CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1917, Page 1

CORRESPONDE NCE.

A LABOUR VIEW. (To tho Editor). * Sir, Allow mo space to correct sonic impressions Unit may be taken Irom your comments on my previous letter, in the Jirst place, Sir, you are in entire agreement with the critics of tho Government in what you rightly term their deplorable failure as affecting domestic affairs, hut as an offset to their incompetency in dealing with domestic inatters affecting the vital interests of the masses, you say they have the ‘Military Service Act” to their credit. IT this is the only claim they have to justify their political existence, then one-can only wonder at the patience of the people in having tolerated them for so long, for never in the history of this Dominion was there drafted a bill so constructed to irritate and inflame the domestic peace, so essential in a time of National peril, as .this (illogical and arbitrary Act.

Only tile other day, and in entire contradiction to. your contention that Party politics are dead, the House was divided on an amendment to this Act 10 provide for the exemption of school teachers, and with the exception of three or four members of both Parties, the division was entirely on Party lines, and a political crisis was averted only by the rejection of the Bill hv the Legislative Council.

In passing, it is worthy of note, that the members of the Council who exacted such a humiliating surrender of Luo power of the elected of the people, were all the nominees of the Party of reaction,, and further that the ages of these moribund “Lordfe” ranged from seventy to over ninety years.

You further say that “win the war’ - should be our only watchword. I am sure that every man that loves liberty is in agreement with you >.n the necessity of crushing Prussian militarvism, blit, when this slogan becomes a silly catch-phrase used for the purpose of exploitation and the imposition of domestic Prnssianism, for the purpose of acquiring riches by the sacrifice and suffering of New Zealand’s noblest soils, then it is time it was understood at its face value. You believe that the Labour Party is ill-advised in bringing forward its claim for recognition at the present time. T cannot understand what difference it is going to make to the prosecution of the war whether Labour in Westland organises or otherwise. But on the other hand, I do think that now is the accepted time when the Democracy of Westland should do their utmost, with the workers of the other parts of the Dominion, to end tho class-struggle, and unite against the champions of class-rule.

T. would like to point out that the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, and T am sure no one will question their efforts to win the war, arc running n. candidate in opposition to tho Fusion, for Wellington Centre, and good luck to them will he the wishes or tho majority of the electors of New Zealand. . Thanking you for the valuable space accorded me.—l am, etc.— T. N. W. Hokitika, Nov. 26th lf)l7.