VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1935, Page 7

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS NEWSPAPERS AND POLITICS. QUESTIONS FOR ELECTORS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—The Daily News last week treated its readers to a leader on the forthcoming municipal elections, the gist of it, shorn of all journalistic varnish and palaver, being “don't vote for Labour.” Dear me! How solicitous can the “private enterprise”- Press become for. the welfare of the people’s collective possessions at certain times. Of course, we know that it is an entirely disinterested finger that they place in the political pie; no axes to grind or that sort of thing, don’t you know! So feeling secure in that belief I would like to avail myself of the unbiased editorial knowledge to seek a little enlightenment right from the fountain head itself.

(1) How can I divorce politics from municipal affairs when my very own daily paper always refers to them as “local government”? (2) If a body of men, say a chamber of commerce, representing the interests of big business and copious profits, should place candidates in the field to control “community” owned property am I to vote for them, believing them to have my interests at heart? . (3) If it is wrong to introduce politics ipto municipal affairs would; it be right to nominate one’s local M.P. for the - council in view of the. fact that -his economic views—and you cannot divorce “economics” from any business private or public—would be entirely opposed to a great section of the electors; or are we to suppose that, unlike these “Labour fellows,” he could entirely reverse his principles and his coat, for the time being, and boost communal ownership against private ownership? . ; (4) Or again, would it be safe for me to vote for a man put forward by an intellectual (sic) body who strenuously fought to reduce my .wages but lacked the vision to foresee that their customers, all wage-earners, would also have to economise, therefore “cutting the cutter” with a vengeance? (5) As municipal control, is public ownership and therefore nothing more or less than pure and unadulterated Socialism can you tell me anyone more fit to take the reins than those who. firmly and fearlessly believe in the principle of public ownership (Labour) in spite of cheap sneers and kicks from the champions of private enterprise and exploitation? . j (6) Or. would, you on the other hand suggest handing over the municipal con-, trol reins to ; those people to whom the very words “public ownership” are’ as a’ red rag to a bull, and whose daily business slogans are “Hands off private enterprise,” “Curtail’ public ownership” and “Bigger profits and smaller wages.”

(7) Could you picture the unholy glee of some of those gentlemen if they were allowed to form a company to run in opposition ,to our municipal buses, for instance, or if they were allowed a free hand on these lines generally how long do you think their belief in "public ownership” would last? - .• ■■ Those, then, are a few questiops to go on with, and I would like to say that i the chief, trouble with the Labour candidates is that they will insist on coming before the public under their true colours. If they were really cunning they would split up and have one nominated by. ‘The Round-about Club,” another by. “The Backstairs Club” and another by “The Chamber of Horrors,” etc. It is an old Tory custom, you know! However, I am really pleased, to' ob-. serve the newspapers being, interested in public ownership, and we may look forward to the day when our daily newspaper will be a municipal, possession, telling the truth and nothing but the truth, untrammelled by the fear of advertisers’ feelings, and the'dictation of political bosses. Who knows, I may . be on the control board and might possibly give one of you a job, for I feel sure that you would write just the' sort of editorials we told you to. In conclusion I would advise every journalist, editors in particular, to read Upton Sinclair’s book, “The Brass Check,” the collective confessions of newspapermen who have daily to sell their souls to a “kept” Press.—l ani, etc., - STRINGER. New Plymouth, April 29. * / KNITTING AT CONCERTS. (To thej Editor). -■ - • Sir,—May I bring forward an objection on behalf of conductors and performers to the apparently quite harmless and innocent habit of knitting during performances. To persons concentrating on giving their best to an audience it is most disconcerting to see the flashing needles with their monotonous movement. ,On behalf of lecturers and performing musicians may I make a courteous plea for consideration from our most industrious friends.—l am, etc., EVELYN L. DOWLING. . New Plymouth, May 1. K