THE DUNEDIN CENTRAL CONTEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16292, 27 January 1915, Page 9

THE DUNEDIN CENTRAL CONTEST.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l was pleased to see in your issue of present date a second letter by the Rev. Alex. M. Dalrymple. Will my esteemed friend kindly consider the following? (1) The seat now morally and virtually belongs to Air Munro; (2) Sir Joseph Ward repeatedly protested against holding the election till the _ war was over; (3) Sinco the outbreak of war both parties acted harmoniously in things appertaining to the war; (4) Is any statement or combination of statements made by the Motherland statesmen to be understood as bearing in any way on tho present position? With reference to the letter by " Puzzled". I would say: (1) Mr Munro does not belong to a combino in the true sense of the term, but opposes combines; {I, Mr Munro's politics are taken from the Bible; (3) Mr Munro is a democrat; (4) Mr Munro's business is his own business.—l nui, etc., A. C. Robertson. Bellcknowes. January 23. Sir,—lt is your reasoning and not mine that is at fault. Surely the supreme question with league members is the Bible in schools question. Our immediate purpose therefore, regardless of political parties or of Air Munro's views should be to punish Mr Statham for wliat he did in Parliament. Wo can only do this by cither voting far Mr Munro or, as I already said, not voting for either candidate. If Air Munro repeated Air Statham's undemocratic action in Parliament we could, guided by the then circumstances, decide at tho next general election what form his punishment should take. Surely this is clear unless you, too, aro afflicted with a mental twist Hitherto the failure to restore the Bible is because the quesiion took second place in our political campaign instead of first place. Tho only way to make candidates estimate the political power of the Bible in Schools League is to put Mr Statham out of Parliament this time, and the battle for the restoration of the Bible in our publio schools would be all the easier at the next general election. I already proved that the Bible in schools question was also a political question, but, -when an opportunity offers to do something, if as "Democrat'' proposes we are to sit down and do nothing, then tho sooner tho league disbands the better. Surely to elect Mr Statham as " Democrat" suggests simply because he is a Masseyite or because the Government " symfiathises with the league," cannot help the eague, as Air Statham would vote with the Wardites against granting a Referendum BilL So would Mr Munro, but I repeat the point at present is to punish Mr Statham and to teach him that the Bible in schools question, like the prohibition question, is too big for a few members in Parliament to settle and should be removed from the political arena and referred direct to the people for decision. —I am, etc., Lay Member of the League. [The mental confusion of our correspondent is so marked as to prevent him even from understanding tho proposal of the league to which ho belongs. That proposal is not to remove the Biblo m school question, like the licensing question, from the political arena. What it contemplates is that a plebiscite should be taken on certain issues with a view to action in the political arena. —Ed. O.D.T.] Sib,—When I read Mr Dalrymple's letter I concluded by its tone that lie meant all he said, hence my reason for asking what he meant by a certain clause in his letter. It seemed to me that he believed in the principle which lynch law approves—On the impulse of the moment hang a man and after he is dead take steps to ascertain if he is guilty or innocent. It seems to me reasonable to be sure if the present Ministry is of any benefit to the dominion before giving it again the reins of government. I truly believe that Mr'Statham has faithfully done what he believed to be his duty to Dunedin Central, and I am quite sure he will act fairly in connection with the •oming election, but I have no confidence in some of his supporters.—l am, etc., Dunedin. January 23. T. White. Sib,—ln your issue of the 23rd inst. there appeared a letter signed A. M. Dalrymple, anent "the war," "German Menace," "Defence of our Liberties," etc., which concluded with an appeal to the electors of Dunedin Central to support Air Statham, who in turn will support Mr Massey. According to your correspondent, Mr Massey is the man on whom we can rely " speedily to end the war," strike terror into "German menace," as well as "defend our liberties." Your correspondent also asks, Why should not parties unite in New Zealand as they have in' Britain ? Now, Sir, I want to answer your correspondent's last quoted question by asking him another. Why does your correspondent not take the trouble to become acquainted with facts? Had he done so he would have discovered that a lengthy petition containing thousands of signature of Liberals and Labourites -was presented to Parliament during the last session requesting a suspension of political hostilities during the continuance of our international "little differences." I signed the petition myself, and also induced a large number of others to do likewise. But the Massey Party "turned the petition down," no doubt in the hope of securing another three years' office. I trust I have made it quite olear to your correspondent that the existing political differences are caused by the party he is out to support. I wish to ask your correspondent by what rule or method of reasoning he has arrived at the conclusion that the Liberal and Labour combination would be weaker from a "war" and "defence of our liberties" point of view than the present Government. The Fusion Government in Australia held up the same old bogey to the electors prior to the last election with disastrous results to the Fusionists. As a result of Labour's victory in Australia has not Australia done more fox the Empire, both on land and sea, than the party who your rev. correspondent wishes should be given another term of political administration in New Zealand.