Notes to Henry

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 294, 18 October 1922, Page 6

Notes to Henry

,l>ear Henry,— It is .a strange tiling, but Truth seldom makes friends on the spur of the lnom'ent. it mostly 3ias : something suspicious about it, whiereas tbe homely falsehood has the knack of appearing to be' the very thing we were searching for. We move up unconsciously to make room 'for'- fair falsehood, whilst edging pooi' old ugly truth out in the cold.

Stubborn fact is the sire of Truto, and Rumour the son of Liar but seldom -does pedigree interfere w;?Ii our love of the veriest mongrel. The ordinary every day lie of *3ie landagent Is accepted with a smile of tolerance, but the lie of the dally press is accepted to such an unbelievable extent as to form a vry real peril to such ias you. and mc. The journalist of the daily, who is probably a member of his Trade Union, knows exactly wha.t Is required of him. His many years of fabricating the printed falsehood has earned for him a quod steiady job. But let him for one hour exercise his talents on the side of straight fearless truth and his job is gone. Falsehood In print is a formidable enemy of Justice and fair dealing but worse than all is the deliberative suppression of truth, that leaves the masses in just the right state of flux to absorb the lie that invariably follows.

A chap was trying to sell his car, and remarked to the prospective Joyrider, "I Ijjave not paid a penny for repairs since I got it." The potential road hog had evidently made a few inquiries, for he replied, "Yes, I know, the man who did the repairs told mc the same thing." There is the falsehood dressed up to loote like the real thing, and the disguise is now so often a work of art that' you can hardly be blamed for giving s<t a respectful hearing.

Nevertheless. Henry, a study of your daily over a six months' course would enable you to "form an intelligent opinion. Its contradictions and glaring inconsistencies, its repressions iand fulsome patriotism, would be the means of your regeneration, that is, provided you studied in the light of reason, and wteh the desire to improve 3~our acquaintance with all those things, which you think you already know so x<&1).

The casual glance of the diiliy has been an obstacle to your progress, but your habit of ignoring the liabcur papers altogether -will surely end in unhappiness beyond measure to those whom you profess /to love. The suppression of the truth by the dailies is simply ia natural outcome of the present lv-'deous social rule. It Is a matter of conscience with the proprietors and therefore, to them, of no consequence at all. But always it Is the Labour papers that strive to place truth before their readers, and when thi&t truth becomes inconvenient to the schemes of financial robbsrs, then comes the censorship by order ot tae pupoets ot weaxrn.

Never by any chance are the people allowed to weigh and balance that which may mean to them even life itself. The late vn&v bhiflf i« an example you would do well to study. Here you have William the wonderful, bursting with pompous, patriotic raouthings as he takes complete charge of your affairs, and gallantly offers your life and your money, i&nd the Avelfare of your family to help British money-bugs steal oil from the small nations your brother tVtd to save, but didn't. In Bill's wesldt pocket lay the secret message, which, if it contained the ugly truth, would lay bare as dirty v business ;as ever disgraced a nation.

Dr. Truby King is engaged oti a mission for humanity . He is telling how to rear strong and JieaUhy children. He is doing a great work. Bill Massey and his Imperial masters are working to ensure an -early grave for those strong and healthy soldiers of the future. AVhat madness is this and where will it all end?

We want population, Henry, but we want that population _-to I've a foil life, and not .entirely devoid of pleasure and usefulness, but so that the world may be just a little better for its being-, a nd n*t a useless sacrifice a t the whim of a coterie whose god appears to be blood. Fight if you will, wliea you canaot restrain Your eager and anxious desire, But, know well the goal you strive fo atjalii, Lest haste hurls you bjacfe In the mire;' So pause with, your strong right arm upheld, . O'er your fate.On voting day, If true to yourself, you must fefel compelled, To sweep' Bill Massey away. : ■:■ '■ -■ • _ _~-j.r.c.

Greed is the microbe of social ills. ,