LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 82, 31 December 1917, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LABOUR AND THE ROHAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THE KF,V. H. ELLIOTT IN REPLY. gir _lu vom" columns of December 15 Mr. V. Gilmore, assistant secretary of the Wellington Labour Representation Committee, challenges my state, mout that tho present Labour members are dependent for their seats upon the vote of Roman Catholic organisations, and demands proof. Further, he questions my assertion that there aro evidences of an agreement between the Labour Party and the Roman Church. I will treat Mr. Gilmore's professions of astonishment as perfectly sincere, since it may bo that he, like so many other Labour men, is not alive to tlio facts which indicate that his party is being made but a pawn m a political game. I have travelled recently ever the whole Dominion, and I have ttikcii special pains to come into close touch with members of tho Labour Party. I have mode inquiries of men, some ol whom are ou Labour councils and S executives. The inflation that I have received warrants both the statements questioned by Mr. Gilmore Dealing with the first statement in particular, will ymir corresponde t deny in the case of a Wellington L.an active part in securing the rein in of the present member?, A priest in the electorate was an active canvnssor. whil t the politic,] and semi-polit.eal organisations of that Church were extremely active in the nvtorosts o> the Kir man. Take again tho Greymouth seat. Will Mr. Glmoro deny ffi Mr. Webb'is deaden on the Roman vote m that electa aU.. Again! coji Mr. Gilmoro tell !is m what direction the Roman vote went n Lyt telton and in Wanganiu? I have veiy definite information that wamnte my assertion in connection withi thesetwo seats, whilst in the: case of M. no one who knows Grey Lynn (I In em Grey Lynn) or the facts of the last electionfwonld suggest for a moment that Mr. Payne could liave won that s at except by a solid vote from the Romanists. If Mr. Gilmore doe,, ™t knwJhese facts he can ascertain them hv making nqmries m the varioas SkctoratesT I had not the slightest diffi u yln making the discovery. I rhnHeU* Mr. Gilmore to name the Sou i-ep sentative in Parliament who was opposed by Rome and, who to--3-,r holds Ks seat in the face or Romm oSosition If Mr. Gilmore caii do tins +lm sta ement that "there areevidences J Vn agreement between the members of the Labour Party and the Roman Church " Mr. Gilmore gives the stateS C \ most emphatic denial. Moran, a cardinal of Jte.Ko.nan Cliurch, the members of that Umrcn recent elections, "was for sale to tbe hghest bidder." The Chinch, M captoe the Australian Labour Partj ana wrought it to rum. It lies m < u !"* 7 A v 9 once creat organisation. The s"Sa : tfs «,ce of Irish names Tecorded as attenu msm pains to set out «ie La _ the resources an VJL„ we have the But why seek proof when *c nay atti nfntSvS\l , lt%°«es£nofthe representatnes en m , oposa i Xl, unjust' «;i un -gaV S c\iool' to f emP L/tludents from military teac!iel ? When SSmendment was beSeStenot^sttaigg rseS S w"rd d fnd Laho? meters? +w the PP \. is opposed to Labour. St t! hit not the' slightest warrant for so thinking. , , „,, .;. Whv should the editor of the Mao-i SiolMercitioi.? Are «* tt» "most emphatic denial. ~ Lest this letter creep to an mora n ate en' h, I conclude by saying that le P otestant Political Association s in no sense opposed to Labour. the fssociationwill support Labour nien «s ndidates-for when can consistently do so. but the peiil ° Labour to-day is that amidst the bah of voices within its ranks the p.utvs being captured by alien intrigue. 1 i* the danger against whcli 1 iw." Labour when I urge, its leaders to have done with truckling to ai.j Church."-! KB-That 1 did not seo Mr. Gjlmoro's letter until my return to AucKatiidays?goisthee S planat.on of the delay of this reply.-H-L. Auckland. December 28.