MR. MASON AND LOYALTY.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 624, 15 April 1921, Page 5

MR. MASON AND LOYALTY.

WILL SING THE “NATIONAL ANTHEM.” CURIOUS RUMOURS UNTRUE. During xhe course of his address to the burgesses of the Pukekohe Borough in the Premier Hall on Monday evening Mr H. G. R. Mason,' who is seeking Mayoral honours, stated that when his name was mentioned lor the position, a large number of curious concerning him went into c-.ir-cujation. They went round that he was a Bolshevik: that he was disloyal, and that he was a dirty Labourite ; that he would not sing the National Anthem, and a heap of other tales. As far as the matter of him not singing “God Save the King” this was an absolute invention.’ He had sung it in Pukekohe on all and proper occasions, and would expect to do so again. These people who concocted the tales should find out the truth before they made such wild statements. In connection with the report that while the National Anthem was being rendered in the House of Parliament, and members of the Labour Party remained seated, and would not sing the several of his friends had approached him and asked if he was prepared to condemn them. He said that it was not British and Christian-Rke to condemn 2. man who was not heard. It was very easy to condemn. In connection with the matter he rang up Mr. M. J. Savage, a Labour M.P. in Auckland, and asked him if there was any truth in the statement that every Labour man in the House remained seated when the National Anthem was being sung, and was told that such was not the case. Mr Savage was emphatic in his reply } and said, he would put up £SO that the report was full of inaccuracies. “Whether they stood or not,” said Mr Mason, “no one had any right to condemn, them.” He would not fail on any consideration to honour the King when the National Anthem was being sung.

' Tn connection with the above re the loyalty of Labour, the Times wired Mr Massey on the subject and received the following reply:—“Your telegram received regarding the statement that Labour members sat whilst the National Anthem was recently being sung in the House of Repiesentatives is incorrect, but the geneial opinion was that though standtook no part in the singing. (Signed) W. F. Massey.'”