SELF-CONVICTED P.L.L.'S.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1917, Page 6

SELF-CONVICTED P.L.L.'S.

SOME AUSTRALIAN ELECTION SIDELIGHTS. UNPATRIOTIC VAiPORINGS. The National Party has unearthed a number of statements by prominent members of the P.L.L., which make interesting reading in view of the recent protestations of their loyalty by Labor candidates. Their views of the meaning of the-word loyalty (says the Sunday T>mes)\ may be gained by a perusal of the following examples:— "I have no time for this 'Empire-all-the-time' business. It is to me the rankest, moat, repugnant bunkum. I once allowed my children to take part in some Empire Day celebrations. My reason is that every empire, has been founded on force and fraud, and maintained by the same methods, and that the British Empire is no exception to the rule. I have 110 time for the 'hogwash' that does duty for patriotic sentiment.''—Mr. Arthur Rae, now a P.L.L. candidate for the Senate, in a speech in Parliament. "The Empire is crumbling to pieces! I hope Australia may be a republic! The F.mpirp is becoming rotten!"—P.L. !.. .Senator, .Stewart, in a speech in Parliament,

"England is the home of cant, humbug and hypocrisy. It is more urgent to give to the Dublin relief fund than to patriotic funds here, however worthy, such as the Returned Soldiers', Red Cross, or other funds." —Mr. Fihelly, a member of tlio Queensland P.L.L. Government. "The red (lag Is the only flag I'll spill my blood for. As for this British (lag they talk about—the Union Jack — I'll never spill a drop of my blood for it."—Mr. lirooklield, a P.L.L. member of the N.S.W. Parliament, who went in with the P.L.L. endorsement. ''The Government which talks of raising an army for service against a foe ten thousand miles away, which proposes to send our licet to join in alien waters."—A reference by the Sydney "Worker" to the ofl'er of tlnf Government ft the commencement of the war lo raise an Australian force—the Anzacs.

"That the guns should be pulled out of H.11.A.5. Australia, her armored holds lilled with farm produce, and the vessel (the most powerful in our fleet) sent found the world as a travelling menagerie on a voyage of discovery."—The fatuous declaration of P.L.L. member O'Malley on the subject of naval defence (shortly before the war commenced!).

'■' For half the people of Great Britain it really 'wouldn't matter if the country fell into the bands of the Germans tomorrow. A successful German invasion would mean nothing deplorable. It might even mean an improvement in their lot. There would be nothing to lose —there might bo something to gain—by the setting up of a German Government to match the German dynasty on the British throne."—The sentiments of the Brisbane "Worker." "I would as soon bo under German rule as under British. If Australia were in trouble, Britain would not fire a shot lo help her."-Mr. W. E. Dicker, P.L.L. member of the Tasnianian Parliament. ''That no member of the P.L.L, or r.f the N.S.W. Parliamentary Labor Party, take any part in the recruiting campaign."—Resolution passed by the P.L.L. 'Executive, December 15, 1310. Senators Fcrricks (Q.) and Barnes (Vic.) declared they Would not go on a recruiting platform.