PROHIBITION AND LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 36, 10 August 1918, Page 6

PROHIBITION AND LABOUR

CREDENTIALS OF MR, JAMES

SIMPSON

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —The Prohibition Party of New Zealand have started a campaign, under the guise of efficiency, for the total prohibition of the liquor traffic in New Zealand, and have imported some speakers from Canada to bolster up their case. Amongst these speakers from Canada they allege one of them to be a representative of Labour from that country—i.e., Mr. J. Simpson. Now, we of the' working class know that it is a trick of our opponents always to say so-and-so represents Labour in this or that country. This representative 'from Canada has not as yet produced any credentials to any Labour official that he is a bona fide Labour representative from Canada. If he is a. bona fide Labour man his clear duty would have been to produce his credentials as such either. to the secretary of the New Zealand Labour I Party, the secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, or the local secretary of the Labour. Party in Wellington. Common courtesy demands that • this should\have been done, and until it is done, then, from our experience- in the past, the Labour movement of thiscoiuitry must treat these so-called Labour representatives from other countries with a great deal of suspicion, especially when they attempt to lecture us of the.. Labour movement as to what we should'! do. If Mr. Simpson produces his bona fide credentials to Laborir in this country, he will be told why Labour will not touch the Prohibition Party in New Zealand with a forty-foot pole. One other question Mr. Simpson might tell us is whether the Prohibition soldier from either the United States or Canada is a superior soldier to the one from either wet' Australia or New Zealand. When these points are cleared up, further questions will be asked of them.—l am, etc.,' . -E. KENNEDY. The above letter was brought under the notice of Rev. J. Dawson, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, who referred us to Mr. P. Fraser, president of the Wellington,branch of the Social Democratic Party, who made-the-follow-ing statement in -regard to' Mr.\ James Simpson's' credentials :—"Mr. .'James. Simpson, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. W." p: Baity, attended Mr. Holland'smeeting, held under the auspices of the Social. Democratic' Party' ori'Sunday last in the Alexandra Hall, and after the meeting made himself acquainted: with Mr., H. Holland,, M.P., and various members of the party then present. Mr.; Simpson expressed'a desire to meet, the ' Labour representatives in Wellington, but owing to his time being very "fully occupied he was not able to meet them. He hones, however, to dr> so on his rs>-

tarn.. In particular,; he intimated his wish: to call on the National Secretary .of, the Labour Party; Mr. J. Glover, but' his engagements, made it impossible for him to do so before leaving for the South. I thought it would. have been possible to arrange for a visit of Mr: Simpson to.'ljhe various Labour offices oh Friday,.but found that Mr: Simpson had to leave:for Christchurchthat afternoon. While in Auckland Mr. Simpson was met by Mr. T. Bloodworth, president of the united Federation of Labour, who is also district, organiser of the Amalgamated Society of; Carpenters and Joiners in Auckland. Mr. Bloodworth had. been previously ..written ito'.by; the headquarters secretary, of the Canadian branch of the Carpenters' Society, who had given Mr. Simpson excellent testimonials. It .was through, no ;,lack .of courtesy that Mr..'Simpson-did riot', visit the officials of the Trades; and >Labour Council and the Representation Committee in Wellington. He regretted his inability to do so, but said he would do so on his return. To those, acquainted with the Canadian Labour movement, Mr: Simpson's",name is very familiar. His position for many years has been that of an advanced Socialist, being a leading member' of:'the Canadian Social Democratic Party; ■ and their accredited delegate to the International "Socialist , Congress ' which' .was to have been held at Vienna in 1914, "which, of course, was not held owing to the outbreak' of hostilities." Mr. Fraser showed a Post representative printed documents showing that among many.,other positions connected with Labour, Mr. Simpson was vice-president of the Trades and Congress * of Canada (according to the. annual report of that body-for. 1917), he is managing .editor of the:lndustrial'Banner, a leading Labour'paper of • Ontario, and has been \ already. . appointed' from Canada* Labour delegate to the, World's. Congress of Labour men to consider peace terms at the^close.of the war. Mr.'• Fraser, in conclusion, said:—"The visit' of Labour, delegates to New Zealand in connection with movements other than that of Labour raises a-question of considerable importance, and one which the Labour organisations will have to arrive at a decision regarding. At present there is a feeling that the National. Industrial and Political organisations of Labour should make representations to the National Labour organisations .of other countries to if possible, so arrange it that Labour men while visiting New Zealand in a. public capacity mil do so only under the auspices of National Labour* organisations. Mr. Simpson's position at present is exactly similar to that of Mr. Snowden in 1914;, and whatever diversity of opinion, may exist in* the ranks of Labour as to the advisability or otherwise of prohibition, that in no way prevents 'Labour.men andiSocialists from, giving full recognition to services rendered to the, international, working class movement in other countries by any prominent Labour representative who may visit New; Zealand."