The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1920. SUBTLE SABOTAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1920. SUBTLE SABOTAGE.

Speaking in the House last week, Mr, L. M. Isitt said:— There is a sabotage that is far more subtle than the action of the man whn casts sand into the power plant of a factory. Men who go through this country instilling into the minds of the workers the idea that they serve their own interests by going slow and 'hindering production at a time when nothing but increased production can enable this country to face its financial difficulties, are indulging in a sabotage of the very worst kind. . . *They are betraying Labor and misleading Labor.

Another development of this subtle sabotage is exemplified in the steps taken by the extremists to prevent immigrants coming to the Dominion, in -prder that the present scarcity of labor may continue acute, for so long as the shortage lasts the extremists hope to continue to exercise their despotic policy, and dominate the industrial situation. That they will go to any length hi their selfish efforts to trea;d underfoot the great democratic principle of democracy is evident by the organised attempt recently made to discourage immigration by slandering the country in which they are domiciled. Such disloyalists lack the courage of their opinions in not emigrating to Russia, Mexico, or some such place where tyranny is rampant, but where human life is cheap and may be extinguished at any moment at will. ''There is,'' said Mr. Massey in the House last week, "no country in the British Empire that offers better conditions to immigrants than does New Zealand." Yet the extremists—men who have proved themselves totally devoid' of patriotism—are decrying the country and its conditions in order to hold up the flow of immigrants to our

shores. New Zealand is not the only country needing more popu lation, hence it is possible for any perverted irreconcilables to do incalculable harm by instituting propaganda in Britain calculated to divert immigrants elsewhere. Did we not know the real aim of these calumniators, it would seem impossible to conceive they would adopt such tactics, and it only shows how greatly they fear the effect of the advent of workers in considerable numbers from Britain, whereby it is probable that the law of supply and demand in connection with labor will materially change present conditions. They have no stake in the country, and are thoroughly callous as to the development of its resources. Instead of increasing production so as to facilitate recovery from the effects of the war, they are bent on minimising production as a means of forcing up wages. The war caused us a great loss in man power, the effect of which on the activities of the country can only partially be met by encouraging our kith and kin from abroad to "Come over and help us." Well might Mr. Massey say that the conduct of people who decried the country came as nearly as possible to being disloyal and seditious. The Dominion has far too much at stake to ignore the effects of the calumnies that have been circulated against the existing conditions and prospects it contains for those who can and will work. No time/ should be lost in setting afoot a counter campaign of publicity in Britain designed to place plain, reliable facts as to what the Dominion can offer to immigrants before those desiring to emigrate, carefully avoiding all coloring and giving the latest information that may be useful in enabling intending emigrants to decide whether to come here or not. Apparently l some misleading statements have crept into the official leaflets lately issued by the London office. The time has arrived when the tactics of the Labor extremists of the Dominion should be made known throughout the Homeland, and stress laid upon the class of people most needed in New Zealand, also setting forth the advantages the country offers for settlement as well as for labor. The High Commissioner's office should be made a centre of intense publicity and activity in attracting immigrants to the Dominion—men that the times demands: Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands; Men who have honor—men who will not lie, Men who can stand before a demagogue, And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking, Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog In public duty, and in private thinking."