Editorial Confession
pp. 47-48 · Read in the full issue
A FEW months ago, when writing about the Russian Government, I made use of a verse—common about 1926 —as follows: Satan, wishing to debase humanity, Crossed Lust with Greed, and Hate with Vanity, Mated their offspring, and thus brought to birth The Bolshie-Communist, the foulest breed on earth.
Some time later, to my astonishment, I received from a resident of Polynesia a letter in which he describes the rhyme as “bawdy”, and violently cancelled his subscription to the “P.1.M.” He indicated, in no uncertain terms, that in his opinion I was a Fascist turncoat and a despic able monster.
I replied softly—l claim, in the face of whatever opposition there may be, that I am of a kind and gentle nature —and I now have a further letter from my friend in Polynesia. He sends with his letter a copy of what he describes as “the skeleton in my cupboard”. To my amazement, I find myself looking at a copy of a pamphlet published by the Communist Party of Great Britain; and the title of the pamphlet, plastered across the front cover is: “What Is The Com munist Party?—by R. W. Robson —One Penny”.
I have travelled a good deal, and especially have I visited with the Robson tribe in Cumberland, England—l believe
that, for centuries, in the Middle Ages, they were notorious cattle-thieves, oper ating on the border between England and Scotland —but the only R. W. Robsons I ever met, apart from the gentleman who glares at me every morning in the shaving mirror, are my father (a resident of Christchurch, N.Z.) ,and a nephew, also a resident of New Zealand.
Therefore, for the benefit of readers who may be somewhat set in their poli tical ideas, I desire to state personally and definitely and categorically that I am not a Communist; that I never have been associated" in any way with the Communist Party of Great Britain; and that I am certainly not the writer of the pamphlet referred to. —R. W. ROBSON.
Mr. C. McCorkindale has replaced Mr.
M. Maginnity at the Apia branch of the Bank of New Zealand, Western Samoa.
Miss June Ewen, of the New Guinea Administration staff, returned to Rabaul in January after a 12 months’ world tour.
Captain M. L. Singleton, master of the R.C.S. “Nimanoa” (headquarters vessel of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony) recently retired from the service of the Western Pacific High Commission. He has been succeeded by Mr. E. W. Har ness, formerly Chief Officer of the same vessel.
Mr. Albert J. Batchelor, travelling sec retary of the Australian Board of Mis sions in Victoria, returned to Melbourne in January after an extended visit to Papua.