MR P. C. WEBB.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16160, 14 March 1918, Page 6

MR P. C. WEBB.

LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF j DEFENCE. Tho following letter was sent to Sir James Alien by Mr 1\ C. Webb, M.P., on M arch 7th:— '•First, I would remind you that a general election took placo in 1914, notwithstanding tho fact that the war was then raging, and that the enemy was threatening Paris. On that occasion the Grev electors returned mo with an increased majority. From tiie soldiers entitled to vote in the electorate I received an almost unanimous support, and they in particular requested me to look after their interests and the interests of their dependants, and solicited my assistance in protesting against the smimetul manner in winch their dependants wore being exploited by means ol unriocessa. iiy excessive prices. 1 have done my best to eoulorm to their wishes, but being in a minority in Parliament, have been powerless to do more than protest. i-urther. my soldier-constituents expressed the wisn that-, in the event of their returning to New Zealand incapacitated, suitable employment should be found for them together -with reasonable recompense for their injuries. Again, 1 have complied with their wishes iu that connexion aud have protested emphatically against the way in which-many disabled 'men aro being turned adrift unablo to follow their ordinary occupations, and yet deprived of pensions. That the Government has failed lamentably to cope with tho problem of excossivo prices, and that men who have returned disabled are not being properly provided lor is due to no fault of myno, inasmuch as I have repeatedly drawn attention to those clamant grievances. After mv election m 191-J, I stated publicly that- if tho Grey electors considered my services more essential at tho front than in Parliament, on receipt of a requisition, signed by 1000 I electors, I would resign my seat and abide by _ tho will of the majority of tho constituency, JNo .requisition was ever presented, and on my being balloted for military torrid?, numerously signed petitions were presented from my electorate and from the West Coast generally, asking for my exemption, an J I may say, that the, signatories to these petitions included a large number of jiarents who had sons at the front as well as a considerable number of returned soldiers and men in camp. Moro.over, these requisitions were supported by tho whole of the miners' organisations of this country. The Military Service Board, howevor, saw fit to ignore these representations, and dismissed tho appeal, although the said Board has repeatedly granted exemption in other cases, on much more slender grounds. I then resigned my seat and placed myself unreservedly in the hands of my constituents, who re-elccted me -without opposition. My constituents then rtskod for a re-hearing of my appeal, but this was refused without anyone being heard iu its support. Xow that my constituents are to be denied the right of representation, in that I am i n °t to be allowed to preoare for ianci attend regularly in my place in Parliament during the coming session, I feet that but ono honourable course is open to me. J have either to remain true to my constituents or obey the command of a Board which, they believe, has n ot my case judicially, and which, I believe to have been influenced by a strong spirit of political prejudice against me. In other words, I have resolved to disobey the Board and to take the consequences. Incidentally, I intend my action as a protest aga'inst the utter failure of your Government to deal fail ly with tho disabled soldiers and their dependants, or, indeed, with tlio masses of the people of this country. That your Government has failed n *abl.V In its duty bv the returned soldiers and their dependants and by tho masses of tho people of this country is fully evidenced by the fact that it has won the support of every ■ person who profits by the suffering's of the masses of his fellow-citizens. Perhaps under the circumstances it,- is only common gratitude on tho part of such people that they should have sent their motor-cars to assist in defeating the representative of Labour in the recent by-election. I would add that it is not surprising that a Government with such a record as yours should have postponed a general election."