Labour's Controversial Methods.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18239, 25 November 1924, Page 8

Labour's Controversial Methods.

Headers of "The Press" are aware ; —we have called attention to it scores I of times—that Labour politicians have a weakness for attempting to score a point by taking liberties with the truth, and seem incapable of realising that this policy does not pay. Of this weakness an excellent example is afforded by the Labour circular on tramways administration, which we discussed briefly yesterday, and which the Acting-Chairman of the Tramway Board dealt with very effectively at yesterday's meeting of the Board. In the circular it was argued that although the capital expended on the system had increased by £400,000 in four years, and the car mileage had increased by 249,000, half a million fewer passengers were carried. In, the same period, it was also Baid, faxes had been raised and wages reduced. This argument was supported partly by direct 'misstatements and partly by statements of fact chosen and presented with, the obvionsly deliberate purpose of misleading the electors and giving a false account of the actual position. That wages have been reduced since 1920, for example, is a direct mis-statement; for the wages are higher now than they were four years ago. Many of the Statements in the circular arc correct, but most of them are vitiated by the fact that tho year 1920, which is chosen for comparison with 1924, was

altogether abnormal. "What the Labour Party sought to convey certainly was that during recent yeara there has been a steady fall in wages, a steady rise in fares, a steady falling-off of custom, and a steady increase in operating expenses. The following table showing the number of passengers carried in each year since 1919 will show how misleading tho Labour Party's comparison really is:— Year. Passengers. 1919 v* . 21,623,692 1920 .. « 25,973,655 1921 ..4 24,592,998 1922 .. 24,971,762 1923 .. .. 25,188,624 1924 •• 25,411,673 The year 1920 was deliberately chosen by the authors of the circular simply because it enabled them to convey an impression the exact opposite of the truth. They played exactly tho same trick with the particulars of operating oxpenses, and, as the Acting-Chairman showed, they used their art of suppression and misleading selection throughout tho whole of the circular. We gave reasons yesterday why no intelligent elector will support tho Labour candidates, and not the least of these reasons is the neglect of the Labour Party to oxplain how it could give tho public sound and efficient management. One can gather from the circular only that Labour would lower the fares, increaso the expenses, and throw aside the policy of making provision for the future. What requires to be emphasised now is the fact that the Labour Party does not shrink from misleading, and indeed fraudulent, propaganda. A Party which seeks to obtain office by deceiving the public.cannot woll be relied upon to give, when in office, honest and efficient service. Perhaps tho Labour circular will lead a few people to vote for tho Labour candidates, but it will repel a great many more, and will make the public look with suspicion and distrust henceforth upon every statement which the Labour Party may issue.