CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2479, 12 September 1922, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR -I. MeCOMBS IN MANAWATU. SOME THINGS LEFT OUT. Sir, —In reading the reports of the speeches of Mr J. McCombs, M.P., in your district we are impressed with the fact that he very astutely leaves out all explanation of his party’s policies which distinguish it as a Red Revolutionary organisation. To read his speeches one might assume that the party was simply an advanced party of a democratic and liberal character. This is very cute as a political move but the question is whether it is honest. Here are some facts regarding his party which he did not disclose and the truth of which, we submit, cannot he denied. Its avowed objective of “socialisation” is the same policy as that which Mr Theodore, Labour Premier of Queensland, said “you might as well call it Communism for that is what it is." Though Mr McCombs talked much of the proportional representation he kept hidden the I'acL that his party at Municipal elections had advocated the principle of plural voting' for a class purpose. The party has supported the establishment of selfappointed “Councils of Action” which is a denial of the n p: e.-anta-tve basis of Constitutional government. It supports the abolition of Parliament as at present constituted, and the substitution therefor of an liidu-Urial Parliament. It hasendorsed 1 e policy of establishing a Supri me Economic Council on a working r ass basis. All students of !'•: rein politeal history know that Councils of Action; an Industrial Parliament and a Hass controlled “Supreme Economic Council'' constitute the very principles ami foundation of (he Communist system known in Russia as Soviet government. Though these things are not embodied in the party’s published Constitution and Platform they have been endorsed by the party in its Annual Conferences, and voiced b.v the leaders of the party on occasions which tbev deemed suitable.

At present with the general election in view, the party is hiding the truth as to its Red Revolutionary character as much as possible from public view. A man may deeieve quite as much by covering the truth as by stating a lie openly. This is what we charge Mr McCmnh’s party with doing. The members are not telling the whole truth about their party and are thereby -misleading tiie people. In his speech on the land question, Mr McCombs said his party stood for “making it compulsory to sell through the State, instead of through land agents and. land speculators.” Now, painly stated, that was simply speaking half the truth and so far as being an exposition of his party’s policy it is actually a false representation. Clause 3, sub-clause (b) of his party’s platform reads: — “That privately owned land shall not be sold or transferred except to the State.” It was simpy deception for Mr McCombs to tell the audience that they mean “sell through the Stale” when the truth is they mean “sell only to the State." In conclusion we invite the electors of Manawatu to ask themselves if (hey owned a hit of land how they would like to he restricted in disposing of it so that they could sell only to the State, which would fix its own price. That is the policy of exploitation of this Red Party which has (lie impudence to call itself Labour whilst denying all sound labour and democratic principle. We are, Yours, etc.. X.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE.