THE CIVIC LEAGUE AND LABOUR M.P.'S

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 9, 11 July 1922, Page 3

THE CIVIC LEAGUE AND LABOUR M.P.'S

TO IHB IDITOB. Sir, —With the intention of injuring Labour it the City Council by-election, the Civic League has passed a motion protesting against the enlistment by the Labour Party, in support of Mr. J. Glover's candidature, of Labour M.P.'s, who allegedly do not reside in the city. The Labour Party admits the soft impeachment, but it maizes no. apology for having wounded the very tender susceptibilities of the gentlemen who constitute that body. The Civic League's motion is a repetition of the criticism levelled against Labour Party activities in the Dunedin North .by-election. On that occasion Messrs. J. M'Combs, E. J. Howard, and D. S. Sullivan, M.P^'s, were described as "the invaders" by the anti-Labour forces, because they had the temerity to assist one of their own comrades! In Wellington, apparently, as in'Dunedin, it is, with the reactionaries, most reprehensible to depart from the parish pump.

The reason the Labour Party uses its M.P.'s onevery possible occasion is that it depends entirely on the platform for a presentation of its views, and at election times, when the opportunities for reaching thousands of people are usually scanty, the Labour Party finds it necessary to utilise the whole of its resources. It fights, that is to bay, as doubtless the Civic League will fight, with every weapon it possesses.

• The, Civic League has certain advantages over the Labour Party which make its complaint look perilously like cowardice. It has the support of three daily newspapers in Wellington; it will have dozens of motor-cars next Tuesday, and there willbe money at its disposal without stint. For these reasons it can discreetly withhold its candidate from the public sight, run no risk of awkward questions, and still be perfectly sure of reaching every adult in Wellington with its proposals. Yet, with these advantages in its favour, the league makes !i moan when the Labour Party, .to even up the forces in the contest, puts a few of its M.P.'s on the platform, some of whom, by the way, have had a valuable municipal experience. Some of the1 league members have a reputation for courage too! To the league's assertion that the Labour M.P.'s do not reside in Wellington our reply is that they do. They live here for, roughly, six months in the •year, and during that time at least they are subject to our municipal conditions. The conclusive answer to the league on this point is that before this session rises every Labour M.P. willbe qualified to enrol, by reason of length of residence,, as .1 voter on'tho Wellington municipal rolls. Now, will the Civic League kindly tell the public how many of its members reside outside the city area?—l am, etc., JAMES TTIORN, Secretary, Wellington Labour Representation Committee. 11th July.

A black -headed albatross followed !a steamship across the North Paofio for 3000 miles without once furling its wings. It. started from a small island near'Jarian, and when the ship was 1900' miles' fromtha nearest Alukan port it turned abruptly and flow toward the woet.