THE RECENT CAMPAIGN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1911, Page 7

THE RECENT CAMPAIGN.

[to xhb editor.] Sir, —Sir A. R. Guinness snoke at Dunollie on Wednesday and "at the close of his speech questions were invited. Mr Semple rose to put a ques-' tion but previous to putting it commenced an expression of his own opinion. Remarking that I did not want a speech from Mr Semple I appealed to the Chairman for the question. The reception my remark met with by part of the audience and Mr Semple's choice of language in resenting what he called an attempt to "put him down" I leave to the judgment of thoughtful men. It is to Mr Webb's sane supporters I offer this explanation. I maintain that in putting a question to a political candidate tho. questioner is bound by the laws of fairness to put his question immediately on rising and wait the candidate's answer and then, subject to lus own wishes and the approval of the chairman, criticise that answer to the fullest. I maintain that to preface a question with an expression of one's own opinion is contrary to that procedure which, should govern public meetings. It is unfair since it is calculated to influence and bias the minds of the audience to. a prejudicial sympathy with the questioner. This means that the candidate has to answer the question before aai audience too excited to-be judicial. I have been called a fool for my action. In the, name of sanity and tolerance I. ask is a man a fool to have the courage of his convictions. There are men hi Runauga, who wish to stifle all thought that does not coincide with their own. the blatant and cowardly abuse which is showered on that; small knot of men who have the courage-.:of\ their. own opinions about Mills'... Unity . schemey The hoot, the slinging of "scab," ''traitor," the unthinking .boycott are not the tools of a true democracy or a pure socialism. Dp such things tend to promote freedom of thought ? Ought they not to be, relegated' to their proper place with the thumb-screw and rack? Enthuse a man's spirit and convince his intellect. Such a convert will stand better than one coerced by the "scab" rack'treatment. Mr Semple stated he represented 15,000 workers. At a re-, cent election of officers only 25 per cent, of these voted Where are the rest?' Are they too careless or indolent to vote on so vital a question, as leadership? Mr Semple talks of paralysing New Zealand. It is arrogance to talk like this when.'it is patent that 75 per cent, of the men he represents are careless and indolent. It is from such carelessness emanate the ideas of general strikes, the epithet slinging and vacant hoot. The men who don't vote on important questions simply reflect the opinion of the minority who do and as the Socialist Archbishop Wells says reflecting another man's opinions can never be of-substitute for convictions of one's own. Those who haven't convictions can't appreciate them in. others. . Let us think and concede freedom of thinking to others. There are to-dav many men whose minds and spirits are being'won to Socialism. To the Socialists of Bunanga I say don't repulse such men by a caricature of your creed. I am, GtC " CHARLES DOBSON. Runanga, December 9th.