as follows: —

'"[To the .Editor.]

Sir,—ln your last issue appears a letter over the. initals S.F.M., calling attention to the painful fact that successful emigrants sometimes return to end their days in England. This lie regards as a great evil, and no doubt, lie is. quite at one with the general colonial opinion. But his being so by no means proves him right,, nor do 1, for my paid, think him so. Why on earth should S.F.M.’s successful friends return after all their hard! work to spend ’tlhoir declining years in peace and comfort iiT that part of the Empire where, alone perhaps, domestic help, reasonable comfort, and companions and amusements to suit every taste aro within reach of the. ordinary cultivated man of modest means ? They still remain citizens of the Empire, and that often of the most enlightened class, and their influence at Home can do little but good. As for their money', it has, as far as my experience goes, been mostly invested in the country and remains there. For their work, that falls to younger men. Moreover, the return home in good circumstances of the once needy settler is quite the best local advertisement- any colony can have, and is a fruitful source of further emigration thereto. On the other hand the idea that emigration was of necessity for the term of one’s natural, life would often act as a strong deterrent to youthful adventure. But more* important than all it is the necessity we are under of combating with all our might that deeprooted parochialism that the acceptance of S.F.M.’s view implies. It is. rampart everywhere. The ui it ravel led Englishman often thinks- of the colonies merely as God-provided dumping grounds for his less reputable relatives, and England is otter regarded in the colonies as a disagreeable country, inhabited by an inferior, but overweening race, only to be borne with as a source of capital and battleships. The same ..with the smaller areas of patriotism. One’s own country. district, town, or village is as yet In too high a degree first and the rest nowhere. The idea of Imperial unity is not- seldom a thing of more words, and the different parts of the Empire are too often practically regarded diy ‘ each other as foreign countries.

I have' a dear old friend in New Zealand, the most respected somor magistrate- of a small and isolated township- He woke one morning to find himself, to bis horror, famous throughout Australasia. The local paper had reported a judgment of his thus:—“There is no doubt that accused took and cashed the cheque. But lie is discharged with a caution, as evidence clearly shows that he spent the mcnev in the district.” PHILIP /. FENWAY. Royal Colonial institute.