CIVIC LEAGUE AND PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 116, 20 May 1925, Page 9

CIVIC LEAGUE AND PARTY

TO TBI EDITOR,

Sir,—l have to thank Mr. D. WLarch for his explanation of the form of reasoning hy which he arrived at the conclusion that the Civic League is not a party. The explanation is interesting. He simply brushes aside authoritative definitions and adopts a home-made one of his own concocting, which, needless to say, fits in with the needs of the moment. He says, inter alia, " The following, however, can be taken as what I meant by the term party when I used it." This is certainly a novel method of reasoning, and so delightful in its simplicity. I should advise Mr. M'Laren to copyright his method. By adopting it one could prove anything under the sun. I might say, however, that I am not concerned about what Mr. M'Laren "meant" when he used the term, but about the meaning that his words would convey to the average individual in the light of accepted definitions. If Mr. M'Laren uses words apart from their usnal everyday meaning, he should publish a glossary at the end of his articles explaining exactly what he does mean. But to get back to the question: the definition of the word " party " used in my previous letter was not one of my own concocting, but was taken from a leading standard dictionary, so is therefore authoritative. Mr. M'Laren, however, assumes the role of super critic and says that it is " simply nonsensical." His references to euchre tournaments, dances, and football clubs are quite beside the point, and his childish references to these only proves how utterly bankrupt his case is. I have yet to learn that any unity of opinion or design is required of those attending euchre parties, or that football clubs have any political platform at all. On the other hand, the Civic League is a party formed for the express purpose of dealing with matters appertaining to or connected with municipal politics. It has a platform that sets forth its policy in regard to municipal government. It selects and runs candidates at the City Council and other local body elections, and, according to its secretary, it expect 3 loyalty from its members. These are facts that cannot be refuted, and on these facts I am prepared to let the public judge whether of not the Civic League is a political party. _ Mr. M'Laren attempts to draw a distinction, between the Labour Party candidates and those o£ the Civic League. There is certainly a wide difference in matters of^ policy, but all his talk about the league's candidates being individual citizens free to exercise their fullest judgment, etc., is nothing more than childish twaddle. Those of the league's candidates that were returned at the recent^ elections were elected on the league's platform, and are expected to act in accordance with such platform exactly the same as the Labour members are expected to adhere to their party's platform.- If this is not so, why did the league go to the trouble and expense of publishing a platform at all? Or is the platform for public consumption only, and the candidates free to ignore it on election? According to its secretary, the league, when presenting its platform, says, in effect, " Them's our principles, but we don't intend that they shall be observed." tAs a matter of fact, the representatives of the league are not nearly as free and independent as the Labour representatives. The league is controlled by big business interests. ' The unseen hand pulls' the wires and the figures work. We had a striking example of this m connection with the selection of the league's candidate for the Mayoralty. The league's selection committee chose Mr. Thomas Forsyth. This selection did not suit the big business interests. The unseen hand manipulated the wires, and one figure disappeared and another rose in its place. If any of the league s representatives were to act in a manner detrimental to big business interests, they would, at the next selection, share the fate of Mr. Forsyth. ■Mr. M'Laren accuses me of misrepresentation in respect of his use of the word . anarchy." I have carefully reread his article, and have no hesitation in saying that the word as used by Mr M Laren, taken with its context, does a PPIy, to the six Independents that stood m opposition to the league's candidates at the recent elections, n.^' *I'Laren P uts an undue strain on the truth when he says that I represented him as-being an ardent advocate of principles "definitely Socialist with strong leanings in the direction of Syndicalism and semi-Bolshevism." What I did say was that Mr. M'Laren, a few years ago, was an ardent advocate of those veiy principles which he now condemns as definitely Socialist, etc This is a very different thing, and before Mr. MLaren accuses others of misrepresentation he should be careful not to offend In h ' £ V ? r6P Sayi"S that SUch and such is Syndicalism or Bolshevism is no Sw in ?V 1S 'I- *• repeafc what * said m this connection m my previous leaf'l9M o '1 **? P™f = *>om the 191? MVipf 8 t J ° T abollt year 1913 Mr M Laren and I were associated as member^ of various Labour leagues and committees that were formed for tIT^ advancing the cause of Parliament and on local bodies. Mr. M Laren was looked up to as a leader in the movement, and .was certainly one R P If 'ft'nd aoat ardent advocates. He contested quite a number of elections underthe auspices of the aforementioned organisations He wm successful in winwg the Welhngton East seat on one occa Sl on. He was returned to the City ,L %,numi >er of times, and also won the Mayoralty. He had no qualms in those days about the introduction of party into municipal politics Thorn is no material difference in the prin^ against it as having leanings towards Syndicalism and semi-Bolshevism. No one blames Mr. M'Laren or any one eke for changing his or their opinion^ but if any erstwhile champion of the Labour cause sets himself out to specially attack the movement which he helped to build up, and is guilty'of gross! misrepresentation in his Attack, he can only expect to be hit back. . I am afraid that space will not permit of my dealing with the last paragraph o yonr correspondent's lette? further than to say that there is a strong element of truth in the dictum of Mr. Ben Tillet, which-he quoted, viz.: "Scratch a Socialist and you find a Conservative " It proved to be correct in Mr M'Laren s case.—l am, etc., ion ay A"' PAKLANE. lath May.