A DISSATISFIED LIBERAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15716, 8 September 1911, Page 9

A DISSATISFIED LIBERAL.

TO THE EDITOR. * Sir,-At the banquet given to Sir Joseph Ward and Sir J°hn 1 1 i their landing back m New Zealand from the Home . Country, tho foi mei gentleman, referring to bis >• said it was an honour given to Now Zealand, not to himself. Tlio two gentlemen went on to speak about ti e terrible conditions in the Home Land, an how the masses have to ” ? plained that land monopolisation is at the bottom of the trouble. Yom readers know the conditions as well as Joseph Ward. Wlmt the masses have to contend with is this chess distinction, and I am sorry to say that our Premier is giving a good lead to ela?B distinction in Vew Zealand. . The workers have been fighting against this fqi rears, and vet our would-be democratic Premier is doing. all he can T j° + ’hese claps distinctions. Th only “ equal ” he has now in Now Zealand w Lord Islington, that is. according to British law, and yet it « these lords and dukes and earls that are tho cause

c terrible distress at Home. Oi ° f \ von will hear that the workers bring tho trouole on themselves by not , Their masters, and a seems to obeymg tneii m down tQ our sasyw* * a*«• E Tl>Jiera < this military compulsion w ill a severe check before the election rt -iqiu if not this election. In ourdistrictffi’ tho bacKblccks 96 per cent are j l nr-inst military compulsion. Ky farmer and worker that I have spoken to is bitter against it, although Hriv have all allowed their sons to ieHr Some of our settlers belonged t V tho mounted troopers, and had to rido thirty miles to drill ; but that was voluntary, not compulsory, .service and thoso men aro bitter against tho I , 10 , v law; in fact, the continual cry is 1 to get our member’s views on the rnat- ; ter when the election comes round. It I tho defence authorities could give us : anv coed reason why our sons should bo i compelled to register tho position ! mirtit be different; but, according to 1 alftlio papers that I have read, there is not one sound argument why we ' should be compelled. In an argument with the defence officer I said: “ If you i cau prove to me that Britain won any j of her battles by military compulsion, ! then I will turn and help you.’ He I sa i(]. “ Trafalgar, with the press i n-'ang.” Now, I told him for one press I Sang man there would bo 1000 volunteers in the Navy at that time. Look at the enormous expense these defence officers are to the country, and vet the Government cannot find money to give us reads into ou r farms. Of course tho roads would not bring any honours to our Premier, yet lie is always stating what he is going to do for us backblocks ’ settlers. I have read “ Hansard ” verv closely for tho last fifteen years, and I am getting disgusted at tho number of speeches full. of promises for us back settlers, promises which aro very rarely fulfilled. Our baronet is ton fond of these nice trips to the 0 ! d Country to look after us hackbloek settlers and help us to get decent roads.. It is high time we had a ■ change and a new Premier, as the present one is utterly useless to us now. Wo havo been Liberals all our lifetime, but T am afraid we wi.i have to give the Conservatives a turn.—l am. etc., JOHN NOERIE. Hundaloe. September 4.