“GUTTER LANGUAGE.’

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1919, Page 1

“GUTTER LANGUAGE.’

MR SEMPLE ON THE “MAORILAND WORKER.” Another reference was made in the House of Representatives on Friday night to the paragraph published by the “Maoriland Worker” reflecting upon members of tne House who had served af the front.

“I want to dissociate myself from the statements made in that paragraph,” said ]Mr (R. Semple (Wellington South), “I regret that such statements have been made. It is not'a part of the Labour Party’s policy to stoop to ti e gutter in order to vilify their political opponents.”

Mr It. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) : Who is responsible for the article ?

Mr Semple: I don’t know. AH I c au say is that the article in question is written in gutter language, and the man .who is responsible for penning it is nothing short of a gutter-snipe. (Applause).

‘‘MAORILAND WOItKER’.S” OUTRAGE. WITHDRAWAL AND APOLOGY. The “Maoriland Worker” of the 10th inst has the following:

The “Worker” intends to make a precedent in journalism, and that is frankly to admit a mistake and withdraw, | without any pressure ‘being applied, an [offensive paragraph which appeared in t!;e last issue of tile paper under the heading “News of Paddy Webb.” This Las been objected to, and with good reason. It offends good taste, it was regarded as a slander of our soldier members of Parliament, and, indeed, was so crudely expressed as to justify the inference that it was intended to bo so. The editor accepts full responsiI bility for its appearance—which he rej grcts. The paragraph is not a fair speeii men of our style or methods, as even [•our most hostile critics will admit, and wa-. allowed to pass in an unguarded moment. Therefore, we withdraw the offensive remarks, and tender to all implicated by them our sincere regret. The writer of the paragraph is himself a returned soldier, a man of culture and literary ability, but he acquired in France on tlio fighting front, the idiom of the trenches which he lapses into occasionally, with painful results. W e regret that soldier members of the Mouse or their relatives should have been given pain by the thoughtless para graph. Nothing could be further from our principle and practice than to presume to judge, all the motives of any man who went to the front, or refused to do so. We disclaim entirely the right or the power to do this, and withdraw the objectionable 'paragraph without reserve, tendering our apology to all our readers for his blot on our pages.

l'R I AIK AIINISTER’S COMMENTS AYELLINGTON, September 10.

j In the House of Representatives this afternoon Mr J. McCombs asked the ful: and ample apology tendered by the -Maoriland Worker” in connexion witli the paragraph referring to soldier IT.P.’s to which attention had been drawn by Air Isitt and which h e understood had given general offence. Ah' Massey said lie had seen the apology. When an apology was tendered, the only thing to be done was to accept it in tlio spirit in which it was tendered, and so far as lie was Concerned the incident wiis at an end. He regretted that there appeared to be a small but noisy minority in the Dominion who seemed to consider it proper ( 0 decry the efforts of the patriotic citizens of this country whether soldier m> civilian. This must be put down with a firm hand. If New Zealand was not good enough for these people they inight get out. AVc could well do without them.