LABOUR’S DEFEAT.

Evening Star, Issue 22974, 3 June 1938, Page 2

LABOUR’S DEFEAT.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —I, as one of the Labour movement, do not require the apology of “ Sound Labour” for his letter under a nom de plume, as I am quite well aware of his identity. His standing of membership of a mere 10 years leaves him as the babe in swaddling clothes, as indicated by his interpretation of what Labour really means and his contention that the wrong personalities were nominated to carry the banner of Labour. The candidates had no voice in the matter, with the exception of casting their own votes in the ballot. Your correspondent has quoted correctly the positions held in my union by Messrs Harrison, MacManus, and myself, but as a sound Labour man ho is not conversant with the constitution of the party he claims to have 10 years’ membership of governing selection ballots. “ Sound Labour ” states that neither Mr O’Donnell, Mr Harrison, nor Mr MacManus will over win a seat on the council. Every citizen in Dunedin would wish that,ho had the ability to be a seer of the future such as “ Sound Labour ” professes to be. _ I cannot in any way answer for the action of Mr Harrison and Mr MacManus in the future. For myself, I will state definitely that so long as any organisation or group of workers nominates me for any position and a majority of the members of the party taking part in a selection ballot endorses my candidature I will stand for that position, let it be what it may. I am not standing down as advised by “ Sound Labour.” I am begot of tho stock that never knew defeat, and won in the end, even though many of their kind had to spill blood for victory. While Mr O’Donnell does know the number of votes cast in the selection ballot for each individual he is too old a bird in the game to be led up the garden path by a mere babe in swaddling clothes. Let “ Sound Labour ” ask the L.R.C. at qneof its meetings. The opportunity is in the offing in a few days. D as a humble man, do not in any way pretend to have the ability of men of the past. Perhaps it will not do any harm for me to remind “ Sound Labour ” that the late Richard John Seddon was once a common miner, Sir Joseph Ward a mere telegraph boy, William Massey a farm hand, Ramsay MacDonald once picked stones in tho fields of England for a living, the Hon. Robert Semple, the best Minister of Public Works New Zealand has ever known, was once a labourer, Hon. P. C. Webb a miner,' the Right Hon. the Prime Minister was at one time in his career pulling flax, the Hon George Forbes was settled on tenant land oy the Government of the day, Mr William Hughes, one time Premier of Australia, was only a common waiter in a very common restaurant. Now, let me assure ‘‘ Sound Labour ” that Mr O’Donnell, if the hint is meant for him, can and does control his own affairs successfully, at least to his own satisfaction and to ■ the satisfaction of his wife and family. Every National Party candidate in tho past who has seen service, even though it has only been a trip to Trentham, has always mentioned , the fact of his service. It evidently hurts “ Sound Labour” that I mention my service, which was given without tho aid of the leg rope. Why P Was “ Sound Labour ” too young or did lie not want to defend New Zealand? Certainly we had hundreds of men in the Labour movement with ability and hundreds Of fair-weather friends and Hitlerites. ‘ Sound Labour ” seems to be imbued with the same idea, of democracy as the Dictator of Germany is. He states a full Labour ticket of New Zealanders, more especially Dnnedinites. There would be no white New Zealanders or Duncdinites if the men of dialects and brogues did not pioneer New Zealand. However, every time I have formed a branch of the Labour Party I have informed young New Zealanders that they owed a duty to themselves, and requested that they should take an active part in the Labour movement. I love New Zealanders, and especially Duncdinites. I am the father of three, and I hope, anyway, they will be all in the Labour movement when they are old enough. At the present lam fighting fit. lam assuming that Mr Mark Silverstone will reply for himself, therefore I will not reply on his behalf. Mr Phil. Connolly is one of ray esteemed friends, an admirable follow, with ability. I was president of the L.R.C. and Mr Connolly was secretary in 1935 when Labour won both elections. Mr Connolly has stood for the City Council on three occasions. Why did not “Sound Labour ” do his utmost to see that he was elected ? Tho men “ Sound Labour ” mentioned might well state, “ Save us from our friends,” or would that we could see ourselves as others see us.— I am, etc., Bryan O’Donnell. June 2 (/ ,