MR J. K. ARCHER.

Southland Times, Issue 18078, 3 May 1919, Page 7

MR J. K. ARCHER.

To the Editor. Sir, —I hardly know how to reply to Mr Archer, for verily “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” Mr Archer says that he was not referring to the State Fire Office. True, it was not the “State” but the “Government Insurance Department” that he named, and while the term “Government Insurance” is quite a common term with the public for the State Fire Office it was not for this reason I applied Mr Archer’s remarks to the State Office. There was a much better and more convincing reason. Mr Archer said in effect that until it got on its legs it had to be guaranteed by the Government. Had there been lass the taxpayers of the country would have had to pay. Now the Government did give the “State” a start, but in a few years the debentures amounting to £2OOO were paid off, so that State Fire Insurance has not cost the Government anything. Mr Archer’s statement, therefore, did apply to the State Office, whether he meant it or not, and he laid himself open to severe criticism. A public man on the platform should realise that he is responsible not to do unnecessary harm by freedom of speech. He should not go at it like a bull in a crockery shop for instance. About his friend “Bob” Semple and Bolshevism, Semple may or may not be a Bolshevist but he is avowedly a “Red Fed" and that is sufficient. The “Red Feds” in Queensland were taken in hand by the returned soldiers and made to sit up. They are not Bolshevists in practice because they are under the British flag. All the same we know them. There are not many in New Zealand, but some have pushed their way to the front, among them “Bob” Semple, and when Mr Archer acclaims him his friend and speaks as he did, can he be surprised if one doubts his political honesty? The Labour Party deserves well at the hands of the community. It will yet come into its own, but in my opinion that time wall not come so long as it associates itself with men of the “Bob” Semple colour. In other walks of life I have had pleasant association with Mr Archer and that for years, and I regret having had to cross swords with him in this manner.—l am, etc., . R. J. GUMMING. May 2.