THE LABORITES AND THEIR PLEDGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 211, 5 March 1912, Page 7

THE LABORITES AND THEIR PLEDGES.

To the Editor. Sir,—With your permission, I would like to say a lew words upon the Labor faction result of the late election. One cannot help wondering what a sorry condition Xew Zealand would be in if pledge - making and pledge - breaking ticket-of-leave men were in a majority in the House of- Representatives. Men who have sunk their individual, responsibility in unionism, and are thus shorn of their true manhood; who will vote no-confidence one day, and then the next turn round and support the Government they had no confidence in. What a mockery! It used to be thought that hypocrites were religious hypocrites only, but they are in abundance in all departments of life. The Laborites have no independent judgment; they are not controlled by personal responsibility, but from weathercock conditions, and their will and whims are about as changeable as the weather. Sir, I ask, what is likely to be the result of shirking moral responsibility, and going by unionism and State management? How can man improve his social status while adopting measures which deprive him of his dignity as a man, and become a mere Labor tool, dictated to by this, that and the other person? Does the Labor man know his own mind for twenty-four hours in succession? Such-like men are treacherous; no dependence can be placed upon them; they are the property of the union. Is not the so-called Liberal Government of ours largely responsible for the production of this cheap and eeeond-hand class of men? I think so. I am deeply impressed that this Liberal Administration exerts aTaneful influence upon man's highest and noblest instincts. The tendency of this Liberal Government is to make man more and more dependent upon it. That is very obvious. The Labor problem is no more solvable with true Liberalism than the South of Ireland is solvable, with England. It will be an unenviable task'to deal with Laborites in the House of Representatives. When Labor-Union men have succeeded in making themselves mere irresponsible bipeds, dependent upon the State, and whom nobody can tlepend upon for any word of honor, what a success it will be! —I am, ete., JAMES FORTUNE.

[People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Our Pecksniffian correspondent, before throwing stones at the Labor members, should consider the recent conduct of some of the members on the side of the House where spotlessness and virtue is alone found. Also he should carefully read and weigh the reasons advanced by the Labor men for their voting on the No-confidence motion. He might, at any rate in the case of Mr. Eobertson, then be disposed to be a little more charitable and tolerant.—Ed.]