THE P.P.A.’S LIST,

Evening Star, Issue 18139, 1 December 1922, Page 7

THE P.P.A.’S LIST,

TO THB EDITOR. Sir, —The P.P.A. organism' the other evening told his audience what candidates it was supporting. He nominated no one for Dunedin South, saying tliat ho had a reason for not doing so. Perhaps some well-informed member of the P.P.A. will be able to enlighten us a little on that reason. Is it not because a straight-out declaration in this case might win support for the Labor candidate? Air Fidey, the Liberal candidate, has for years received considerable support from ’the Catholic electors of Dunedin South. _ A declaration from the P.P.A. supporting Mr Sidey might have the effect of robbing him of a great number of Catholic votes. Therefore the P.P.A. is discreetly silent in this case, and even though an Irishman and .official Labor candidate is in tho field it hesitates to come out and condemn him. I do not in any way seek to implicate Air S-idey in this. Though I disagree with his politics, I feel sure that he is too honora-blo a man to swim in the cesspool of sectarianism. Still, it would seem that the P.P.A. is intent upon using him to further its ends. The P.P.A. organiser's nomination of Air Clark for Dunedin North makes cheerful reading in tho light of what the same organiser said of Air Clark in 1918. Now that Air Clark is standing as a supporter of Air Massey, he is received with open arms by the leaders of that body that was founded on Massoyiara. Mr Clark is now a hero, a. Protestant chaninion; but he was not always that, as Mr 'lnward Elliott is able to testify. It was m Alay 2. 1918, that Air Clark, when \.'aynr of Dunedin, refused io preside at i. P.P.A. meeting at which Mr Howard

Elliott delivered an address., Mr Elliott felt hurt at the slight put upon him, and delivered himself Urns to audience admitted by ticket, in His Majesty s Theatre ; —“ The politician had only one sense. He ns always feeling round for votes, and whichever way the votes were going, ho would go. The other day the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. J. Clark) was •asked to take the Chair at that meeting, and his reply was that, a»s the association was a political body, ho could not see his way to associate himself with. it. But two or three night# afterwards the mayor took the chair for Dr Thacker, who made an attack on the Deform Party. I have boon told that the mayor had political ambitions; but we do not want any more wobbly Protestants in Wellington.”. Evidently Mr Clark has repented his sin, and has, received full absolution. He is not wobbly any more. It’ is not quite dear, however, whether he is braced up by Protestantism or shored np by Mr Massey. In any case, hits past, sins ha ve been forgiven, and ha is admitted to the somewhat doubtful grace of tho P.P.A. —I am. etc., J. Robinson. November SO.