ATTITUDE OF THE TRAP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 136, 26 February 1918, Page 8

ATTITUDE OF THE TRAP

| STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Herewith I send copy of letter sent by me to J.' Hutcheson, Esq., and shall be glad if you will publish same in to-morrow's (25th) issue of your paper.—Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) RICHARD DWYER, Secretary, Wellington Licensed Victuallers' Assn. J. Hutcheson, Esq., C/o Messrs. Hutcheson and Wilson, Wellington, Feb. 24, 1918. Dear Sir,—ln Saturday's "Evening Post" 1 noticed somo correspondence published as having passed between you and Mr. Brandon, in which you infer that Mr. Brandon was brought forward by the Wellington L.V.A. as their nominee for Wellington North, in support of which you quote a circular addressed to members of the W.L.V.A. calling a special general meeting for the 12th of February, 1918, at 11 a.m. "Business: Parliamentary. Also committee at 10.30 a.m." Let me say at once that Mr. Bran-

don was never at any time discussed as a possible candidate for Wellington North by the W.L.V.A. Further, that at the meeting on the sth inst., at which Mr. Brandon was asked to stand, there was no member of that deputation in any way connected with tho W.L.V.A. either officially or otherwise, nor was any person present having authority to speak on behalf of tho W.L.V.A.

As an actual matter of fact Mr, Brandon's nomination was a complete surprise to the Trado.

With reference to the circular which eeems to have been tho cause of your falling into error, I must point out that Mr. Brandon's candidature was announco on the sth, a week earlier than tho date of the meeting of the W.L.V.A. called by circular to consider all the candidates in the field.

This course was taken because you know tho Trade, as a trade, can have no party politics, but must support the. man who will deal justly and fairly with Trade interests.

In justice to Mr. Brandon, who knows the true position, and for the purpose of clearing tho matter to the public mind, which you letter seems calculated to mislead, I am sending a copy of this letter to Mr. Brandon and the Press.—Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) RICHARD DWYER, Secretary, Wellington L.V.A. In reply, Mr. Huteheson wroto the

following to Mr. Dwyer yesterday:— "WHERE NONE ARE FOR THE PARTY AND ALL FOR THE TRADE." Dear Sir,— "I first hud the pleasure of perusing your courteous letter in tho columns of this morning's 'New Zealand Times. 1 "I have carefully noted your statements of facts and find nothing therein to cause me to alter the terms of my first letter in reply to Mr. Brandon, but on the contrary have to thank you for your epitomised version of the Trade's attitude toward politics:— '' 'The Trado as a trade can have no party politics, but must support tho man who will deal justly and fairly with trade interests.' In'other words', the Trade's _ interests aro paramount to all other interests, and to servo the Trado as it expects to be served, their champion must hold the Trade's views where the Trade's interests arc concerned. "As Mr. Brandon's views and the views of the Trade seem to harmonise, have no further complaint now that the electors are seized of the fact." THE TRADE AND THE ELECTORS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—How sweetly simple is "The Trade!" For whom did Mr, Sievwright speak at the little meeting when Mr. Hadfield was in the chair? And now Mr. Beveridge in your paper of February 25 and Mr. Dwyer in your morning contemporary of the same date guilelessly_ state that thoy arc out for their own interest only. Let the country sufferj let everything else go, but do not let the pockets of the L.V. suffer. What a damning admission in a time like this,' when the people as a whole aro exerting every effort, giving sons, husbands, brothers—dearer to them than life—to uphold their country's principles and honour; when to rightthinking folk no sacrifice is too great in the face of the sacrifice made by our soldiers. "We," they say, "will support the candidate who would best consider our interests." Not, you will observe, tho interests of those truly British boys away there in France and Palestine and Egypt, who are fighting to protect these selfish people, not either the interests of their /dependents left behind! Nor even the interests of the Empire, nor this little corner of it—this little New Zealand some of us love! They would give it over to anyone, be he Red Fed or any old thing, providing' only that he would consider their interests. And so they will support Mr. Brandon, he having satisfactorily answered their catechism to regard their "interests." And they considered Mr. Holland! Do they forget that tho same E. E. Kennedy is secretary for Mr. Holland and for tho Hotel Workers' Union, and that this same E. E. Kennedy not so very long ago wrote to a certain paper urging Mr. Brandon not to stand down ? And can • they

not see that at one blow their boasted support of Mr. Brandon is robbed of half and more than half its numbers? Do they not in that see the writing on the wall ? For where will their "interests" bo if Mr. Holland gets in?—l am, etc., CENTRAL TERRACE. SOLDIERS' PAY MR. HOLLAND AND "THE DOMINION." "I want The Dominion to take particular noto of this," said Mr. H. E. Holland at the Town Hall last night. Ho proceeded to quote a statement that the keep of a soldier in the CI Camp cost los. a week, and said an article in Tub Dominion referring to the pay of the soldier had stated that the cost of maintenance was 255. Tub Dominion was just 10s. wrong," added Mr. Holland triumphantly. What Tim Dominion did say was this: "The unmarried private ... is paid £1 los. a week, plus free board; clothing, and medical attendance. The cost to him in civilian life of these services would certainly not be less than £1 ss. a week, so that bis military wage is equivalent to £3 a week." In addition tho Defence Department pays separation allowance, to wives and children.

The 15s. a week mentioned by Mr. Holland does not cover clothing, medical attendance, etc., which fact Mr. Holland, to serve his purpose, conveniently ignores. At the Town Hall this evening the l'rimo Minister and Sir Joseph Ward will tell the electors why they should support the National Government nominee, Mr. J. P. Luke. Mr. Luke will also address the meeting. Tho chair will ho occupied by Mr. John Hutchcson. Mr. fjuko was remarking last ovening that, certain soldiers should be put oil certain classes of land. "Too expensive," said an inlerjccior. "No land is too oxpensive for the soldier," retorted Mr. Luke. "It is because of what the soldier has done that there is any land left us at all." (Applause.) Mr. Brandon will address the electors at the Methodist Schoolroom, Molosworth Street, to-night, and will speak at Kelburn Kiosk' to-murrow evening. Mr. 11. E. Holland will address a meeting of women onlv in the Crown Theatre at 2.30 p.m." to-day. This evening lie will speak .it (lie Masonic Mall, jßoulcott Street, and his programme for Wednesday is advertised in another column. A .nceting will be held in xh e Tost Office Square at noon to-day.