CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 5 December 1913, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR CQNOIXDN AM) THE SPECIALS. ' I ■x (To the Editor) | Sir,—-In replying to "Reason" in! yesterday's issue of your journal, Mr Cbngdon mentioned that invariably there were reasons for actions. Now, I would like to know what Mr Qongdctfi's reasons are for changing his Opinion regarding the specials. On the morning of the despatch of the first contingent of specials, Mr Congdon was, I am informed, of the opinion that they were, all "scabs." He is, presumably, now confining his coin tempt to the local town specials, and his reasons are obvious. Mr Congdon he it known, is an sdept cueist, and enjoys most of hig games at a certain club. Not a few of the members of this club acted as specials during the recent disturbance, and, I believe, that in every instance they wore farmers. Now, is it ndt clear why Mr Congdon has removed his embargo from the fanner specials? In the case of the cricket club, there was only one isolated case of a special being in the ranks,, and being by no means the : brilliant player that Mr Congdon is, it'is the writer's opinion that he . (Mr Congdon) thought, by refusing to play for his club on tho grounds of there being a special in the ranks, he would succeed in causing the non-selection of this novice. It is well that the club in qtaestionhas, as a governing body, men of intellect among its numbers. Mr Congdon recognises the right of the farmer to protect his own; yet he has a "sincere" contempt for the man who assists him to do sk>. Perhaps ho will venture his opinion as to what would have been the state of affairs in the Capital with free ,laboiur and no specials. His intended insult re town specials volunteering for service with the idea of having a holiday at the country's expense is again characteristic of his intellect, as without exception the Masterton town specials were men of commercial' Occupation, loyal to their employers, who are financially interested in the farmers' produce, and who are more deeply concerned with the maintaining of an open waterfront than most other sections of the community. It makes cine shudder to think of what would have been the financial state of our Dominion had not the commercial institutions and farmers stood shoulder to shoulder in tho present crisis. In conclusion, Mr Ediotr, I have to thank you in anticipation of your finding space for this rather lengthy article. —I am, etc., A SPECIAL.