CANDID REMARKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8360, 21 February 1913, Page 2

CANDID REMARKS

ATTACKS ON PUBLIC MEN. THE MAYOR REPLIES TO CRITICS. Opportunity was taken by the Mayor, Mr D. McLaren, at the social’ gathering of the Carpenters and J Diners’ Society of New iSealand on Wednesday evening, to reply to some of Ills critics. In proposing the toast of “The Mayor and City Council,” Mr J. Hayes inadvertently used another gentleman's name as Mayor. This, caused Mr McLaren, in the opening remarks of his reply, to admit that it was quits, conceivable for ,a visitor, to mistake, who was Mayor' of the city, because, sometimes, in taking up the “Dominion” newspaper, and reading the dictatorial manner in which they spoke, he was in doubt himself whether he was Mayor or the newspaper. (Laughter.) The attitude of that paper was| not directed entirely against him per-i serially—although they had an animus I against him personally —but it was against the Labour party all the time. Ho had been criticised, and from all sources he had found it fair and honourable, except in the case of two l of the newspaper of this city. In these cases the criticism was simply a perpetual sneer, a petty jibe, a captious suggestion that there was something wrong where there was nothing Wrong. I Referring to unionism, Mr McLaren l said unionism was going to do very! little good unless it tackled the land! question. . . They had drifted into, a* position where the door was thrown open wide for land gambling and the land grabber. They saw the values which had been created by the workers) Swept into the pockets of the land, speculators, and it was therefore important that the workers should consolidate their forces more and more. In dealing with City Council affairs, he, had a good many difficulties to contend With; because most of the councillors were not of his way of thinking. There Were only three Labour men on the council ut the present time; He hoped, however, that after April next labour would get its full representation, because they had many very important matters to deal With, such, for instance, as congested areas, and when He went into them he found that they Were Up against this and that vested interest. He had endeavoured to take care, in his capacity as Mayor, • to preserve a clean and straight record, lest he might damage the name Of Labour,.and spoil the chances of abler men than himself who might come after him to fill the office. If lie could not get very much doxis on collective, progressive lines, he did not intend to do anything to obstruct the pathway of those who would follow after him. ..... .Speaking in a humorous, vein, the May added that he would like to .tender a little advice to the number of young men present and who might probably some day become Mayors; Ho advised them to be very careful when they went into society and came ih contact wilti a certain class of, society people. There were certain elements that presumed to think ; they were tit to instruct wbrklng people, hi fill times in the Matter of manners. One could meet them at Government House functions and other, social gatherings, and from the airs Which they asstlifled they seemed to think they f ere divinely chpscn to bo the rulers of the earth. These people: Would attempt to flatter you or te bully you in their way and try to draw you from the straight Labour course; The snobocracy—(a voice: “A very good name”) —yes, a good name, but it Was q.' great power,, too,' because, it found its way into all sorts of social movements and by insidious methods held sway oyer a large number of voters. y ; “1 have found it my duty as Labour Mayor,” continued Mr McLS'feiT, “to go to all kinds of social functions, and have met some of those people, and I think I have been able to make them understand that a man from the Labour ranks can bo the equal of any,; if iibt Superior, as a gentleman. One thing 1 have found most galling has been that certain people in the class I have referred to Wnl pass by a maii and attack a WOmah. Again and again I have found them come te ine With smiling features *aud greet mo with extended hand, and yet have the ill-man-ners to slight my wife, who has at all times filled both her private and public duties With honour. I have cut that Sort of thing os dead as I could, and will continue to do so.” Ih conclusion the Mayor thanked the assembled company for the toast, both on his own behalf and on behalf of the Gity Council. At times he differed from councillors on: matters of opinion, but ho had never borne malice to anyone, and had endeavoured to treat all with proper fairness throughout.’ Ho believed that a change Was coming about in civic affairs, both in Wellington and many other communities. He. advised the workers to consolidate thoir forces until they had an absolutely: united La. hour party from one end of the Dominion te the other, for this was in the best interests of humanity, and was the cause that most of the pdople Would rally te all the time, the causo of solidarity. (Applause. )