Thursday Island Is

Indignant

(To the Editor.) Sir,—A recently-published booklet entitled “Australia Beautiful,” opens with one of those cheap and offensive libels on Thursday Island which seem to be typical of a certain class of journalist. In this case, the author, Mr. H. C. Bertie, has merely copied it from a globe-trotter who seems to be very lacking in observation.

Nothing short of the application of the law of libel, to places as well as people, is likely to stop this sort of thing, but at least we can advise no one on Thursday Island to buy the publication. The illustrations in the book are very good, but if the description of “Australia Beautiful” continues in the same way as it began, I am afraid people abroad will get an entirely wrong impression.

What a howl there would be if Sydney were treated in the same way as Mr. Bertie treats poor Thursday Island. I am. Sir, etc.,

Thursday Island. . . . . G. H. VERNON.