THE NOBLE ART OF ROLLSTUFFING.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 17

THE NOBLE ART OF ROLLSTUFFING.

Dear "Worker," —As one who lias •had the privilege of working for the return of a Socialist candidate for Auckluand Central, I want to throw some little light on the game of "graft" as practised, not ia America, but in Ward's own country.

The S.P. candidate here had some scores of enthusiastic voluntary workers assisting in the fight, and owing to the strength of the party here we suspected the rolls would be stuffed, and so paid special attention to them. As a result we sent in objections numbering, I believe, over a thousand. In the supplementary roll, to analysing which some comrades devoted a whole Sunday, we foiind, at the first rough scrutiny, over 50 objections, most' ; of which were entries which were duplicated in the main roll. We found some (hundreds of names on the main roll of people who have left the country, besides numbers of dead men and women, and in about half a dozen, instances names and addresses giving streets which are not even in the electorate. Another common trick is two entries with the Christian names reversed; another, publichouse employees registered at a. private address ,as well as at a publichouse.

Thore are even more glaring cases than this, and if it were not for the libel laws framed to stifl© the truth in these matters, some friends of mine could tell a tale of political corruption which would almost make America bhtsih. •' ■"

The foregoing serves to show that we are up against a tough proposition indeed, as our opponents are using the same underhand weapons in the political field as in the industrial. I have often heard American comrades say that political action is useless, but while industrial organisation is by far the more important, the above shows what an advantage- a few Socialists would be in the House to get electoral reform, and also to voice the demands of the industrial organisation. Do not fear, comrades, that their voices would not be heeded —they would Lave the power of the army of Socialists and Industrial Unionists behind their demands —a power far superior to that of armed forces.

A large millowner in Auckland, who is a prominent member of the church, was speaking to one of his Sunday school teachers before entering church the other day, and was overhead by a Socialist to say that "if he had his way he would hang every Socialist in New Zealand," and then he went into church to talk about "Love ye one another" and to thank God he wasn't as these Socialists are. Think of it men, and he is one of the biggest sweaters in Auckland. —Yours, Auckland. ARGUS.