"PLAY THE GAME"

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 4, 5 July 1922, Page 6

"PLAY THE GAME"

TO Tnß EDITOR. Sir, —;If one were "to take the Red Labourites of New Zealand at the value of their lofty professions they would be classed as quite the most virtuous people to be found anywhere. Apparently their hearts are forever bleeding. for the poor unfortunate masses who are crushed below the "bread and butter line" by the cruel and wicked capitalists. The picture which these Rods draw of their own wonderful heroism in fighting for the downtrodden is something- to stand off from and admire as a great work of art. :

It is another story, however, whe.n we get down to hard facts. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., rises in the House and demands to know what the Government is doing for the man out of work. That is all right, but what is Councillor P. Fraser doing for the unemployed of Wellington city ? Ho is a number of the City Counoil, and responsible as a councillor. The council, so far. has done less than the Government in finding work for the unemployed, and for the dilatoriness Councillors Fraser and Chapman are as much to blame as the rest. It is easy to pose as a saint, but what is wanted is action, not mere profession. It is not, playing the. game to waste time in bla.raing others whilst doing nothing practical yourself. Then, with regard to wa-ges cuts, is it not the case that men employed at the council's Milk Department have had their wages docked Ss per week whilst officers have beon engaged: at fairly hi"h salaries? Nothing has been heard from Councillor Fraser about this cut, although he is on the Milk Cornmitteo of the council. It is not playing the game to denounce wage cuts" where others are responsible and. say nothing about it when you share in the responsibility yourself. ■At last meeting of the City Counoil Messrs. Chapman and Fraeer waxed hot and indignant because the council did not uphold the principle of appointing tiio nest on tho list of last election to a seat on the Hospital Board. Was it not a faofc that their own Party had previous to them cut tho throat of the next on tho list pnnqiple by deciding to nominate another candidate for tho City Counoil. The Civic League did suggest that, to save expense tho next on the list (Mrs. Preston) should be elected unopposed. The so-called Labour, Party ignored that, a.nd decided to nominate a candidate of their own Thus Councillors Fraser and Chapman were for "next on the list" whoro it did not suit them. Is this stand of "all for ourselves", playing tho. g-ame? (Is the mock indignation displayed candid deallni? l ■ y the samis is a Kooci rule. whether in sport or business. It matters not what'class in society a man belongs to when he soes on to a sports ground he is expected to "play the game." It should be the same in public life. —I am, etc., sth July. JULIAN.