LIBERAL AND LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 279, 23 November 1921, Page 9

LIBERAL AND LABOUR.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln order that bhe official Labour party may not get too rude a eihock next year, at may be a ls well to state that after two years' experience of their sitting members in action a number of the workers are beginning to realise that they are not ttie .politfieal genii they imagined them to be. This may be better understood Iby some comment 1 heard, a fellow worker make after a meeting- at wthii-dh Iris Ji.P. gave an a-ceount of his stewardship. This worker said he had listened to a. rather dramatic recital of the terrible struggle the Labour party had had to get the old-age pensions increased, but toad not lieard a-ny comment on the terrible easy job they had to get their own salaries increased. The incident is just significant enough for one to observe that this ardent labourite wae (beginning to get his weabher-eye opened, and that there may be an opening for a new candidate next year. 'Mr. Lee possesses one great virtue tihat commends him to the respect of his fellow workers—his patriotism. He has fought and' suffered for Ms country. If lie would rid <hus nrind of the fads and fancies of his party and approach the political questions of the day with an open mind; if he would forsake the materialistic atmosphere of tlhe Opera House and Quay Street corner; if he would travel the country and famiJhu-ise himself with its needs and possibilities, -broadening his sympathies and vision; Ff he would devote five and a-half days of the week to a genuine <'.onsidoration of things political and cease to desecrate the honest -worker's most sacred institution —the day of rest, by haranguing at street corners about the prices of butter and bouse rent — we get enough of that six days in the week —we shall be pleased to give him a trial next election. When the official Labour party get enough common sense to learn that upsetting the other fellow's aprple cart doesn't improve "the condition of his own; . when they get rid of the 'idiots -who counsel theiir -fellow workers to such luny practices ac the "go slow," they may hope to nia/ke some headway. I am, etc., A WOBKiER.