CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1917, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —Allow mo to take a stand in support of the Hokitika Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party, which is now an established fact, and I have no doubt in saying, trill ultimately ho the means of seeing that this district will be governed democratically by Labour.

Now, Sir, in your leader of the 27th inst you so construe your correspondent’s letter signed T.N.W. to make believe lie, or she, has supported the conscription of life in this country. That cannot be taken from your correspondent’s letter as the letter rightly states, that if the Military Service Act (Conscription) is the only Act to justify the N.G. existence, it is a marvel that the people, have suffered it so long. Unlike your article, I am not going into the rights or wrongs of Australia. I am more concerned about this country of which I am a citizen, and it would not be just for me to condemn a people which is up to the present more democratic than they have proved to be in this country. But- what T aUi concerned about is. that this country should be governed by the people and not by a despotic Cabinet (not Parliament mind you) because that is the position to-day. Tf Democracy bad any say in this country, those politicans who have so long misgoverned, would he seeking tin* support of the electors to-day. But because of their political teaching Wfey are afraid to face the electors, and therefore tear up our constitution and set themselves up as a Government. Now, I want to state quite clearly, that New Zealand to-day is in a state of revolution, as we have no elected Government, as the term of the present Government has run out, and they are therefore notf a properly constituted body, and as a matter of fact on the 12tli of Doc. next there will be only one politician in this country entitled to speak as such, because he will he the only member elected to do so under our cfinstitution. Now. Mr. Editor, youjustify the National Government for war work. Let Us analyse this position, and see what it amounts to. 1. The Cost of Living has gone up at lea’st 30%.

2. Our National Debt has increased about £40,000,000.

3. The conscription of life has taken place at 5s a day and found. 4. The money raised for war purposes Iras been borrowed at 4J%, Tree of Income tax, the best investment in the world for moneyed people. 5. That scrap of paper known as our constitution has been torn up. G. Railway Managers, Magistrates, etc. have received titles to their name, and from £SOO, to a £IOOO pound per year, for doing military work in their spare time, as well as their already too large a salary. 7. The general public are gagged with War Regulations, 100% worse than those in vogue in England, which is at tiho Seat of War. 8. The Pensions to disabled soldiers would have meant (starvation or the work house, if it had not been for the New Zealand Labour Party. 9. All this while the exploiters receive

£40,000,000 in increased war profits. : Now, Sir, is not the above enough to make any porson think, and when yon get the public to think I have no fear of the result. It is only ignorance that keeps the people gagged and bound to this kind of thing, and the Labour Party is the only party that stands for the downfall of a Government that endorses such a policy. In conclusion, I trust, Sir, .hat you will see your way to again justify a policy as I have quoted above, and thereby, let the people who support yon, know exactly where you stand.

Yours in The Liberation War of Humanity. F. TURLEY. Hokitika, Nov. 27th. 1917. [We have published the above in order that our reader might “think,” as the correspondent desires. His attiude is so strongly against the conduct of the war. that it would be futile tk» traverse his many mis-statements of the facts. Gur readers know exactly

where the “Guardian” stands in regard to the conduct of the war.— Ed.,'G.'J