CORRESPONDENCE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 December 1911, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Oar correspondents' opinions are their ownthe- responsibility of editorial ones makes sufficient ballast for the editor's shoulders.] , THE OTAKI SEAT. To the Editor. Sit', —Now that this district holds the record of haying returned an advanced Socialist to the Parliament of New Zealand, it will he interesting to your readers if they study the opinion of the New Zealand Free Lance, whidh reads as follows:—■" 'Phe defeat Of Mr Field, til© old •and tried member for Otaki, by a comparative newcomer to the dominion, an almost unknown" man, and a revolutionary Socalist, .istone of the things that are very difficult to No one, even OtaJci-ites, can pretend to believe that Mr R-obertson is better qualified than Mr Field to sit in Parliament as a. representative of the people. . The explanation of the defeat of an excellent member is twofold: a local revulsion of some" force against the Ward Government ,and the Socialistic predelictions of the flax-mill hands and bther workers who are numerous in the constituency. Mr Robertson is a red-hot Socialist, a- disciple of that hard-hitting Englishman, Robert B latch ford. He is not in with the Labour Party in New Zealand, for he goes much further. A man of his views will not have much influence in Parliament. Revolutionary Socialists don't cut much ice in the Legislature, even if they do in Otaki. Mr Robertson is, no doubt, a very excellent and amiable man personally, and imbued with the loftiest altrustic ideals, hut he won't have much to say in the House. Otaki may discover its mistaek some day, and call upon Willie Field to come back to. its arms." May I give two other reasons for' Mr Field's defeat? First, the attitude of some portion of the congregations of at least two churches; and, secondly, by the part some of the Prohibition party played. Their actions will bo long remembered bv many of us, and their spirit will not be forgotten. They have been the means of depriving 11s of one of the host members this district ever needed. Tiro day of reckoning will como. and they will wonder whv retaliation has taken place.—Yours, etc.. AN "RYE FOR AN EYE.