LOCAL POLITICIANS AND THE GREY CONTEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17327, 29 May 1918, Page 2

LOCAL POLITICIANS AND THE GREY CONTEST.

to ■ma biutoh. Sib, —Your leader in Thursday's issue on the Cirey election ai3 tao attitude thereto ot the ttou. J. T. Paul, JU..L.C, and Mr A. Walker, 1V1.P., waa timeiy. JNo amount of "oauioutlage"—and tnis method of wariare is not unknown to our member ot trie Upper Chiunber —can disguise tno fact that Mr Holuuid and uho ottieial party which supports him have little or no sympauiy with the present war, and the war r. gulutions are tho only restrictions which prevent them from Haunting their questionable opmions on an intensely loyal people. Very naturally they prefer tins freedom which tile flag which they fain would traduce gives them to the cold comfort obtained in a prison cell —although, indeed, some of them, including Mr Holland himself, have not oven been deterred by this, and have partaken of this disciplinary ruodicine>—and have curbed their opinions to prevent incarceration. The questions you publish, and which Mr Holland refused to answer, show clearly this candidate's opinions. If he hold loyal opinions he could have easily answered every one of them without becoming entangled in the net of the war regulations. His refusal to answer can lead to only one conclusion. His action may be "discreet" and "diplomatic," but this is not the class of men we want in Parliament. Yet we have two of our local politicians journeying to the West Coast to assist in getting him there. Far be it from me to say or suggest that they hold the extreme views of the candidate. I do not believe they do, although their action in connection with the Australian referendum will for ever redound to their discredit. It will never bo forgotten, and their present mission is only helping to intensify this offence against the patriotic- fcelinjrs of the great majority of otir de:ninion. Above all, at tho present timo wo want leaders who are out-and-out loyalists. Anyone who is not so should not receivo support, whatever his othor qualifications may bo. I boliovo both Mr Paul and Mr Walker axo loyal, and many ot their actions and utterances prove this to bo so. But they havo only themselves to blame if thrir Australian "action and this latest, ono of gning to tho West Coast to assist, tho oandidaturo of a man with the extreme view? of Mr Holland will counter heayilv against them. They havo a right to bo judjffxl aa much by tho company they keep and support as by their professions — I am., etc.. No Camotwlaoe.