Politicians and Pioneers

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 29, 28 October 1932, Page 13

Politicians and Pioneers

Sir, —Your correspondent, “T.J..” Halcombo, makes me say “All the pioneers were driven out of London slums.” The quotation is untruthful and “T.J.” should quote his authority. Surely a deep hatred of Labour must exist in "T.J.’s" mind to permit of such a malicious misquotation unless it be that somewhere I am reported as having used that sentence, although I know not where.—l am. etc., JOHN A. LEE. Wellington, October 27. [The report in “Tho Dominion” of Mr. Lee’s original remarks read as follows:—“I object to New Zealand being represented at conferences by people who refer to Great Britain as Home,” and at a later stage of his speechj "This is home. The Dominions were not founded on British goodwill. People from the slums were driven out by racketeers .” The remark raised a storm of protest. . . . In a debate the next evening the following passage is reported:— Resentment at the remarks of Mr. J. A. Lee, who had suggested that. the early New Zealand colonists were driven out of the slums of London, was expressed by Mr, R. A. Wright aqd by Air. G. R. Sykes. . . “I feel sure Mr. Lee must feel sorry about his remarks last evening,” said Mr. Wright. Mr. Lee: Never on your life. Mr. Wright: He made an attack on the early settlers of New Zealand. He said they came from the slums of England. It is admitted on every hand that our early settiers came from a magnificent stock, and I am sorry he cast a slur on them.” In a still further debate the following occurs:—Mr. F. Lye protested against statements made by Mr. J. A. Lee, who had suggested that the early New Zealand settlers were driven out of the slums of London and that it was wrong for New Zealanders to refer to England as “Home.”]