Mr. Bloodworth Answers Mr. Taylor

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 627, 2 April 1929, Page 10

Mr. Bloodworth Answers Mr. Taylor

INTEREST IN RUSSIA NO COMMUNIST LEANINGS In returning to his attack on Mr. T. Bloodworth, Labour’s candidate for Mayoral honours, Mr. H. P. Taylor enlarges on his challenges to Mr. Bloodworth issued last week in THE SUN. Mr, Bloodworth, replying, claims that there are no grounds for asserting that he has any association with Communism. He does not think many will take the “same narrow view” as Mr. Taylor. The reply given by Mr. Bloodworth to my letter regarding his acting as chairman (under the auspices of the New Zealand Communist Party) at the meeting on the 16th inst., and my challenge to him to declare his attitude on Communism, is very disappointing, inasmuch that, while he declares that lie is not a member of the Communist Party, he omits to include any and all branches of that party. If his repudiation includes these I will accept his statement. But what is a serious omission (in face of his declared sympathies some years ago to the principles of the Third International, or Sovietism, and his advocacy of their adoption for New Zealand) is that he does not repudiate my inference of his having sympathetic feelings toward the principles of Communism generally. I am, also, a strong advocate of the principle of freedom of speech, and also desirous of learning the truth of happenings in other countries, and had I known of the lecture taking place, I would have attended, but certainly not as accepting the auspices of the New Zealand Communist Party. If Mr. Bloodworth is so anxious to learn the truth about other countries, how much more the need to learn the truth of Auckland City’s organisation, to head which he aspires. Why was he not equally anxious to learn the truth as to the Murray complaints when I offered to show him (vide Sun, July 10, 1928), if he were genuine in his desire, all the signed statements and sworn affidavits in support of the complaints put forward by us? His reply "that he had no desire to inspect them,” was significant. Nor has he shown any disposition to assist in the rectification of matters complained of. Mr. Bloodworth, or anyone in a private capacity, could have attended this meeting, but when he so frequently seeks the suffrages of those whom he knows perfectly well look upon Communism as obnoxious, I would ask him if the acceptance of the chair under such auspices was playing the game. I would remind him that, when one plays with fire one is likely to be singed, and in this instance I am of the opinion that he has singed himself—and badly—in the eyes of those who (including myself) have frequently voted for him and who strongly oppose, and will not tolerate. Communism in this country. I would ask Mr. Bloodworth to inspect his mental "thermometer” to enable him to judge whether his; sincerity "stock” is of high or low value.

The high office to which he aspires demands a spirit of sincerity and truth beyond question. I would ask Mr. Bloodworth is it not a fact that the Town Hall (to its credit) refused to consent to this lecture being given in the Hippodrome unless the chair were taken by a Labour member of the City Council? Also, is it not a fact that the Labour Party, realising the damage to its cause in Mr. Bloodworth’s acceptance of the chair under such auspices, declined to accept him as its candidate for the mayoralty in the first instance without a ballot, and accepted Mr. Mason instead? His omission to question my statement that Communism stands for disruption of ordered government, for brutality and unprincipled methods, strikes and disorders, is also alarming, and therefore I must infer that he agrees with me in such interpretation. This being so, his occupancy of the chair at that meeting becomes the more alarming.

I would ask him if he is elected as Mayor, does he intend to act as chairman of any meeting under the auspices of New Zealand Communist, or any other party objectionable to the majority of the community? I certainly am aware that a chairman need not necessarily be in accord with the sentiments of the platform speaker, but Air. Bloodworth’s occupancy of the chair on that occasion (and in face of the foregoing comments) requires to be clearly explained in view of his municipal aspirations. MR. BLOODWORTH REPLIES When Air. Taylor’s letter was referred to Air. Bloodworth, the Labour candidate made the following reply; “I do not expect any reply I gave, or give, will satisfy Air. Taylor. He may have noticed in the Press a few days ago that a delegation of leading British capitalists is going to Russia at the invitation of the Russian Government to investigate on the spot the possibility of opening up trade for British goods. It would be as logical to suggest that the members of that delegation had Communist leanings as it is to infer that I have because I took the chair at a meeting which was held under the auspices of the Communist Party. I dare say it would please Air. Taylor if I, too, would accept an invitation to go to Russia until our municipal elections are over, but as 1 am not a capitalist, nor a Communist, and not a member of the Communist Party or any branch of it, I am not likely to receive such an invitation. "I do not know what Air. Taylor refers to when he talks of my sympathies with the Third International or Sovietism and my advocacy of their adoption in New Zealand, and can only think that Air. Taylor has here drawn on his very vivid imagination, as I have never expressed sympathy with the Third International or advocated Sovietism in New* Zealand. "I have no doubt*Air. Taylor would be very pleased if I had damaged my reputation by presiding at the meeting, to which he has referred, but I do not think there are many people who take the same narrow view of things as he does. ATany of the questions he asks have little, if anything, to do with the subject under discussion. and as I shall be addressing public meetings in the city in the near future. Air. Taylor can, if he chooses to put his questions in proper form at those meetings, get the answers then."