LABOUR IN OFFICE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 13

LABOUR IN OFFICE.

10 THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—That the Mayor is becoming truly masterful in his consistent inconsistencies was again.well exemplified by his acrobatic antics at the last meeting of the City Council at which he is reported in your columns of saying, inter alia, when referring to the Citizens' Association: "This coterie is supposed to be working in the interests of the citizens, but they say there is only one man for Mayor, only one list for councillors, and only one man for the Hospital Board—the one they nominate." To an interjection from a councillor, "What about the L.R.C.?" ho blatantly replied, "No; we say to the citizens, choose your own people." Yet what do we find in the Mayor's manifesto to the electors at the last election for the City Council, Hospital Board, and Lyttelton Harbour Board? Why, simply this: "Vote for the full Labour ticket, and nothing but the ticket." His reference to the Citizens' Association, composed of men in all walks of life, as "contemptible" is but an exemplification of the galled jade being made to wince, and it is to be hoped that the use of such an epithet, when referring to such a representative body of men will recoil upon his head in a similar manner as did the reference' to Germany's "all mightiest." to General French's little army of heroes as "That contemptible little Army." \ further exemplification of the insincerity of his Party was given by Councillor Carr at the same meeting, who bombastically declared, "It was the policy of the Party to which he belonged to enable the public to voto on such matters." This was made when referring to the Council's municipal milk supply scheme of grab, which will mean calling -upon the ratepayers to again toe the mark. If his Party is sincere, will lie say why such a course was not adopted in connexion with the loan of £25,0.00, raised to assist the unemployed, which were drifting to the City from all directions, and also the loan of something like £30,000 for abattoir work, also the action of his leader, whilst assuring dairymen that he was out to assist them, went, without warrant, with Councillor Carr for all they were worth in their efforts to confiscate the means of the dairymen's livelihoods? No industry _ appears safe whilst this Communistic coterie is in power. Even the laundrymen are now beginning to feel uneasy, and well they may be, as with so much water running to waste, there is an opportunity for this Party to get busy. It already has its claws out to seize the milk, fruit, and fish industries, and why not the laundries? Fortunately, the dairymen are now alive to their dangers. The reinaming industries will be well advised to follow their example, and join up with the "contemptible" Citizens' Association, as their only hope of countering so insidious a foe as that of the "Communistic grab." Yours, r Christchurch, December 6th.