THE REV. HOWARD ELLIOTT AND LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 72, 18 December 1917, Page 6

THE REV. HOWARD ELLIOTT AND LABOUR

Sir,—From a lengthy detailed report appealing in the local Press of a meeting hold under tho auspices of tho Protestant Political Association in Potono, under dato of Wednesday, December ]2, 1017, I cull the following:— "Mr. Elliott proceeded to show that thoro wore evidences of an agreemoat between the members of tho Labour Party and the Catholic Church. "A voice: Thoro is not. "Rev..Howard Elliott: The Labour members are depending absolutely on tho votes of the Roman Catholio organisation. ' "A voico: No such thing. Tho Labour men have been consistent right through the piece. "Rev. Howard Elliott. They got into Parliament on the votes of the Roman Catholics, and if you choose to go over the votes of the Labour representatives in Parliament you will find that is true in every electorate. Lot Labour got their own men into Parliament without truckling to any church, and it will be n better thing for Labour." JSeing intimately acquainted with Labour matters in general, I wish to record a most omphatio denial of tho Rev. Howard Elliott's statements, with respect to what he suggests hy innuendo that certain Labour members have gained seats in Parliament with the assistance or connivance of the Catholic Federation. I venture to say none of the Rev. Howard Elliott's vttevances have been made with less foundation in fact than his latest.

The Now Zealand Labour Party stands for the highest ideals/ aims, principles, and aspirations. It has always been one of its fundamental convictions to enter into no sectarian matters, and wisely so. It has never identified itself with the Church, the Liquor Party, or the Prohibition Party, although we are firmly convinced that had wo been prepared to sacrifice our principles, convictions, and ideals at the expense of our honesty many seats could have been gained in Parliament by identifying ourselves with either. More honour say I that wo have remained innocuous to repeated representations from each arid all. An excerpt from the above I quoto: "Tho Rev. Howard Elliott: The Labour members aro depending absolutely on tho votes of the Roman Catholio organisations." I here and now, sir, challenge the Rov. Howard Elliott to produce proofe that his statement is true, or publicly admit that he has been wrongly informed. Again, I assert the Labour Party _ has never identified itself with tho Roman Catholic Federation, the Protestant Political Association, or any other religious body, and to emphasise that sectarian matters aro religiously kept out of the party's couneels entirely. , Earlier in tho rov. gentleman s address he made use of these remarks:— "We are not out to raise the sectarian issue; wo raise no sectarian issues; we do not attack another man's religion." I would like to ask does the rev. gentloman raise a sectarian issue when he states from tho public platform: "That whenever the general election took place one side (the Catholic Fedoration) would be found completely organised, and the other (the Protestnnt Political Association) would be whollv unorganised." . Is "that not raising the sectarian issiw in matters political? There are many other matters political the rev.' gentleman touched upon, which I have not tho slightest doubt will be dealt with by other and more ablo minds than mine, but I cannot close without reforence to the following gem:— . , ''Let Labour got their own men into Parliament, without truckling to any Church, and it will ho a better thing for Labour." Sir, was ever a more libellous indictment made against any constitu"in conclusion, I would like to say I am a Protestant myself, brought up in the religious beliefs, tenets, and convictions of the Rov. Howard Elliott's own Church, but sooner, than endorse the rev. gentleman's statements, quoted above. I would renounce my own religious beliefs.—l am, sir, T. GILMOR.E, Assistant secretary, Wellington Labour Representation Committee. Trades Hall, December 14.