THE BATTLEFIELD TEST.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 15081, 2 December 1919, Page 6

THE BATTLEFIELD TEST.

In discoursing on "class distinction" I to the electors of WelMnt^ton South Mr I R. Semple, M.P., asserted that it was ' present even amongst tho soldiers on the batt'efield. This statement was promptly repudiated by a woman in the audience, who stated "... they were all equal on the battlefield." In reply, the candidate informed hU auditenco that he. was ho enemy to the returned soldier, and tha^t returned! soldiers had i ''nformea him that the Tommy did not' got the same food as th e colonial.— j Having done Irs best to discourage tho efforts to forward rerinforcon^/^nts for ! the relief and assistance of tho men on the . battlefield during tho war, and so «iyini!r a practical dpanonstrnti'ton of his friendship for tho soldier in .the fightmg line, Mr SempJenow seeks to c"uri*y favor by fomenting c'asa- bitterness between, the men and the best friortds they had on the battTefie-lH.— Dominion.

I Oh the land question (remarks the Timaru Post) Mr. Massey remains profoundly unsatisfactory. He will not elaborate a bold policy of taxation and i settlement, no dqi'bt for the very good j reason -that the large lnndow-neVs he^ (hind hrni'wiH n,ot have. it. 'WbHe ho stands on tho edge of the problem Sir Joseph W"<vl lvns plunged in boldly wi«h hi? riftmand for hicrher taxntton and prov : * : on against nggregation, Mr. Messpv n'pn has noth in.? to say about P"ki ; ry . r o'' l -e reforrn. a question on wlr'h <he Lcpder of the Omnosition hns rnokfi <^n" ' cl^rjriv. Mr. Masscy asfes ♦ho obetove t .-•» si^n « blank cheque. TUpy nT'fi ) %I rely to prefer Sir Joseph Wn"H^ j'rouest. for permission to «rribn»'- • rion f » dpfln u e policy. vj,^-, vi-'-od nt Westport how the T.ibori Parfcv would vntei on a n«-con-fl^o,,- A u».. Holland m \d "he hoped the 'L^'W- Party would come l>.>pt.- f--ini -M-.« elect ; ons as the constitu- <:"""! r'^po^ition. but if it did not. and Sir Joseph Ward moved a vote of »'.•> cov" J*nct>. tho Labor Party would '-r'n with hiiTU in ousting Mr. Massey, but it would not support Sir Jnsenh Word unless ho thon enacted 1 the letrislition the Labor Party was fighting for." — In other words, the Labor extremists would first vote tho Reformers pijt of office, and then seek tn dictite to a Liberal ftoverMnent. which Mr. Hp|land evidently hopes wou\d not b,e strong enough s^apd alonp.