Reform Extremism

NZ Truth, Issue 890, 16 December 1922, Page 1

Reform Extremism

"Truth" has no ! time for the extremist, no matter what Party or sect he belopgs to. Extremist Reformers have played into the hands of Labor, just as' extremist Laborites havo assisted to keep Reform m power by frightening the Moderate elector. Each las been an asset of the other. "We were treated to a display of extremism lr. Wellington on election night when Robert Wright, a hard-shelled apostle of Reform, ranted raucously tp the electors after ' the initial count had given him a small majority. We agree entirely with his protest—vehement tlough it was—against the boo-booing and "counting-out" of every candidate who did not wear a red badge. Labor, sbprn of visionary ideals that are really revolutionary, has too great a case to present for its followers to resort tQ suppressipn of. free speech, #pt 'ihis 'protest did 7 not end there. Carried away by extremism ho v yelled: "The time is coming when the Labor union bosses will be drummed out'of New Zealand.. The trade union agitator is going out." ; And more m the stune »strain. Robert expressed the hope that his fellow legislators would or.act a law to drum the mischief makers of the Labor party out or the country. We believe R.A.W. to be an estimable citizen, a good employer. But the mischief-making is not confined to one side. Robert Wright, m his election night address did more harm than good to the cause he espouses. No doubt it was his last opportunity— as -a successful \ candidate. To even things'up, Wright's prlitical opponent resorted to the tv qnoque argument m an after-election rally a few nights later.