THE FIGHT FOR REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1199, 7 August 1911, Page 6

THE FIGHT FOR REFORM.

Sir,—Could you spare a little of'your valuable space for me to voice the admiration I feel for Mr. Massey in the-way he has mot the trying circumstances of tho last week? No one but an essentially good man could have made tho touching and sympathetic speech in the House about tho late T. E. Taylor, a,ml I am suro all thinking people will very much regret tho attack made on him by Mr. Poolo. Mr. Massey is'a. good fighter under very adverso circumstances, and ono could admire those qualities in any man, although he may differ irom him. I come from a good fighting stock myself, and can appreciate tho man who. comos up smiling and .courageous, and battles on for what he considers right, and will benefit his fellow-men and women.

It has been said that Mr. Massey is .not a strong man. Well, the man who could keep his followers together without bribe or reward, and gain the respect of all who aro anxious for the political' reform of this country, must be a strong man; <tnd he is gaining more adherents day bv day. When I see the result at.the poll, not only of Parliamentary members, but of local voting. I often think' of Aunt Chloo's words .to Massa George; "You don't value your privileges, _ Massa George." If we valued our privileges more, and took an intelligent interest in affairs political, we should see that a continuous Ministry does not make for clean politics. It gets completely out of hand, and many abuses creep in. If they read the papers they will note that when an able and highly-respected representative of the - people went to confer with one Minister oil matters pertaining to their benefit, he was grossly insulted by that Minister. It reminded me of a saying: "When you have no case, abuse the other side." Another Minister, when asked' to grant reduced fares to sick men, so that they might benefit by. the treatment at Rotorua, refused, and yet granted first-class free privileges to men who came here with./ tbe avowed intention of taking all (he money they could get out of the country. I see the Minister for Health denied that such a state of affairs existed at Porirna Mental Hospital ms detailed by the member for the district. Well, I have a letter from that district, and I think it is reliable, giving me the same particulars as mentioned by the member in the House.

Another thing I should like to know; Is it correct that parts belonging to motorcars come in free? .And yet tho duty is retained'on many articles of food. Wo must eat to live, but we cannot all keep several motor-cars for our own use. And these be thy gods, oh people! Wake up, and see what you are worshipping, and show at the forthcoming ballot that you do take an interest, and .value your privileges—l am, etc., REFORMER. Taihape.

R. FLETCHER AND IRISH ENVOYS. Sir.—lt does not really matter whether Mr. R. Fletcher did or did not speak at. the meeting of the Irish delegates which he attended lately as mentioned by your correspondent "Britisher." Tho fundamental fact remains that ho attended the meeting, and that, is quite sufficient to clearly indicate his Attitude and leanings in this matter, and the samo lias boon already noted by many electors in Wellington Central. And, by the same token, the present Government acquiesced in the disloyal toast of the "Pope and tho King," given by the above delegates, inasmuch as the Acting-Premier. Sir James Carroll, attended this meeting, and by his presence (just the same as Mr. Fletcher's ease) honoured tho toast, forgetting that just recently he was very pleased to accept honour at tho hands of his King. To put the matter in a nut-shell, the sum total of tho whole affair is that the present Government, and most of its would-be candidates are nothing elso but huge political shams.—l am, etc., EASBE. August 5.