MR P. C. WEBB.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1918, Page 4

MR P. C. WEBB.

LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE. ' The following letter was sent to Sir James Allen by Mr P, C. Webb, M.P, ou March 7th : “ First, I would remind you that a general election took place in 1914, notwithstanding the fact that the war was then raging, and that the enemy was threatening Paris On that occasion the Grey electors returned me with an increased majority. From the soldiers entitled to vote in the

electorate 1 received an almost unanimous support, and they in particular requested me to l,ook after their interests-and the interests of their dependants, and solicited my assistance in protesting against the shameful manner in which their dependants were being exploited by means of unnecessarily excessive prices. I have done my best to conform to their wishes, but being in a minority in Parliament, have been powerless to do more than protest. Further, my soldier-constituents expressed the wish that, in the event of their returning to New Zealand incapacitated, suitable employment should be found for them together with reasonable recompense for their injuries. Again, I have complied with their wishes in that connexion and have protested emphatically against the way in which many disabled men are being turned adrift unable to follow their ordinary occupations, and yet deprived of pensions. That the Government has failed lamentably to cope with the problem of excessive prices, and that men who have returned disabled are not being properly provided for is due to no fault of mine, inasmuch as I have repeatedly drawn attention to those clamant grievances.

After my election in 1914, I stated publicly that if the Grey electors considered my services more essential at the front than in Parliament, on receipt of. a requisition, signed by 1000 electors, I would resign my seat and abide by the will of the majority of the constituency. No requisition was ever presented, and.on my being balloted for military service, numerously signed petitions were presented from my electorate and from the West Coast generally, asking for my exemption, and T may say, that the signatories to these petitions included a large number of parents who had'sons-at the front as well as a considerable number of returned Soldiers and men in camp. Moreover, these requisitions were supported by the whole of the miners’ organisations of this country, The Military Service Board, however, saw fit to ignore these representations, and dismissed the appeal, although the said Board has repeatedly granted exemption in other cases, on much more slender grounds. I then resigned my seat and placed myself unreservedly in the hands of mj constituents, who re-elected me without opposition. My constituents then asked for a re-hearing of my appeal, but this was refused without anyone being heard in its support. Now that my constituents are to be denied the right of representation, in that I am not to be allowed to prepare for and attend regularly in my place in Parliament during the coining session, I feel that but one honourable course is open to me, I have.either to remain true to my constituents or obey the command of a Board which, they believe, has not treated my case judicially, and which, I believe to have been influenced by a strong spirit ot political prejudico against me. In other words, I have resolved to disobey the Board and to take the consequences. Incidentally, I intend my action as a protest against the utter failure of your Government to deal fairly With the disabled soldiers and their dependents, or, indeed, with the masses of the people of this country. I 1 hat your Government, lias failed lamentably in its duty by the returned soldiers and their dependents and by the masses of the people of this country is fully evidenced by the fact that it has won the support of every person who profits by the sufferings of the-masses j of his fellow-citizens. Perhaps under the circumstances it is only common gratitude on the part of such people that they should have sent their motor cars to assist in defeating the representative of Labour in the recent by-election. I would add that it is not. surprising that a Government with such a record as yours should have postponed a general election.”