—l am, etc., January 25. M. M'Allen. ' Sib,—All who know the Rev. Mr A. M. Dalrymple esteem him as a fine courteous gentleman and citizen, but methinks he is a wee bit at sea over politics. Go as Dunedin Central may there can bo no stable Government unless the two party leaders agree in the face of the grave issues of State to take a higher view of matters than mere childish party-mongering and come to some at least temporary understanding. Mr Dalrymple, I think, stresses too much the necessity for the maintenance of tho Reform Party per se. It has not shown any superior statesmanship, and New Zealand is in the political state of having to depend upon an astute Maori to decide who shall captain the vessel, and simply because Mr Massey declined Sir Joseph Ward's wise suggestion to postpone the election for a year. No opposition would have been offered to such a course, but Air Massey refused to adopt it and the consequence is that, with grave issues at stake, we find an elusive North Island Maori holding the trump card which is to decide the question who is to be Prime Minister of New Zealand. The simple solution of the danger which threatens politics to-day would be the assertion bv Parliament of its own dignity. If tho House took tho solution into its own hands, divorced administration from its union with legislation, elected a Ministry and said, "Now, you go on and administer tho affairs, irrespective of Ward and Alassey rivalries, and we will settle, legislation till the war ends." tho whole trouble would be ended, and we would hear less of "Red Fed.," "Well Feds," and all the other side-tracking nonsense that gathers around mere party scrimmages. It seems to me that to bri»g about some such arrangement ought 10 be the aim of moderate men of all parties, but it cannot be done unless both sides agree to place the stable administration of the country over and above mere party considerations. To hold one side up as superior is not iho course to follow, nor is it fair to Sir Joseph Ward, whose foresight resulted in our battleship being at her post when duty caleld her.--I am, etc., J. J. \\,

DUNEDIN CENTRAL CONTEST. Sin, —Kindly allow me to congratulate you on omitting trom your report ot Mr Munro's meeting at .Mortiington laat evening all reference to hia explanation regarding the reason why his firm is a member of the Master Bakers' Association. Had you reported this there would have been no necessity for any reply to such an impertinent and personal letter as that in this morning's isuuo over tho signature "Puzzled." Mr Miittro had the question put to him la-st evening, and I remember him replying along the following lines—namely: (1) That while a journeyman baker he fought hard for better conditions for the working bakers; (2) that he and his partner were practically forced to start for themselves; (3) that they reduced tho price of bread to give tho workers cheaper broad; (4) that they soon learned that they were "up against" a combine, and that influence was brought to bear to boycott his linn, not only among merchants, but among customers also; (5) that they agreed to join the association, provided bakers' wages wcro increased by 5s per week ; (6) that the association agreed to their terms, and consequently they became a member of the association, after having the satisfaction of knowing that the workers got an increase in wages without the cost of living being increased in that particular instance..— 1 am, etc., George S. Thomson. January 23. Sir,—l read in your issue of the 19th inst. a letter froni " Red Fed." I don't know his other n;..iue, but seeing he is in hie own estimation a man of infinite knowledge, he might let us know his identity, so that wo might, at this critical electioneering time, consult and benefit by his wisdom. 1 am of the old school, and do not exactly comprehend what your correspondent means by "Red Feddiein." Does he mean that he is a communist? If so, 1 cannot agree or sympathise with him. Whon I came here a good many years ago J had not too many sparo pounds in my pocket. I had one spare day—not an idle day,—for in that I found a billet on the harvest field. Since then I have never been idle, except on holidays. Can " Red Fed" show such a record, extending over, say, 40 years ? Now, I am thankful to say, I do possess a comfortable little home, but .1 do not desire " Red Fed" tr> come in and say I own too much of New Zealand's earth, and he wants half of it, and also any spare cash I have got, to help him build a cottage for his comfort. He is a particularly plausible man, and recognising his morit, I tell him, in a mild way, that his time is being wasted in canvassing such as myself. He ought to go down and "spout at the fountain." At the finish of his addresses he might get one of his supporters to put his head under the tap to cool. Mr Munro—a good man in his way, I understand, has got a poor supporter in "Red Fed." Mr Statham, I think, confidently relies on hie supporters and his record. —I am, etc., P. Wilson. January 26.