LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1178, 13 July 1911, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

fy . MR. M'LAREN. Till; HOPE OF THK LABOUR PARTY. Sir,—Mr. M'Laren, M.P., was not content with an attempt to explain how well he had done nothing lor Iwo sessions of Parliament, lie must draw attention to what ho regards an the shortcomings of other members, whilst carefully concealing his own. He declared that Mr. Fisher and Mr. Wright had voted against the leasehold, but withheld the fact that it was on a motion of No-Confidence, which superseded all minor details. Jiut if Mr. Fisher and Mr. Wright voted against tho leasrhold, did Mr. M'La roil vote for it? Not at all. Ho didn't, happen to be I here. But lie carefully did not tell his audience this. Where was ho when he had the chance to "chastise this inhuman and unlibcrul party" as ho stigmatised tho Ministers who have him in their waistcoat pocket. Ho is going to do it next session. Mr. M'Laren will rise up in the small hours and drone and drone until the bell rings for a quorum. We call him "Dismal David." Ho said last night that "not even Mr. Fisher would get a Bill through the House." Tho ignorance of Mr. M'Laren! Mr. Fisher introduced a. Bill extending tho municipal franchise. It passed 'through tho Lower Houso and was rejected in the Council on the motion of Mr. T. K. Macdonnld, then the Honourable Mr. Macdonald, M.L.C. But next year tho Bill became law, and last municipal election Mr. M'Laren reaped some of the benefits of tho Bill originated by me. And he did not know it. ■_ Last session 1 introduced a Bill improving the Advauces to Workers Act. The Government took up my Bill and made it law. 1 introduced a Sunday Labour Bill three times, and will go on introducing it until it becomes law. It is a AA'orkers' Protection Bill. I do not despair of its ultimate success. So problems are solved, by persistence. But my friend "David," who has only introduced two "botches" of bills which he. has withdrawn on account of their want of "stuff" in tlieiu, wails aloud like the pelican in the wilderness, and pleads, in extenuation of his failure to do things, that "even Mr. Fisher" has not succeeded. Now, I have shown that Mr. Fisher has succeeded, and that a private member who wants reform should promote discussion and publicity by forcing his ideas beioro the House. That is what ho is there for. ' You, dear Mr. M'Laren, have a. policy as long as your own two legs. Draft some Bills to give your policy effect. Move amendments whenever you can to give you a chance to air your grievances and profess your laith. Resign from the City Council so you won't be at the council when you're wanted in the House, and in tho House when you are. wanted at the council. Don't be disconsolate and wail, and grieve and make long wearisome, droning speeches that dull the senses of your friends and harden up your enemies, who then put in a pill against you with increased relish for the oratorical infliction you have subjected them to. You said last night that I had made "an unwarranted attack" upon the Australian Labour party. This is the result of a nightmare. I met Mr. Andrew Fisher. I wish wo had more of his type in Now Zealand. He is worthy of the name of Fisher. I think wc were pleased with each other. But dou't rely upon your dull imagination, Mr. M'Laren, when there are such irspiring items_ as are provided for the critics by the Ward Government. For instance, as a champion leaseholder,-why not say how much of the country's leasehold has been sold and freeholded during the four years of the titled Ministry which you ore going to "chastise"—perhaps—but support, as well? This would nave been an excellent topic. AA'hy not discuss the rates of wages paid to State coal-cart drivers? Perhaps before you mako your next speech I may be able to supply you with some crisp and up-to-date material. In the meantime give up wailing and moaning. Get a move on. Next election you will not be asked "What did yon say?" but "What did you do?" and "AA T here were you on tho noconfidence motion?"—l era, etc., ' F. M. B. FISHER.