FREEDOM OF OPINION.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20277, 20 August 1937, Page 9

FREEDOM OF OPINION.

■ (To the Editor.) Sir, —A few years ago I had an in- . teresting conversation with a man who , had spent some years of his life in Scotland, as an organiser for the Conservative Party, lie said that in Scotland a large percentage of workers belonged to that party. On one occa--1 sion he went to organise a by-election * In a mining district, and was met on 1 his arrival by the president and secre- * j tary of the local Conservative organi- ‘ sation. Both were working miners 5 who had taken a day off to discharge * | their political duties. 1 | In Scotland the worker has freedom 3 of political thought and action, but in j New Zealand, as soon as a man gets ■ a union ticket (and he must get one ? nowadays), he is reckoned lo have 1 sold his political soul to the Labour 3 I Party. 1 think a unionist in Hamilton >' . who took tiie office of chairman of a 3 National Party committee would get a rough spin. A connection of mine, 1 formerly secretary of a union, said tic was called opprobrious names at a 3 union meeting because he went on the * committee of a Liberal candidate. I * would like some Labour supporter either to disprove these allegations or to Justify the denial of political free- . doiu to union members.-—I am, etc., , INQUISITIVE, f Hamilton, August IS. i