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Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15874, 13 April 1917, Page 6

"We trvlst that the visit of tho Act-ing-Prime Minister and tho Minister of Mines to the West Coast will be attended by good results. Months ago we expressed the opinion that a great mistake was being made in leaving the miners to gather their ideas of international affairs and of political economy from the Red Fed. leaders, Mr P. C. Webb and tho "-Maoriland Worker." We suggested that the Minister for Defence should ask, say, Mr L. M. Isitt and Mr T. M. Wilford to accompany him to tho West Coast and deliver a series of addresses to the miners, so as to give tho latter an opportunity of hearing tho patriotic sido of the question. We thought then, and still think, that the rank and file are not really disloyal in their hearts.

but that tliey have been led astrav, anil their ignorance has been plavcd upon by those who wish to use them as catspaws. Unfortunately, our suggestion -was not acted upon; but the hint was not entirely thrown away. Mr McCombs, M.P., it will be remembered, 'paid a visit to the Coast not long ago, and wo have no doubt that, in conjunction with his fellow '-anti," Mr P. C. "Webb, M.P., he did all he could for the promulgation of his own very peculiar and very mischievous views. It would ho interesting to know to what extent we are indebted to him for the present outbreak of trouble.

Mr McCombs bases his chief claim to bo elected as 'Mayor of Christqhurch on the ground that he is an anti-eonscrip-tionist. Ho has never yet, however, defined his attitude in regard to tho present war. If ho is opposed to conscription, lie was to all appearances just as much, opposed to voluntary enlistment. Ho never addressed a recruiting meeting, and we have never heard of his doing a hand's turn to help forward either voluntary enlistment or any patriotic fund. On the other hand, by trying to create dissatisfaction with the rate of soldiers' pay, he certainly appeared at one timo as if he really wished to throw grit into tho machine. What, then, does he want? Does ho wish Germany to win this war Does ho think German "Kultur" is superior to British ideas of civilisation, chivalry, and fairplay? If not, why, at tho very moment when wo aro straining every nerv© for victory, -when tho Army authorities tell us that every man available is wanted, do he and his fellow "Red Feds" who aro aspiring for seats on the Council, try to turn even our harmless municipal elections into. an opportunity for stirring up disloyalty and strife and playing the enemy's game? It will be seen from our report of last night's City Council that Councillor Jameson, finding that the City of Christchurch has no motto, proposes to move that tho motto "Pro llego pro Lege" ("For the King and for tho Law") be adopted. Whether it is tho best motto which can be selected for tho City, wo do not pretend to say off-hand, but it should form an excellent rallying cry for the municipal elections on April 25th.