SEDDON'S LIBERALISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 17

SEDDON'S LIBERALISM

Sir,— May I answer Mr. McColl's letter of November 12. Naturally, neither Mr. McColl nor 1 can say just what was stated at the inter-party conference. Therefore, i did not quote anyone other than the two gentlemen named, who themselves declared that thev could not assist in economies, etc. They stated their case and 1 accepted their statements as correct and still do so. However, this discussion started owing to my charging the Labour Party with trying to shelter under the mantle of Seddon and showing the vast contrast in the advocacy and performances of the two parties. 1 quoted Seddon's last manifesto, in which he said the practical reformer must be content with small profits and slow returns. He must, proceed piecemeal by sure and steady stages to remove the obstructions, and provide facilities lor the higher development of the whole people. Mr. McColl now tells us that Labour laws are developing iiio huge strides; that the Giant has his running shoes on. That statement alone would prove my case. So far from proceeding by sure and steady stages the Labour Government has rushed through ill-con-ceived and badly-developed legislation as proved by the fact that amendments bad to be made in the same session and those amendments were not considered by Parliament at all: tlie.v were bludgeoned past the Opposition with the assistance of the closure. Finally. Mr. McColl tries to cover Mr. Savage's slip re thrift. He says 1 was premature iu criticising the Prime Minister, who has made a fresh statement. He would. There is nothing unusual in that: in fact it has become a habit with the right lion, gentleman. Put let us compare these two statements, each of them considered and given to the press. Tn his first he referred to the rates of interest which he said we all know and hate so much. Further on he said: "This scratching, scraping, starvation system of individual saving strangles the economic freedom and wellbeing of the nation. We have got to stop that." Evidently someone must have told him that he was rocking the boat or shall we say exposing feet of clay. So the right lion, gentleman hastens to cover them. He issues another statement, in which he says: "T have not said at any time that when the Labour Government's programme lias been completed the need for individual saving would be ended." Tn the first he despises the thrift he was taught in his boyhood. Tn the second be extols supporters of the Labour Party as being well to the fore in the practice of thrift. Could anyone, even bis opponents who knew Seddon. imagine him making such yes-no statements. Let it rest at that. C.'kcil H. Cr.TNK.vur>. Rotorua.