THE ALEXANDRA CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26777, 21 May 1948, Page 6

THE ALEXANDRA CONFERENCE

Sir,—With reference to the report of your interview with Mr P. G. Connolly, M.P., and to his comments upon the recent conference at Alexandra, X am surprised that Mr Connolly evinces s° much knowledge of the meeting. When he re fers to a “ collection of city representatives, most of them unsuccessful National candidates at some time, he sm-ely forgets that other people are entitled-to hold political views different from his own. He forgets that practically 50 per cent of the people did so at the last general el tion. and a much greater percentage did so at the last municipal election. Mr Connolly has surely not forgotten the latter experience? When he refers to “hullabaloo” he reminds me.of the pres ent great wordy shamfight going on, in his party against his erstwhile political bedfellows—the Communists. The invitations to the meeting were, I understand, issued from Central Oiago, and when I was invited to attend I did not refuse duty. Personally I surprised that Mr Connolly has stooped to indirect personalities in his comments. It reminds me of a very old and not respected slogan, “ When your political ammunition is exhausted become personal. I am, etc., L- J- Ireland.

Sir,—Even with four Labour Members of Parliament in Dunedin, one them, a Minister of the Crown, and another a Junior Whip, Otago is still relegated to the status of a poor relation. Mr Connolly, at a meeting this week, has. described the Alexandra conference as “ nothing but a National Party meeting. Surely he can place local body affairs above politics. The gentlemen who attended the conference placed service to the community above petty party politics. He says there are no rail car units in the country. Whv is this so? Because, as usual, the Labour Party didn’t look far enough ahead. But, anyway, why should there be a rail-car service to Napier and Palmerston North when these cities already have an adequate rail service, or could have with a little planning? Just another example of “ forget the south!” Mr Connolly went on to sav that anyone who does not know the difference between Socialism and Communism does not deserve his seat in Parliament.” Is that going to be his excuse when Labour topples at the next general election? For the ultimate difference between Socialism and Communism, as both Mr Semple and Mr Fraser have explained, is nothing. The only apparent distinction is that Labour, to achieve the end uses the side-walks, while Communists crawl along the gutters and through the sewers. Finally, Mr Connolly pointed out that apathy on the part of 18.000 voters caused Labour’s debacle in the Dunedin 1947 municipal elections. Let me point out that Labour’s policy is as similar to New Zealand's requirements as black is to white. The electors did not forget how Labour members refused to accept the responsibilities of chairmanships of the various civic committees in 1944! —I am, etc., Ace of Hearts.