PATRIOTIC RATTLES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 290, 13 September 1915, Page 4

PATRIOTIC RATTLES.

(To the Editor). sj r< The member for Waimarino is reported in Friay’s Dominion as having made a speech on the Budget. Amoafc other things he is reported as saying, *‘ He strongly favoured patriotic raffles, The whole agitation for the suppression of these was due to a few nar-row-minded bigots who would not give a penny themselves. If they wanted money for their own purposes they would raffle a threepenny doll for a thousand pounds and think they had done something smart,” (Laughter). The representative of our portion of the democracy is not often reported a? having made a speech and for obvious reasons. This one apparently war laughable. In any case his assertions are untrue. Some of these minded bigots” (to use his delightful parliamentary language) have alreay given their sons. Some have devote.* ( their lives to the moral and spiritual enrichment of their country and without sacrificing their conscience for cheap popularity. It is not strange tor morals to be underestimated by politicians generally, but it is strange that such aspersions should have found not even one member of the House to refute them. Probably they thought that their laughter was sufficient answer and perhaps it is. Personally, I, myself, no not see the evil! that some do in patriotic rafflSes, but I am not going to impute to these people mean motives, because I know —and so doe* the member in question —that it woulcr not be true. —I am, etc’., CHARITY.