CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1917, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE LABOUR ATTITUDE

(To the Editor)

Sir, —In your issue of the 27th you state that t have shifted my . grounds with reference to the Labour Party. How you logically come to that conclusion T do not know, but this T still affirm that- as a Political Party, Labour is the only one that stands for Democracy and Progress against the forces Mmt stand for .reaction and domestic Prussianism.

You also discover that T have joined issue with you on the merits of the Military Service Act. if what T have characterized as “The most illogical and arbitrary aeti, so constructed to irritate and inflame the domestic peace, ever drafted in this Dominion,” is in agreement- with your views, one can only eon elude that your opinion of this Act is akin to the general opinion of its authors, a very poor one indeed. Your support of the Tory and Reactionary section of both Houses, who rejected the amendment to this Act, to provide for the exemption of teachers, will meet with unqualified approval from the reactionaries who unfortunately are the ruling power in New Zealand ’tb-day. You contrast Australia with New Zealand in it s military effort. I think, Sir, we have quite sufficient grievances in our own country without Kf-ouhling about Australians nllegdd failures. Australia’s total casualties are greater than the total of men Now Zealand has sent to the froj|t. You say that it is on the cards that the Fusion Party arc likely to select Lieut. Col. Hughes to he their standard bearer for the Wellington Central seat —a bit of bard luck for Mr. Luke, but their main consideration, is to dodge the verdict of the people, even an an electorate, that the Hon Herdmnn (with the characteristic methods of his party) by a piece of political juggling had the sailors’ vote eliminated prior to the last election.

• Again Sir, I would remind the Workers and Progressives to rally To the standard of labour and give their hearty support to the Party that stands for their particular interests. Thanking you for the space accorded me. I am. etc. T.N.W. Hokitika 29/11/17.