LETTERS IN BRIEF

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 77, 27 September 1918, Page 3

LETTERS IN BRIEF

"I. should be obliged, if you would allow me space in your paper to place before you a matter which I think, and you will agree, with me, I am ■sure, ought to be given prominence," writes "A Returned Soldier. "On Monday rjght I witnessed, one of the most deplorable scenes it hasN been my lot to see. I was a passenger'on one of the lato cars to Courtenay-place, which, contrary to all rules, was not packed to suffocation, but merely all the seat®, taken, when, on reaching a certain, stop, a returned soldier on crutches, and also r minus a.leg, struggled into the car. No attempt was made by any of the passengers to offer him a seat, and consequently ho was left standing for a considerable time. He was at the other end of the car to me, but I left my seat and offered, him mine, which he was more than glad to accept, and also remarked that ha was getting quite used to standing in tram-cats. I think that it is my- duty to once more remind the ■ citizens of Wellington ,th'St it 13 up to them to do what they can to help these poor unfortunates of, tho .war. Many is the time that I, when "hbb'bling to arid from the" hospital; on crutches, have had to stand, while young fellows and young girls have,sat: complacently looking the other way."' 'i /, ■" :..' J.:; Tucker .writes: ,''; 'Vote-splitting tactics' is the term used in the protest by Greymouth L.R.C. against MrMack standing as Independent, Labour candidate for Wellington Central: 'It must be apparent, not only to -Greymouth _ L.R. 0.,. but. to; all political labour in the Dominion, ,that labour is split long ago on the war question. The lesson'was driven home with a vengeance in t^e result of the last municipal elections. ' The result of th 0: last Grey election, considering Grey to be the stronghold of anti-conscription and pacifism, was not! at all encouraging to the extremists and 'lose ihe war' crowd. The charge of 'vote-splitting' isj- a fallacy.' There; are in Wellington Central a large number cf labour voters that will never vote with a party, whose platform and policy is- in direct opposition to the aims'and objects of the Allies, also in opposition; to the aims and objects of the- mighty labour movements ,■ of America, ,of England, and of France. Labour has . had but one side: of the: question drummed into its ears;, since the: war began, and that side, when compared with actual facts, looks a diabolical spectacle. Had the .', L.R.C. devoted more time'to devise ways and means to check the rise in. the coat of living/ and less with'findiiig fault with the.country's'war policy, it would have served its; purpose better in-doing-some practical good to the workers whom they profess to serve. It matters,little to the extremist whether the Allies win 'or lose the war, but to intelligent worknian who thinks for himself and; know'sj anything of I German, history, to lose the war would: be to lose, all that's wer'th living for: before crushing German militarism and autocracies would be'a world, calamity."

"M.G." writes -in warning against the influence of agitators being "allowed to spread -their pernicious doctrines of sabotage." These agitators, the correspondent contends, think that the present: time .is .opportune for. organising discontent* because there is a shortage of men; well knowing that when the soldiers come back such diegracefnl methods will disappear and the more peaceful methods of arbitration and conciliation will reign. The writer thinks that a mistake is made in' allowing peace .agitators to occupy. official positions in unions, and that every effort should be made >to counter the militantdoctrine.' The younger and more irresponsible members j>i unions are easily led away' by direct action agitators. "A Mother" writes: "I see in the Post that the Mayor deplores the overcrowding on our trams as presenting a very real danger to lite and limb. It is indeed all The other day, after waiting <over twenty minutes for a Wallace-street car with a baby in my arras, I was just about to step on thocar ■when aman(!) dashed into the crowd and swept the baby, out of my arms. I managed somehow to catch the, child by the ankles, whilst the- 'man' boarded the car without ceasing his flight one instant. If I had not managed to cstch her as I did, a fall for so young a child would have meant either death or crippled for iife. I wonder whose fault it would have been?"

"As representing the next-of-kih of one of the. soldiers who returned on Monday morning, may I be allowed to return thanks to the V.M.C. who so kindly placed their cars pud services at the disposal of our returning 1 boys," writes "Hataitai." "Although, sincerely grateful, we often allow this class of service to go unacknowledaed, and I should like to assure the V.M.C. that their generous action is gratefully appredated. It is a real service." /-.