THE QUESTION OF PARTY

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 8

THE QUESTION OF PARTY

TO IHE EDITOR. Sir, —I have read with great interest all the letters that have appeared in your columns relating to the Wellington North seat and the contending candidates—but has any of your correspondents really got down to bedrock? Mr. Massey preached patriotism. Let us see what his brand of. patriotism is. He says that we must elect a candidate who will help all he can to assist in winning the war, and that, in: order to win the war, someone must be elected who will support the National Government. Let us assume that Mr.. Massey is right. The names of several men have been mentioned publicly, men of standing and ability, residents of Wei-, lington North, some at least of whom would have proved more able and suitable representatives .than the present Government candidate'; but Mr. Massey would not consider any of them. Yet any of them would have been willing to support the National Government till ■the end of the war or the next election. Why, then, has Mr. Massey: insisted on Mr. Luke? Simply because (I suggest) he has Mr. Luke pledged, and bound hand and foot to Mr. Massey and Mr. Massey's party after the war, while abler and more suitable men would not go anything Kite so far. Party and office first, and above all things. Suclt is the patriotism as practised by our great politicians, who insult us by saying that we are not patriotic unless we accept their dictation and support Mr. Luke.— I am, etc., HUMBUGS BEWARE. . 15tH February.