LOYALTY TO OUR PARTY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 August 1925, Page 4

LOYALTY TO OUR PARTY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I must take exception to “Ronehead’s” remarks about our member “disporting lninseif at a church jubilee social.” This I take it refers to the recent social of my compatriots. Why shouldn’t- he disport hiniself ? In fact we, as royal supporters of his party, would have been very much wroth if he didn’t so disport himself, I know tiiat Mr. Corrigan lias been, rather concerned as to how what ho playfully calls his “Italian” friends would take the proposed fusion of his party with the Reform Party. But he need have no fear. With the wise guidance we receive we are never likely to stray' from our allegiance. When speaking to my compatriot whom I mentioned in my last letter, I said, “But if we vote for the- Fusion Party we Celts will be supporting the same party that our most bitter anti-Celtic opponents support. They have always in the past supported Reform. They couldn’t possibly support Labour. They would vote Fusion.” But my friend pointed out to me how idyllic it would be to see the blending of orange and green (which the poets have always sighed about), and how the voting for one common party and the holding of similar political view# would blot out the old antipathies, till' I was quite convinced and silenced: I could see that the millenium was close at hand. The Liberal —I mean tlie National —Party may be the laughing stock of the country, as your correspondents assert; Mr Wilford may be “unconditionally surrendering” to the Reformers, as Mr. Holland says; but we will never admit it, Mr. Editor. My compatriots will go down with the old Liberal Party— : I mean the new National Party —with banners flying. 'Some time ago a leading Irish Nationalist wrote me—thinking 1 was wavering—that Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., was “a wonderful statesman,.” Of course most of us in our heart of hearts know that he is a back number, but we don’t like admitting it even to ourselves. For tlie Invercargill sent 1 notice tlhis titled gentleman is opposed by a strong Reformer and also by a very' able Labour candidate, Mr. Pat. Hickey, whom 1 -have the honour to know. It will be interesting to see how our compatriots will view the conflicting claims on their -allegiance. Will they remain as faithful -as here? If they are as line a type, -as we have, and are as wisely guided, then 1 should pick the baronet as their choice. Was it not John Mo’riev who said in his “Recollections” that we dearly loved a lord? And John Morley was a Chief Secretary for Ireland. If wisely instructed and guided, we can always be relied on to support any cause, even a losing one, or one that is a joke and a laughing stock, as Mr. Wilford’,s party is assented to be. Rut we must have the wise guidance. Didn't we oppose Garibaldi and the friends of Italian freedom? Wise guidance again. No, “Bonehead,” I can assure you that our noses would have been very much out of joint if our worthy member had not “disported” himself with us at our social. —I am, etc.. IRISH NATION ALIST. Hawera.