The Labour Party

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 438, 3 January 1919, Page 2

The Labour Party

v (To the Editor.) Sir—lt is to be regretted that in i your leader of December 20th you -did cot direct more attention to the Labour Party's platform, instead of unthinkingly repeating some of the •itms»ve epithets commonly applied to Labour leaders by the daily newspapers of our cities. Have you or your readers ever read the Labour ' Party's platform ? It is exceedingly moderate, and may safely be subjected to all the criticism one cares to give it. In faot it is most remarkable how newspapers refrain from the endeavour to attack it. It is too moderate, and too precisely in accordance with the immediate needs of our country, to admit of being sue- ■ o.iM'ully attacked. But it is far too 'democratic, and far too antagonistic to the interests of tho grept. capitalistic monopolies which oppress this country to escape the hatred of the city newspapers, whose sympathies for commercial reasons) are with .those monopolies When one studies the great rise that has taken place during the war period in the value of shares in banks, shipping companies and insurance companies, one barometer to measure the enormously -increasing sums which capitalistic monopolies are making out of a long-suffering public- Can you expect such institutions'' newspapers which speak for them}* to say anything good concerning the Labour Party, the most important pirt of whose platform is—the establishment of a state bank, stateowned shipping service, state control of all branches of insurance, the development of our present state coal-mines, and the general extension of public ownership of national utilities. The opponents of Labour dare not attack its platform; nor do they attack Labour leaders by any charge that is sufficiently precise to admit of discussion. They confine themselves to applying every sort of opprobrious epithet to Labour leaders. Labour leaders expect this. All leaders of new movements or expounders of new ideas' expect it. Christ suffered it. " Christian " was originally a word of contempt and hatred; so was "Methodist"; so was "Chartist" You and your readers could fill a column of your paper with th 9 names of men who suffered for being associated with a new movement or new idea. If history be any guide, the intense hatred and abuse which Labour leaders are subjected to is the best presumption of the justice of their cause. You reiterate a frequent demand when you ask for " sane " Labour What is this " sane " Labour'? If it is identical with the policy of cipitalisiio monopolists, such a party would bo sup«rfluous—we already havj sufficient of such parties If it be in a measure opposed to the policy of such monopolists, it can be sure of all the abuse that can be hurled at it. A "sine" or '• mode ate" soldier, who was nei'her for the Grormans nor against them, would be as understandable as a "sane" or " moderate " Labour party. Let us rej jice that the Labour party receives unlimited abuse. It is the surest pledge that it is definitely and abso utely opposed to the capitalist, who s oppressing all other classes in this ;ountry. It ii the surest pledge that he Labour party is the party which *ill deliver us from the grip of that :apitahs+. Yours, etc, H. G R MASON. 3 ukekohe.