NORTHCLIFFE & “STEAD'S REVIEW.”

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1922, Page 6

NORTHCLIFFE & “STEAD'S REVIEW.”

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Those who range under the banners of Labour ever cry for justice ami freedom. During the terrible reign of Mars, “Stead’s Reviexv’’ xvas the worker’s friend. Against all opposition, Henry Stead battled to let Australia and Ne\v r Zealand know tietruth. T’he constant readers ol “Stead’s” in those days knexv and appreciated the xvork of Henry Stead, and knexv and appreciated the friendship of Stead xvith Professor Meredith Atkinson, xvhose articles xvere given great > prominence in the “Review” by the late and lamented editor. Some months ago I read in a certain nexvspaper certain statements written by a correspondent about the “changed attitude of the paper,” with hints of Northcliffian money. These I xvish to repudiate and xvill do so to the best of my ability.

If Aleredith Atkinson xvere capable of sharing the joys and trials, the ideals ami aims, and the love and friendship of such a lovely man as Stead, and. on the death of such a character, buy up his lift- xvork and prostitute it to the services of the Northcliffe interests, then that Meredith Atkinson xvould be unxvorthy of the esteem of any man of any colour or of any creed. If on the other hand Professor Meredith Atkinson had given his services to help a friend in a cause xvhile that friend lived, and on the death of that person had thrown overboard the xvhole of the career he had planned so that he might folloxv the uncertain career of editor and owner of a “free” paper to save it for truth and justice, then the same man deserves the xvhole-hcarted support of the xvorking class. In “Stead’s” 1.6/9/22, Aleredith Atkinson contradicts the rumour about Northcliffe, and asks for information about persons spreading such rumours. He ends up by saying, “I have never met the late Lord Northcliffe, never had any communication or dealings of any sort xvith him, either directly or indirectly. I loathe

Tlie ideas ami policies lor which no stood, ami will continue to do my best to combat them for the rest of my life. 1 trust 1 have made myself sufficiently clear.” For the average right-minded man such a statement from a man loved by Henry Stead should be sufficient. For years I have fought for Socialism, and my name has appeared under notes from several baekxvard electon.ites at election time in the “ Maorilaml Worker ’’ — working xvhere the soil was poorest. My xvork for the cause has never benefited me, but it has damaged my opportunities. In the name of reason and commonseiisr. in the cause for which I’ploii Sinclair wrote “The Brass Uheck,” 1 haxe written this letter. Knowing the evil nature of the undercurrent attempting to ruin this “free” press, 1 made my appeal to reason. Thanking you, Air Editor, for the space. —I am, etc., NED NELSON. (Ende Ned.)