Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1921. AN INDISCREET TUTOR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2284, 2 June 1921, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1921. AN INDISCREET TUTOR.

MR. C. ft MARSH - ROBERTS, W.E.A. tutor to (lie Mamuvatu district, in a letter to the Palmerston Standard, says: “There lias appeared recently in your paper an extract from the Foxton"lferald which may lead people to believe that the W.E.A. is being used for the purpose of revolutionary propaganda. I c#n understand the eagerness with which the editor of the Fox ton Herald would seize on any scrap of local gossip as a means of enlivening the melancholy of his readers.” The writer then goes on to explain the aims of the W.E.A., and why the charges of disloyalty and of teaching revolution were made against him at Levin. Tlie point, however, which concerns us is Hie twist the learned tutor gives to the source from which our comments were drawn. Were we dependent upon “local gossip,” the article referred to would not have been written. Our comments were based upon criticism voiced by responsible public men in open Council at the last meeting of the Levin Borough Council, and published in the Levin Chronicle. As to “enlivening the melancholy of our readr ers,” we shall be pleased to do so at any time should that be necessary as a result of the indiscretions of learned and disgruntled extremists.

* * . o * APPARENTLY this tutor has been guilty of further indiscretions at Palmerston N. Yesterday's M.D. Times heaves the following brick at him: —“Mr Marsh Roberts, the tutor of the Workers’ Educational Association, is apparently not desirous of enlisting the sympathy of the general community with the institution that he claims to represent. His remarks at the Citizens’ Club luncheon in Palmerston on Tuesday

were by no means impressive. On the contrary, they were so offensive to some of, his hearers that, one patridtie citizen rose in protest and declared that a certain assertion made was “a lie.” Another statement, to the effect that the New Zealand Press was withholding - the truth, because New Zealand has everything to gain by England's starvation, for it would get better prices for butter and other produce, is positively absurd. Why, the very thing that is responsible for the fall in the prices of New Zealand produce is the unemployment and distress prevailing in the Mother Country. With Mr Roberts’ observations in regard to Bolslievihi in general, it is unnecessary to deal. The reports of British Labour commissions , have been so overwhelmingly opposed. to Bolshevism that nobody is likely to be led astray by special pleading in its behalf. Frankly, the Workers’ Educational Association is not improving its position by sending abroad such irrational emissaries as Mr Marsh Roberts.”