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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2439, 10 June 1922, Page 3

(To the Editor).

Sir, —I was much amused at the letter over the camouflage of the “Welfare League,” but at the same lime I was disappointed that the writer failed to put up an answer to my indictment, of the contrast of the name of the league, and the actions and utterances of the head of the league, and for that matter the league in general. If their reply is a sample of what will happen to us if they had the power, then goodbye to right to free speech and fair criticism. To think that reply is a sample of “enlightened unselfishness,” as preached by Mr P. C. Skerritt at the conference of Chambers of Commerce is almost asking too much. Would it not have been belter for the League to get to work in the direction of doing something worth while, instead of wasting so much money in an attempt to cause dissatisfaction amongst the people for the common good of all? To say that people are suspicious of the above League is to put it mildly, indeed, for I am quite aware that neither Mr C. P. Skerritt or any of his satelites are willing to meet Mr H. E. Holland in public debate for reasons that are obvious. Take for instance the League itself, will it publish its list of office hearers and members? How many of the toilers hold office? And it’s a fair question to ask who subscribes to its coffers? what they pay for huge paper propaganda per year, and how much have they paid out to alleviate the misery and unemployment at present in our midst? Seeing that, the League has taken to publishing a Union’s supposed bal-ance-sheet, why not he fair and let us hav_e a peep at theirs. So far ns T am personally concerned all the abuse in the. vast repertoire of the extremist in the Welfare League does not annoy me in the least, for when the abuse conies I knowT have touched the tender spot. Of course I know it is looked upon as impudence for any of the useful people to dare to question any utterance of the superior Welfare League, but I lien I happened to enlne into existence before the League, and did not happen to be fed on the dope they are finding such large funds wherewith to try and influence (lie thinking apparatus of fhe neonle at large; and workers in particular. T am told I require a square feed. Perhaps, Imi T happen to know that millions of others leqrrc sum" fo. Wist is the League doing about them: have they hel tied to find “feed” or do they prefer to fill them with Union Bnl-ance-sheeis? By their hell ye shall knov them. “Enlightened unselfishness” to say the 1 a more mi -a! isfaefory or un-oibstnniivo prosecution had never been submitted, when defending the profiteers, and then (n say that ihc League was working for the common weal, is just, over the border line ■ f enlightened unselfishness. Tf fl •> League really desires to live up to their name, hut instead of confining their efforts for their own i •irficnlar benefits, why not instead of trying to find fault with others reel llmm oil common ground and evolve a way out by mutual effort to the welfare of all. Thanking von. Sir. E. G. MYRTTN.