MR J. McCOMBS IN MANAWATU

Shannon News, 12 September 1922, Page 3

MR J. McCOMBS IN MANAWATU

SOME THINGS LEFT OUT

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In reading the reports of the speeches of Mr J. McCombs, M.P., in your district we are impressed with cfes which distinguish it as an extreme organistion. 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 Tacts regarding his

party which he did not disclose and the truth of which, we submit, cannot be denied. Its avowbd objective of "socialisation” is the same policy as that which Mr Theodora, Labour Premier of Queensland, said “you might as well call it' Communism for that is what it the fact that he very astutely leaves out all explanation of his party's poii-

is.” Though Mr McCombs talked much of the proportional representation he kept hidden the fact 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 representative basis of Constitutional government. It supports the abolition of Parliament as at present constituted and the substitution therefor of an Industrial Parliament. It has endorsed the policy of establishing a Supreme . Economic Council on a working-class basis. AJI students of recent political history know tihat Councils of Action, an Industrial Parliament and a class controlled “Supreme Economic Council” constitute the very principles and foundation of the Communist system known in Russia a.s Soviet government. Though these things ares not embodied in the party’s published Constitution and Platform, they have been endorsed by the party in its annual conferences, and voiced by the leadeTsof the party on occasions which They deemed suitable.

At present, with the general election in view, the party is hiding the truth as to ~ its objective and character as much as possible from public view. A man may deceive quite as much by covering the truth

as by stating a lie openly. This is what we charge Mr McCombs’ party with doing. The members are not Celling the whole truth about their .party, and are therefore misleading .the 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 speculators.” Now, plainly stated, that was simply speaking half the truth, and so far as being an exposition of his party’s , policy. Clause 3 .subclause (b) of his party’s platform reads: ‘‘That privately owned land shall not he sold or transferred except to the State.” it was simply de-

ception for Mr McCombs to tell the .•audience that they mean “sell through toe State” when the truth is they line an "sell only to the State.” In conclusion, we invite the elec-

tors of Manawatu to ask themselves If toey owned a bit of land how they would like to be 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 Party which has the impudence to call itself Labour whilst denying all sound labour and '.democratic principle.—We are, yours (fitC.,

N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE