A Wise Secretary

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 May 1915, Page 2

A Wise Secretary

Mr P. T. R-obinson, secretary to the Manawatu l'iaxmill Workers' Union, lias sent the following letter to the whole of the flaxmills in this county :— Mauawatu I'laxinills Employees' Union, Britauuia Buildings, Palmeraton North, May 19th, 1915. Dear Sir.— Rumours are current in Palmeraton North that it is the intention of the flaxworkers, on Saturday! next, to raid and loot properties occupied by Germans. It is sincerely to be hoped that none oi our members propose to engage in this .sort of tiling. As secretary. 1 suggest that on next Saturday? either our men refrain from coming to town, or religiously avoid being drawn into such affaire. In this way, in the event oi' anything riotous occurling, the responsiblitv can bo fixed in tho proper place. I would certainly Iraw your attention to a speech by Mr Asquith recently on this point, in which he said that (such useless rioting were senseless, and not the policy to be adopted by a sane, sober, and selfrespecting community. When the German Government and military authorities are responsible for brutalities in the conduct of their campaign, the remedy should lie with the statesmen of the Allies and their military power, instead of in futile raids on individual premises. To follow the latter course i.s only to get down to the level of the very brutalities we condemn, a thing the Governor Haiti rightly we should refuse to do. Please put this circular up at tho mill.—Your faithfully, PERCY '1. ROBINSON, Secretary.