AFTER THE BATTLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1705, 20 December 1919, Page 5

AFTER THE BATTLE.

(By “No. 1367890’’ in the Wellington Post.)

The battle lias been fought and the battle has been Won—and not by Labour. If ever Labour had a chance to win, they hud it in the 1919 election. There was the cost of living, taken in conjunction with the diminishing purchasing power of the sovereign, the aftermath of war, the housing problem, profiteering, the shortage of fuel, and the first past the post—all these counted for Labour. But, as usual, Labour was as lions led by asses. If Labour cannot see the writing on tho wall, then Labour is blind. Labour should compel tno Red element to form a party of its own, when they can carry out their objects if the public will follow them. As long as Labour carries them on their backs, so long will Labour bo amongst the “also started.’ And then their platform wants altering. They should strike for tho attainable, not be unattainable. They should come down to earth, and not delve in the milky wav. Trades unionists know that I write tho trutn. not then realise things, and got to " °That part of Labour’s platform, dealing with tho point that Labour should control the industry in which it is engaged i« likely to bo tested soon. The people working 4U per cent, slow, and thus forcing tho cost of living up on the poor want to control industries. How. can they, when they cannot control themselves? ■ T . , . Direct action is doomed—it is tho Keels main stand by. Every time it has been tested,’ it has mostly been defeated. Every defeat is a set-back, because the workers and the public pay. And the public are not altogether fools. . . . . 1920 will, in my opinion, bo a senes ot bitter struggles. From it Labour will learn many things, among them the picking out of tho lambs from the wolves. Will Labour learn the lesson of 1910. Will they reorganise? Will the trades unionists continue to bo dominated by the Social Democrats? Will the trade unionists niaico it possible for a loyal man to join their organisation? If they do, my p r n will inner be raised against them. Labour, n true to itself, can bo strong. Labour if it still follows the Reds, will grow weaker. Why not grow strong? Why not try to attain something, instead ot always attempting to do something? People with moderate Labour views arc the majority of _ the eloctovs. Whv not conform to the wishes of tho majority, rather than to a few extremists? , . T 1 Why not live for Labour, work lor Ealiour rather than live for extremists and work for extremists? For even rs yon cannot make r. silk purse our of n sow’s ear. so will Labour not bo able to obtain that, position in Parliament widen is their due if their policy is right and they are right. Lntil Labour - realises the other fellow a point rf , view, both in ttoip speeches and in their ■press, so long will they be (what do they call it’)—well, misunderstood. Labour candidate 9, both on the platform and ... their press, abused me. But oven as abuse is no argument, and even as votes count, they were counted out, and not me. May Labour realise its shortcomings, and got at those who have abused them so much within, that Parliamentary seats, they my without. Mr Semple says he can do bettor for Labour outside Parliament than inside. If ho, ho had W right to stand for Wellington South. If Labour believes that the hope of the , world lies _in Labour, then La pour should at least, give itself a chance to fulfil that hope. Meantime I hope wr better, things from Labour. The fight of the future will be Labour against antiLabour ' Will they geUtlown to fighting triin? No fighter can fight with a burden ol \viH they remove tho burden by shaking pff the Reds I