POLITICAL CAMOUFLAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10290, 27 May 1919, Page 6

POLITICAL CAMOUFLAGE

CTo the Editor "N.Z. Times.”)

Sir,—On perusal of Mr Hornsby’s article, appearing: in your issue of to-day, one cannot help being amused at the ability displayed by him in creating artificial bogies and then going through the process of demolishing them. The charges he makes against Mr liloodworth are so many and varied (to say nothing of how utterly ridiculous they are) that it is not my intention of wearying youi readers by an attempt at explanation on a large scale. Probably an abler nen than mine will go further into them, but

there is one part of his vituperation I would like to refer to.

After referring to the sinking bv the German submarine of shipping, especially the Lusitania, he speaks thus: But when that splendid sailorman, Havelock Wilson, declared a boycott of German sailors ; and lengthened the period of embargo for every additional unarmed merchantman sank without warning bv the U boat pirates, one of the leaders of the New Zealand Federation of Labour said Havelock Wilson ought to be ashamed of himself, and 1 think after reading the following the said leadler will find cause to congratulate himself upon his attitude. In "Lloyds’* newspaper, of December Ist, 1918, the following article appeared : At a big labour demonstration held at Cardiff presided over by Air Thomas, a great labour leader, he was asked bv one of the audience what he thought of Havelock Wilson’s proposal to boycott German sailors from British ships, this is tho reply. Air Thomas said: I hold precisely Havelock Wilson’s views; at a labour conference, a verbatim report of which I hold. Air Wilson was asked for an explanation of his proposal. He (Air Wilson) replied “it is a good stunt for tho outsider,” hut between ourselves we know it is impossible to give effect to it.

Havelock Mb Ison is now a member of Parliament, which does not reflect to the credit or intelligence of his constituents. By-lbe-by the same remark applies to many without going outside New Zealand. What I want to noint to is this, if the other charges in Mr Hornsby’s long catalogue are based on such erroneous calculations as this (which to me appears to bo (he easel. then I think it would have been much better if Mr Hornsby. M.P., had saved Ins breath to cool his broth. To any thinking person it is qnite_apparent what is the obiect of the article. A general election cannot much longer he postponed, and it is the intent-'on of Mr Hornsby and others of his ilk to emnloy •he same tactics that were used in England at the lost election, namely, by arousing, and then appealing to the basest passions of the people. l>y such twaddle as hanging the Kaiser, huge year indemnities, retention of German colonies and other vicious clap-trap. wb : ch resulted in the return to power of (he most reactions’-- govommen*- England has ever seen. The present New Zealnud r>ar'iomentnrians are finite aware that their sins of and commission are so many and desrv.cahlp that, in a fair, straight-out fight where brains, not "is sions. will be ’lie deciding factor, tbav steed no earthly chance of nga : n misruling this conntrr. And so we must be prepared for n great deal more of th's vote-catching nonsense. Trusties veu will find space for my humble epistle. S. G. JONES. V Hnrland street, Brooklyn. «