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Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1925, Page 2

One of the humorous aspects ol the political policy of Labor i-. the reference in the planks of the Party to primary production. Labor has for one of its objectives “to ensure the maximum production by placing thmaximum nuinlior of people oil the land for the purpose of closer settlement.'’ This is idealist, and is a whole chunk out of the Liberal policy which has done so milch lor New Zealand. But what of the performance of Labor in carrying out such a pledge ? It is hopeless >of fulfilment, because the

Labour cause will be in the hands of those who care as little for the primary producers its they do to-day. Today Labor has not lifted its littlo linger to help the small farmer get away the produce of his farm. '1 he farmer small and great is depending solely on the civil forces to protect those, loading and manning (he ships, which after weeks ol delay are getting away to a market which is falling, and which will fall still more as the congestion of supplies grows at Home. Tito small farmer lias been “getting it in the neck” as one of them remarked the other day. and they can I hank only organised Labor in this country fnt the belabouring. Had the Labor lead ers stopped into the breach at the outset and advised the British seamen tc carry on and return the ships to Ragland where their difference had t( be settled legally, the farmers of New Zealand and Australia would he bun rlreds of pounds hotter off to-day. A great loss will be visited on the farmers because of the seamen's strike in respect to which the Labor loaners made no move to effect a ipticlc self lenient. Labor by its attitude showed the usual disposition to side with the recalcitrants and those prepared for any purpose of their own to break a solemn agreement. The crop of strikes the country has to endure would not be so plentiful were the Labor leaders intent on maintaining agreemi ids. The farmers, small and large, win- are producing and are interested in the marketing of their goods should hear in mind where the altitude of Labor is landing them. Xew Zealand depends on oversea market s for the sale of its surplus products. Without those markets available farmers here would slill he bartering their goods for what they could get in exchange. To keep the oversea markets open rind sea transport assured extreme Labor must lie kept out of office. The time is at hand to do something towards deposing La hor from the false pedestal on which it has reared itself. Its mana mu-i fie weakened and the small farmers and all others interested have the opportunity iif doing that on Wednesday next, when they may vote solidly against the Labor candidate and proclaim their determination to keep all reactionaries out of place or power.

Tin: .i.flermaih of war time is bringing to light many unrevealed stories of tintrials and tribulations of the (lire period when tlie nations were at grips. The story of the air-raids, on Rngland recall the tension put upon the populace. ami tlie toll taken. It is sati-fiu-torv to know that in the air raids a' in the submarine warfare, the British were able to cope with the mctiaic, and in the end practically overcome if. The revelations am a tribute In the resource and courage of those wlw wen- deputed to master the position. It seems strange, however, that at this juncture after nearly seven years’ time ttitue tlm day of the armistice, that the “corpse factory” controversy should he taking the turn it has. Tin? evidence is not all disclosed and the enquiry not completed, but if the re ference to the niattr was wrong or bas-

ed on mistaken evidence, it is quite surprising that it has taken so long to get. at the truth. The story was given out mi the basis of what the German pipers staled, and in the lapse of time if the translations were at fault, or a misunderstanding has arisen in other circumstances, it is due to the German nation to correct the lid so impression which went abroad on a subject which raised horror in the minds of all right-thinking people. As to the exculpation of the Germans in the mailer in ihe “Weekly Dispatch." Sir •sydney Low. ex-member of Lord X'ortiidiire’s Propaganda Committee, states: "Our main guiding rule was to tell the trulii. not Hie whole truth, which is impracticable during war time. A\ e <li,| not invent or knowingly circulate falsehoods. Accordingly lam utterly confounded at General ( liarti'iis’s stunning dcclara t ion that lie, when one of the head' of the Intelligence Department, deliberately forged one of the most terrible indictments of German brutality and callousness. AY hen the Germans explained that the corpse factory disposed of animals, not human beings, I accepted the denial. The qm-stion was never settled, because the Cminus refused to allow neutrals to examine the vat and corpses. If General Charleris’s version is correct., we owe Germany an apology, which should be fully and frankly given." This is a fair statement of the matter, hut the whole positou is s,> important that it is due to Germany to examine all the evidence on the null ter and sif t the subject right to the bottom. This will lie done, no doubt, now Hint so much publicity has been given to the matter.