WHO IS THE COWARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1921, Page 1

WHO IS THE COW ARD.

MR ATMORE’S CHALLENGE

DIRECT ACTION AND THE GOSLOW POLICY.

ANTAGONISM TO EMPIRE

Now that the short session of Parlia

inent is over, it remains to be seen whether the extreme Labour members will accept the challenge, thrown out by Air H. Atmore (Nelson) last year and repeated during tile session just closed, to debate, with him the ‘direct action” and “go-slow” policies of the extreme Labour movement..

Upon Air Atmore rising to speak on Mr Holland’s amendment to the Ad-dress-in-Rep]y, Air J. McCombs (Lyttelton) interjected, “As visual. Wait until all the Labour members have spoken. ’ ’

“I expected that gibe about until all the extreme Labour members had spoken,” said Air Atmore. “In one of the proverbs in the Bible there is an injunction which counsels one to answer the fool accordingly to his folly. I ask the honourable member for Lyttelton if it is possible to answer a fool before he has spoken. How can one reply to tho disloyal utterances and the economic absurdities which have distinguish ed several of the extreme Labour members’ speeches until they have uttered them? One of them has interjected that I am in the coward’s castle, because j waited to hear their folly. 1

would remind them that in speaking last session, and on being foolishly charged by one of them that T was heated in my remarks. I said:— CHALLENGED IN 1920.

“There is no heat in this; it is only warm affection for the misguided, Sir in what I am saving. T am sure then is no personal animosity in my mini towards my friends on the extreme Labour benches; 1 am only sorry foi their aspirations to he lenders of men The honourable member for Bullcr am the honourable member for Wellingtor (Jentrnl are very helpful in their interjections, because they bring a lot of points to one’s mind, hut if they are prepared to defend lessened production and direct action I will hi very pleased to meet them on any

phi (form in the Dominion in discuss if. Bet us he <|iiite clear. Do T understand the honourable member for Billion and the honourable member for Wellington Central are prepared to go on the platform and openly espouse the cause of direct action and lessened production- as the one way to meet the difficulties of the world? If they are and are nominated hv their party, T am prepared to take the opposite side of the question and discuss the question in any large public hall in Wellington. ff they are not prepared to (Inhale it. 1 am asking them why they preach or condone that which they are not prepared to defend.” Air Eraser then interjected: “You are preaching increased production.” “Yes,” Mr Atmore replied, ‘‘and better distribution. And if the honourable members believe in increased produel ion, why do they preach the ‘go-slow’ policy? 'Pile two are not consistent. Do they really believe that shortened production is going to help n world which is Already short of the necessaries of life;If they do not, why do they not, say straight out that they will help in every possible way to increase production "Sir. there is very little jusfifi-

cation for direct action in a country where every man and woman has the right to vote. Surely we are not going to exalt the muscle as superior to the brain the brain must, direct the muscle and the power is always here for political control, whenever the majority agree on a course of political nef-

OHALLEXGE STILL STANDS. “In view of that challenge (added Mr Atmore), “f hope we shall have no more talk about cowardice. That challenge stands to-day, as it has since July 29th., 1929. aid is again issued to any man sitting on the side of tho extreme official Labour party. IT they are prepared to come on to any large platform in any part of New Zealand if they are prepared to defend the “go-slow" policy or that of direct action then I will he very pleased to meet Air Holland, in particular, or Air Fraser, or Mr AfeCombs. I am not concerned about the rest ; j will leave it at that. , Mr Holland : Did you not meet. Air Fraser in Wellington Central. Air Atmore: I did not meet him in Wellington Central, i stood against Air Eraser in Wellington Centra.. Mr Holland: And lost. Air Atmore: That does not matter. One does not worry about that- sort of tiling. It is only a political incident. The honourable member attempted to get in Parliament in Australia and lost, but is neither better nor worse for that happening. Then the honourable member came over here. T could give a little of his Australian history if f wished. However. T shall not waste t ime. Mr Eraser: Will the honourable member debate Socialism ? Al> Atmore: My challenge is for a debate on “Direct Action and GoSlow.” Mr Fraser: Do not he a, coward. Mr Speaker: Order! Order! “SOBE ON THE BOTNT.”

ATr Atmore: The honourable member for Wellington Central (Air Eraser) is sore on the point, and impugns my courage notwithstanding my challenge to him is still waiting for his acceptance. T say the challenge has been waiting for him since last August. Who is the coward? Now lie wants to debate on a very broad question, to •which the late King Edward referred, saying, “Everyone is a Socialist nowadays- it is only a question of degree,” and New Zealand has gone further on the Socialistic path than any other country on the face of the earth. 1 again pin them on to the question of

“go-slow” and “direct-action,” and ask them, dare they defend it? The honourable member for Avon stated to-day ADD “WHO IS THE COAYAHD? ’ that the Direct Aetionists opposed the Labour Party, because it is wellknown that the extreme Labour members represent the Direct Aetionists. Tell me where they have in this House condemned one instance of “go-slow” or “direct action.” They are supposed to he the leaders and advisers of workers, and yet do not condemn the “go-slow” that the world is suffering from to-day. We cannot respect members who are political cowards and who are afraid to tell "the truth to the men who look to them for direction, and who will defend the mistaken action of tin l workers in taking “direct action or adopting the “go-slow” policy. The members on the extreme Labour benches condemned the war and our Empire’s participation in it. AVhat is war hut direct action, and yet these political cowards do not condemn the industrial direct action. A\bo is making trouble in the world to-day and delaying the urgent, work of reconstruction hut the direct aetionists and the

‘go-slowors.” SUBSTRATUM OF DISLOYALTY

It lias been very noticeable in most of their speeches T have listened lo today. there has been a substratum of disloyalty and antagonism to the Empire, and yet if they knew their history and they were sound in their prove.-,sed internationalism, they should rejoice to find the solid aggregation that ve rail the British Empire working in the cam-' of peace. Do they not know that, even admitting that Britain has made many mistakes there is not a country on the face of the earth that has the record for spreading freedom throughout the world and taking tip the white man's burden as Great Britain has done, and I am proud of the fact that I am a Britisher. Certainly mistakes have been made, at <1 nothing is to be gained by denying that hut I ask these detractors to show another nation with a better record m spreading liberty and freedom of thought. Are extreme Labourites the regeneators of mankind? God help mankind if they were, for they are filled with hate of their own fellow countrymen. An lion, member: They put Russia before it. Air Atmore: Yes. they put Russia before our Empire, for every country i right but their own. But if they want to debate ..the question of “go-slow” mi: “direct action”. I repeat that the challenge still stands and 1 again ask “Who is the coward?”