ONE OBSERVER’S VIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 65, Issue 5502, 24 July 1942, Page 3

ONE OBSERVER’S VIEW

COMMENTS ON THE NEWS THE LABOURER EXALTED AN INNOCENT PRISONER?

(By

Criticus)

“There is no class so numerous as the working class.” Tn the course of his remarks at the nolice station opening on Monday, the Hon. P. C. Webb, after paying a tribute to the work of the architect and builder of the station, sounded a reminder that the efforts, of both could be of no avail without the contribution of the common Labourer. In the course of a lifetime Mr Webb has preached much about that class which is the real salt of the earth, but even if hackneyed, his words are still true. Is it. not so, as one writer has said that the sole, worthwhile social potentiality is the power of productivity, which belongs exclusively to the worker? Neither is there anything narrow or sectional about this claim, for “working class” is really a quite wide term, embracing all but. parasites. Unfortunately on this occasion Mr Webb committed an all-too-common error—why bracket architect and builder apart from navvy and bricklayer? If any are not workers why praise them? It is not the smallest irony of our life that the men who most desire unity are very often the unconscious promoters of the opposite thing. THE MAREO CASE The most recent developments in connection with the Mareo case are, to say the least, sensational. After a man has spent six years in prison serious doubt is cast on his original guilt. I say serious, because the considered opinions of Sir William Willcox, consulting adviser to the Home Office on toxicological cases, who says that Mrs Mareo died of a drug self-administer-ed, and Mr Hemmerile, one of the two greatest contemporary criminal lawyers, who sees a “miscarriage of justice,” are not to be dismissed lightly. For those who endorsed the abolition of the death penalty, nothing could be more pleasing than Eric Mareo’s final acquittal—by no means an impossibility. Those who favoured capital punishment did not hesitate to exploit the unfortunate spate of murders that came close upon the heels of the abolition, so perhaps later they will excuse similar exploitation of the cry, “innocent man near—condemned.” It will be interesting to watch the attitude of public opinion in the future course of this case, too. A sizeable section of the community has been most vocal recently in urging the pardon of Richard Humphreys, who is clearly guilty of offences against the law. Will there be the same surge of opinion in favour of a man whose guilt is overshadowed by grave doubt ? By which is the public more impressed —feats of heroism and endurance or the prospect of an innocent man languishing in prison for a lifetime?

A RED “RED” AND RUSSIA Emmanuel Shinwell (Labour-Sea-ham), who has been called “Glasgow’s reddest Red,” is reported in a recent cable as saying: “Unless immediate aggressive steps are taken to aid Russia there will be a revulsion of feeling throughout Britain which may destroy the Government and impair public confidence in the war effort.” Alongside this I would place some remarks of Mr Harold Nicholson, appearing in the Spectator of May last. After commenting that in addressing audiences throughout England he did not of passion.” Mr Shinwell has than perfunctory approval to the commendation of our prowess at sea, on the land and in the air,” Mr Nicholson added: “Yet one has only to mention Russia and the whole meeting flames as suddenly as a wisp of hay drenched in paraffin. One feels upon one’s cheek the wind of the wings of passion.” Mr Shinwell has repeatedly been a critic of the magnitude of Britain’s Russian commitments and in the House of Commons January debate doubted if Russia had been sent 1000 each of aeroplanes, tanks and guns. Anyone who has studied the composition of the aid Russia rallies in Britain will readily admit the seriousness of Mr Shinwell’s warning and cry again for the' fulfilment of the Soviet’s most pressing need, on the first day of Germany’s attack no less than to-day—the opening of a second front in Europe. NOTE ON INDIA Referring to Gandhi’s latest “Get Out” resolution, well-informed people in British political circles last week said that in spite of Congress having made references to “bondage,” India had raised over 1,250,000 volunteers. In a population of some 350 millions this represents the magnificent percentage of .36 of one, and a similar effort on the part of New Zealand would have provided the Imperial Government with something over 5000 men. Thirty-six in 10,000' is not a high proportion, and it may be asked whether Hitler would not get as much willing support in many of the countries he has overrun. PENALTY OF FINANCIAL SIEVE The following two statements are juxtaposed in the belief that the first■ in part explains the second: First, the eminent Auckland surgeon, Dr. Douglas Robb, in a recent pamphlet: “The sieve to produce our doctors has been a financial and a social one rather than an intellectual and fuj£ctional one.” The New Zealand Herald (18/7/42): “There is an acute shortage of doctors in Auckland. Medical men are being severely overworked this winter and the situation is rapidly deteriorating.” WHERE BEGINS CHARITY? An announcement that Sunday evening entertainments for troops in Auckland are proving a success by keeping men off the streets, makes more pertinent the pertinent question of the June Rationalist: “Why was it necessary to wait until the arrival of the Americans was imminent before it was realised that our local soldiers required facilities for Sunday entertainment?”