"ARE WE MISREPRESENTED?"

Evening Star, Issue 16263, 4 November 1916, Page 6

"ARE WE MISREPRESENTED?"

VO THE EDITOR. Sir, —That is the question asked bv " H. Carroll," in a letter appearing in Wednesday's issue of your paper. Ho claims to be an. elector cL Dunedin North, but a perusal of tho roll does not show that he has revealed his real identity. I do not intend to reply to anonymous writers, bub in Mr Carroll's signature there is perhaps sufficient given to warrant me in replying. I shall deal with the first paragraph in the meantime, and with your permission return to it and the others in another letter. Ho says: "As an elector of Dunedin North I would like to know if Mr Walker represents our constituency, or docs he represent—or, rat-hsr, misrepresent—the organised workers? 1 would like to remind him that it was the organised railway workers at Dunedin who first demanded conscription from the Hon. Mi Allen—a. body of workers who have given freely of their manhood for their Empire's cause." From these words Mr Carroll would have the electors of Dunedin and tho people generally believe that I am misrepresenting tho organised rail way workers. Now, I am heart and soul In accord with the Hillside branch of tho A.S.R.S. in their iesolution, and consequently cannot misrepresent them. Mr Carroll does ao, though, for tho branch nev?r made a demand for conscription as wo have it today. On account of the Press Association having published it throughout, the Dominion that tho Hillside workers, at s. recruiting meeting addressed bv the Minister of Defence (Hon. Mr All-en) and the F.ev. R. S. Gray, had asked for conscription, it was found necessary by that body of men that their attitude on tho question, should be made clear. Accordingly, MiBedford was asked to address them, and gave his meaning of " conscription." At Mr Allen's meeting there was no motion put, nor had tho branch previously declared on the question. At tho meeting conducted by Mr Bedford, however, a motion was submitted. After a fitting ■expression of the meeting's loyalty, it said : "In the interests of the people the Government should take possesion of and organiso all the main industries an-i wealth of the Dominion, for the purpose of assisting the nation to successfully and speedily end the war, to provide all fighting men required and workers to produce material for outfitting and maintaining both the military and civilian population, l:-> provide adequate means for dependents of those slain by disease cr in "battle, and also provision for those returning maimed and disabled." Mr Bedford suggested that a sentence be added to the motion expressing willingness to conscription of men unconditionally, and said that, while the motion as it stood was a good one, it would be improved by a final c' euso expressing willingness for unconditional conscription of uk'ii. The suggestion of Mr Bedford was not entertained, and tho motion as originally drafted was carried with only two or ttn-ee dissentients. With these facts before kirn, will Mr Carroll say who is misrepresenting the organised workers from the Hillside men's point of view—is it he or I?—I am, etc., A. W-ALKEB, " M.P. Dunadiii North., November 4.