ABOMINABLE SLANDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2025, 6 September 1919, Page 3

ABOMINABLE SLANDER.

ON SOLDIER MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.

STRONG COMMENTS IN THE HOUSE.

One of the most aboninable slanders ever perpetrated on a number of brave and honourable men was brought before the attention of the Government and the country by Mr Isitt, M.P., on Thursday, In a paragraph expressing admiration of Mr

P, 'Webb, ox-M.P,, who deemed it more honourable to serve his coun-

try in gaol than on the battle-field, the Maoriland ’Worker contrasted Mr ’Webb’s case with that of some of his late colleagues in the House. “When one thinks (said the writ; or) of those other M’s.P, who pretended to go to the war-, but never got near enough to smell anything strnger than rum, one must smile at the hypocrisy of these gallant warriors.”

Mr Isitt, whose eloquence on most occasions is not surpassed by that of any other member of the House, dared not trust himself to describe this tissue of malice and falsehood and cruelty. Of those members who did not shrink from giving their in-

dignation a free rein, there was not one who uttered too strong a word. Exaggeration would indeed be difficult. The charge was one of cowardice and hypocrisy, of pretending to go to the war but carefully protecting themselves from its dangers, of prefen-ing the smell of rum to the smell of powder. A fouler libel upon soldiers and honourable men it would be difficult to conceive. ' The most effective part of Mr Massey’s reply was his enumeration of the M’s.P. who had gone to the front, and of their military records. The impression produced by the enlistment of Captain Seddon and Mr

Downio Stewart is probably still

fresh in most minds. They voluntarily came forward from opposite sides of the House to servo the Empire in its hour of need, and to pair for the period of the Avar, At the call of duty, the one was prepared to sacrifice bright political prospects, the other, one might say, to cut short Ids political career before it had well begun, and both prepared to sacrifice all else besides. Captain Seddon, as Mr Massey reminded us, Avon distinction in one of the

fiercest tights of the Avar. Mr Doavnie SfCAvart also served with distinction, and has returned in broken health, hut for which he might already have been in the Cabinet. Major Coates, M.P., served for several years, was tAviee Avounded, and Avon the Military Cross with a bar. Major Hine, M.P., had also an honourable record of service, interrupted by a Avound Avhich nearly proved fatal, but did not prevent his returning to the front. Last, but not least, here was young Capa in Bell, ex-M.P., avlio having died a soldier's, death is beyond the reach of slander. These are Ihe men avlio played the hypocrite and (he coward, and regarded the rum ration ns the most precious of a soldier’s privileges! It is Avell that this disgusting libel was officially repudiated by the Labour Parly on Thursday, but it Avould hare been better if the repudiation had come sooner, and had not been accompanied by the suggestion that the party’s opponents disgraced themselves by similar tactics.

STRONGLY CONDEMNED BY MR SEMPLE, M.P.

Speaking on the Addro<s-in-Re-ply in the House of Representatives last night, Mr It. Semple (Wellington South) very strongly condemned the Maoriland Worker's insult to soldier members of the House. ■ “I want to say,” said Mr Semple, “that I dissociate myself from the statement read out here last night by the honourable member for Christchurch North. I regret that such-a - statement has been made, and I want to say that it is not Labour's purpose, nor part of our policy, to sloop to gutter language, nor to vilify our political opponents.” Mr Wright: 'Who was responsible? Mr Semple: I do not know. All I can say is this; that tiic article‘in question is written in gutter language, and the man who is responsible for penning it is nothing short of a gutter-snipe.”

COUNTY CLERK ARRESTED. Te Awamutu, Sept. 5. Frederick Ware was arrested last night on charges of theft of sums aggregating £278 fx’onx four road boards in West Taupo County, to which he was clerk from September, 1918, to May, 1919, He was remanded for seven days, bail being allowed, self in £250, and two svu’etics of £250.