POLITICIANS AND LABOUR UNIONS. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 40, 17 February 1911, Page 3

POLITICIANS AND LABOUR UNIONS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—Tf your correspondent "J. M'G. Smith" thinks I. am going to discuss the union's business in tho public press, then he is mistaken. It will suffice for me to say that the figure® re voting at meeting a-re not the earn© as those given by Mr. T. Smith, secretary, and I prefer to take the latter gentleman's statement to that of anyone else. Th«» doctrines that as soon as a Labour man gets elected to Parliament ho ehould cease to be a member or render assistance to his union is too silly to require any refutation. Such men as the Hons. Andrew Fisher and W. M. Hughes, or Keir Ha-rdie, John Hodge] and others remain in their union, although they are politicians, and I am simply following the example of better men than myeelf. If I had dropped out of my union I would have been twitted with having "got too big for my boots," and because I remain in the union 1 am told by certain jaundiced critics that I am not doing right. 1 am going to please myself in th?> matter, because he would be a fool who tried to please individuals who do not want to be pleaeed, but who merely kick from pure cussednees. — I am, etc. D. M'LAREN. Wellington, 16th February, 1911.