“POISON GAS.”

Southland Times, Issue 21362, 7 April 1931, Page 5

“POISON GAS.”

To the Editor. Sir, —In Monday’s Times I read a letter over the name of Norman Mclntyre the purpose of which seemed to me, was tp try help Mr W. C. Denham out of a hole and to let loose some more “poison., gas.” Mr Mclntyre makes a sort of an apology for entering into the correspondence in which Mr Denham was engaged and he tells us that Mr Denham was quite able to look’ after himself. Really, Mr Editor,' the make-up of some people is very peculiar. Some time ago I wrote to you on the subject of “Preference” to one man over another. I made a direct' charge.' and laid

it at the . door of. the so-called Labour leaders of Southland. It is needless’ to say how they squirmed when my letters were thrown in their teeth but the only satisfaction your readers got was • that they kept inside their hide-bound shells • and went- round the country telling their friends that I was a member of the Times staff, and that I . was only writing, to sell the paper. ■. . Sir, I will be glad if you will again assure- your readers that I am a bona fide correspondent, and that I have nothing whatever to do with the Times newspaper and that I am a “worker” and my energies are always extended in the well being of the "worker.” ’ i .

If Mr- Mclntyre and Mr Denham had a sparkof pride and patriotism in them surely they would not have left such scathing indictment' as -my letters contained go unchallenged. ... Sir, the word “worker” from the lips or pen of- these ■- so-called Labour leaders has no meaning,-, or,-1 t should say. the meaning has been changed to “waster.” Let us take the arbitration laws of this country. They are ail- designed to' protect the “waster.” Whether the waster earns his wages or not he. must get-.his pay. On the other hand the ."worker’/ earns his money and leaves a profit, which enable the employer to carry on and pay- wages. The preference clause is designed to pro-tect--‘the “waster.” Ho-.decent man wants "Preference” over his fellow man. No, Sir, it is only the “waster” that is always cryin:: out that he should get a preference. As a;matter of fact the unemployment tax is a tax on the'“worker”-.to help to keep the “waster’-’ and his ■ wife and family alive. ■ fSir, I can take you to the home ot “wasters” who have been living on charitable aid for months and months and they are too busy (blowing it-up in smoke by the fire) to- grow a few vegetables for themselves. Sir, we have I-; been giving the the top brick for-so long that to-day. he-has got the house in ruins and we are all but-in the cold.

And’ Mr .Mclntyre and Mr Denham are aghast to think that the poor. “wasters” have no food, and clothing. I pointed out to you a few years ago that your energies were extended ■ in the interest of the "waster” to the detriment of the "worker.” What I said then is only too true to-day. Everything the “worker” has is being confiscated to keep the ’ “w’aster” alive. Mr McIntyre’s and Mr Denham’s energies are directed in the interest of the "waster” because they have built up a big army of them. Sir, let me explain here that the “worker” that is out of work to-day must not be confused with the unemployed of a few years ago. Everyone must admit that there are genuine workers out of a job to-day and the reason is that they have carried the d n “wasters” too long. In following up your leading articles of late I have been pleased with the languages you employ in dealing with the political situation. The pity is that you have delayed so ’ long. If ever there was a time when the Press can be a service to the nation it is now. What the nation wants to-day is not gas-bags going about the country letting off “poison gas” and pretending to be on the side of the worker while as a matter of fact they are murdering the "worker” confiscating his home and putting his wife and -children out of their home. What we want are “men” that will face the storm and lead, “men” who can take the helm and reverse the gears, “men” who are patriots not professional ‘politicians. Now, Sir, as Mr Mclntyre and Mr Denham ate' both aspiring for Parliamentary honours let them accept your' assurance that T am a “worker” and a bona fide correspondent. Let them show their respects to a worker and-<Jeal. with him, clear their own doorstep before heaping up the-mud on the other; fellow’s.—;l .am, etc., ■ :I ‘' SLIM JIM. [“Slim Jim” is not and never has been connected with the Southland Times except through the letters he ivrites to this column. He is, as he claims, a worker and, we may add, a hard worker—Ed. S.T.]