CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1991, 17 June 1919, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir. —Kindly allow me space to bring before the local public a matter Avhich affects the recent action of the Flaxmillers’ Association in refusing to meet the delegates from the Union because one of the Union delegates happened to have been a conscientious objector, who had .suffered the full penalty prescribed by laAv. What right has the Association to set themselves up- as judges and sentence men after the law has already been vindicated? The plea of patriotism on the millOAvners’ part is too thin. It Avould have been just as legitimate for the Union delegates to refuse to meet mill-owners, avlicu ay# remember that some of them procured Germans IVoin Somes Island and Avent bond for them during the Avar, which action indicates, in my opinion, which Avay their patriotism was leaning, and a lot can be read into such action, Sir, We have to

remember that the llax-Avorkers (heir quota to the firing line, but I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting any returned millOAvners yet. Flow many Avent ? The' delegates appointed by the Union Avere put there to represent the men, by the men, and among those arc a large number of ex-soldiers. Yet we have not heard any protest from them. If it is allowed to go on, there is no telling Avhere it will end, for to my mind it is but a Avrigglc on the Association’s part to bolster up

a weak case. The man who has suffered for Ids conscience has as much right to the freedom of this country a.s the man who has coni' mitted a crime and paid the penalty. The sooner the public wake up to the facts the better, else what is to prevent any set of employers setting themselves up as judges. When any one wants to judge others they should first set their own house in ‘order, lest their actions recoil on their own heads. Thanking you, Sir, —I am, etc., JUSTICE,