The Dominion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1914. "RED-FED." ROWDYISM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2318, 27 November 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1914. "RED-FED." ROWDYISM

The restraint imposed upon tho rowdy element of the Red Federa-tion-Social Democrat combination by the fear of recalling to the pub-' lie mind the disgraceful scenes of violence and disorder during and after'the strike of last year is wearing.off. On quite a number of occasions' of late meetings have been disturbed by noisy and organised interruption with the ,object «of preventing candidates voicing their political views. This attempt to apply the gag and interfore with freedom of speech while it cannot be too strongly condemned as a gross attack on the privileges and liberties of our citizenship is not likely to do the party at which it is aimed any barm. .On the contrary, it should servo to remind tho public of what tlie Red Federation stands for, as disclosed during .the strike period of terrorism; and it cannot fail to impress on the electors the reason why the rowditis are attacking tho Government. The Red FederationSocial Democratic organisation has expressed its determination to bring about tho downfall of the' Reform Government at any sacrifice—it lias oven sacrificed for tho moment its haired Of the "Liberal" Party, and joined hands with it in the election struggle. And why 1 Because tho Reform Government incurred its bitter hatred by upholding the law and protecting the general public against the efforts at Waihi in 1912 and throughout the Dominion in 1913, to terrorise the community with mob rule and brutal acts of violence. This of course is old news to our readers, but since the rowdy clement is again coming to the forefroiit, disturbing public meetings and endeavouring to howl down candidates who support Reform, it can do no harm to remind the public of the reason for the hostility shown. Tho Red Federationoocial Democratic organisation in, its'anxiety to wreak its vengeance on the Government has made the mistake of reminding tho electors that the Government they are asked to condemn is the Government which stood between them and lawless intimidation when the terrorists of 1913 sought to introduce the evil and vicious methods of mob rulo.

In view of the fact that the Social Democrats are working hand in hand with the Ward Party, and that it is admitted that the Ward cannot hope to secure a majority at the forthcoming elections without the Social Democratic vote, it is desirable that the public should _ clearly understand what would be likely to happen should this precious combination by any chance secure control of the country's affairs. One of the earliest planks in the "fighting platform" of the Social Democratic Party is "the abolition of the country .quota."' That is to.say, the whole of the country constituencies would be deprived of the privilege they have enjoyed from time_ immemorial of a proper compensation for their disadvantages as a scattered community. If the Wardist Party should secure a majority with the aid of the Social Democrats, then the latter, holding the balance of power, would be, in a position to compel the Wardists to do away with the country quota. Every elector in a country constituency therefore has a direct interest in voting against Wardist and Social Democrat candidates. The necessity for the country elector protecting himself against the possibility of this attack on his present' privileges is emphasised by another, plank, in the Social Democrats'* fighting platform. This reads: "Increased taxation of unimproved land values both in town and country." Here we can see the process to bo followed. The power of the country eleotor is to be weakened by doing away, with the country quota-, and then he is to have his land tax increased. ''An attempt is made to sweeten this unpleasant pill by promises of reduced tariffs on goods notjn-oduced in New Zealand, and railway fares; but the man on the land and the resident in the country district can form a very good idea of the sort of consideration he is likely to receive at ' the hands of a Government dominated by' the political offshoot of the Red Federation.. Yet another plank in the fighting platform" of the Social Democratic Party is! the repeal of the present system of universal military training and the reversion to the volunteer system.'_ It might have been thought that with the experiences of the present terrible struggle in Europe to guide thom the Social Democrats- would have abandoned this foolish a-nd_ dangerous proposal, but they go blindly forward with their reckless ideas. According to their official organ there are nine "endorsed" Social Democrat candidates contesting seats, five "endorsed" Labour Representation Committee candidates; and three other "endorsed" Labour, oandidates. _ Several of these candidates wore strike leaders in 1913; no fewer than six of-the seventeen were members of the late Parliament.' It will be seen therefore that the danger ahead of the country is not imaginary. To ' ensure stable government and avoid the risk of a Warclist-Labour-Social-ist alliance getting control of , the country's affairs every possible vote must be recorded for Reform candidates. The confidence which provails that the' Reform Government will not only hold its own but increase its majority—At., the coming polls appears to bo fully justified by the feeling in the country, but there is a distinct danger in over-confi-dence. Electors would' be well advised to make up their minds to take no risks and to be certain to record their votes against candidates who belong to cither section of the W&l'diiit-fsocial Democrat cqmbination*