MR BODKIN’S KUROW MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23225, 24 June 1937, Page 7

MR BODKIN’S KUROW MEETING

I'O I'HE EDITOH Sir,—l should like to draw the attention of readers to the false impression given in Mr W. Anderson’s letter in yesterday’s issue regarding Mr W. A. Bodkin’s address at Kurow. Mr Bodkin outlined the aims of the Labour Party generally, and to support his statements regarding their decidedly Socialistic policy, read paragraphs from the official Labour paper, the Standard, which confirmed all he had said in that respect. Therefore, i consider that it is not essential for Mr Anderson, to infer that the members of the audience were mislead on account of their not having attended a Labour Party meeting, as their objective was clearly stated in that paper and was definitely in accordance with the speaker’s remarks on the subject. I should like to inform Mr Anderson that I have attended a Labour Party meeting, but have come away with an opinion of their policy very different from that published in the party's official booklet. ’

In reference to Mr Anderson’s sarcasm regarding Mr Bodkin’s thoroughness in answering questions, I should like to say that it was essential for him to go into great detail when doing so in order that his questioners might realise the delusions under which they were suffering. For example, one questidn was, “Is profit not the curse of life to-day? ” Mr Bodkin, in replying, clearly illustrated that the working classes, or labourers, were the last ones who would work for a wage which provided for a mere living, and that was all, and in making that statement he could not have been more correct

Lastly, I should like to condemn as being totally false and wrong Mr Anderson’s statement regarding the National Party’s policy as described by Mr Bodkin. During his address Mr Bodkin spoke very clearly on the aims of his party, and at no time during the evening did he make any such declaration as is quoted by Mr Anderson: but he said his party believed in producers having the freedom to dispose of their produce at whatever price they wanted or could obtain in whatever manner they wished, and not be compelled to sell to the Government at a price fixed by the Government. In conclusion I beg to inform nonattenders at the meeting that the address delivered by Mr Bodkin was most instructive and interesting, and that at no time during the evening was there any sign of the audience being, bored. It was unnecessary, therefore, for the speaker to introduce “jingoisms,” as Mr Anderson terms it, to maintain interest or gain applause—l am, etc., Nationalist. Kurow, June 21.