NONE BUT EXTREMISTS NEED APPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1921, Page 11

NONE BUT EXTREMISTS NEED APPLY.

THE REDS’ MUNICIPAL TYRANNY. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League). The incidents of the present municipal elections should be an eye-opener to the workers of New Zealand if they can only understand what is going on within the Labor movement. It is quite eVident that the extremist element has marshalled its forces and is determined that no labor man or woman shall be selected unless they are either of the extremist Red dye, or the willing servants of that dictatorial faction. In order to make clear what is taking place we have set out the details of recent acts of the so-called “N.Z. Labor Party.”

CENSURES AND TYRANNY. At Timaru two of the Labor Councillors were censured by the local L.R.C. •because they dared to exercise their free judgment on a question which came before the council. At Petone a Labor Councillor was similarly censured and called on to resign. In Christchurch the L.R.C. extracts a pledge from each of their candidates that they shall resign “if called to do so by the Labor Party.” Three of the Labor councillors who attended with the Mayor to welcome the Prince of Wales to the city were censured by the L.R.C. and called upon to explain their outrageous conduct. One of the councillors has repudiated the “Party” and is now standing as an Independent. This member was for several years an Official Labor councillor, but now repudiates the caucus tyranny An ex-Labor member of the Christchurch Hospital Board (a woman who was nominated by every affiliated union) has rebelled against the party dictatorship and is standing as an Independent. In Dunedin the party has turned down Mr. Jim Munro, probably the most, able labor man in that community, seemingly because he took part in. assisting to organise our forces against Germany. Mr. Munro was the Party’s candidate for parliament in. 1919 and polled a very big, vote, now he is not considered Red enough to be a candidate for the City Council.

In Wellington Mr. J. Reid who polled a -big vote for the Mayoralty is ignored in favor of a man who has never held a front rank position in the Labor movement in Wellington, and whose only qualification is that he is wildly extremist. The Maoriland Worker describing the selection of candidates by the Christchurch L.R.C. says, “The real Reds cursed capitalism by bell, book and candle scored a unanimous vote.” z

WHAT DO THE WORKERS THINK? In putting the above question we are referring to the actual workers, not to spouters and intriguers. It is most evident that in some of the branches of the present misnamed N.Z. Labor Party the chief qualifications for selection are to be dyed deep red; to be able to curse well, and to avoid being weighed with any knowledge of business affairs. Men of the best stamp are pushed aside, or are so disgusted with the whole proceedings that they will have nothing to do with it. The selections in many instances would be laughable if they did not deal with public representation and practically insult the great body of workers who are in such manner misrepresented and misled. The many thousands of reason-able-minded Trades Unionists have suffered this misrepresentation for some time, but the day must come when they will resefit having their cause dragged in the dipt by theoretic schemers and fanatics who are out to force revolution by dictatorial assumption of power over everybody, whether they agree with them or not. This red, red faction which started out by abusing the paid secretaries of unions, and are making vastly more out of the movement than ever the old time officers made, should be taught a lesson in decency by a set back which may serve for all time. The rank and file have it in their own hands to teach that lesson and for their own sakes it were well that they should do it.