VICTIMISATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16797, 22 July 1920, Page 3

VICTIMISATION.

THE PRINCIPLES OF SPADGER’S LaNE. . (Now Zealand Welfare League.) After the recent attack upon Sir George Clifford's rights as a citizen of this country the Labour extremists should give up shouting about ‘'victimisation” for ever. The Eeds’ definition, judging from their general altitude, is that any attempt to deny them all their own way is an act of “victimisation.” For them to boycott a person who wishes to tra\ el; to upset an opponent’s meeting; or to take away'a person’s rights in any way they please is not “victimisation,” but just an assertion of the dignity of Labour from their distorted point of view. Principles and they have nothing in common, unless it be the principle of a political and industrial hoodlum who is out with a sandbag to reform society for his own advantage. The Labour cause by itself is a clean movement. The present junta of Reds cannot by the greatest ■ stretch of imagination be recognised as clean. Since the advent of its leader, who came from Australia, the party appears to have adopted for its guidance the principle of Spadger’s Lane, as described by the author of “The Sentimental Bioko,” where the invariable rule was to throw things at any’cove you didn’t like. The Reds in New Zealand started out by throwing mud, recently they have taken to throwing bricks, although cobber Holland still goes back to the Kind. The Racing Conference declined to meet the Jockeys’ Association, which may bo right or wrong. It is a matter to reason out. The Reds, however, call for the rule of Spadger’s Lane which is “if a bloke declines to meet you, smash ’is ’ed. The Auckland' tramwaymen threw a brick at the conference which struck their city. Auckland objectecf and the tramwaymen apologised and withdrew. The firemen on the Mokoia threw another brick, designed no doubt to impress the Racing Conference with a sense of fairness. We shall not be surprised if that brick has struck the Jockeys’ Association.

If aggrieved, throw a brick, is tbe common rule of Lane, and the Red industrials and politicals of New Zealand. .It is not only a brutal but an insane rule. You can throw bricks but you cannot tell for sure where they will land. This is the party that screams “victimisation.” They want to get on tho Treasury benches and rule the country, and no doubt to make .it perfectly legal that all and sundry may adopt (ho slum rule of Spadger’s Lane and have liberty to throw, bricks at everybody they disagree with. Should that day ever come New Zealand will be a fine country to live out of.

The sooner the Government and people of New Zealand decide unitedly that brick throwing as an industrial pastime must cease the better chance will citizens have of travelling in safety, and the more efedit will wo have as a civilised people. f lt is everybody’s business. Sir Georgo Clifford may bo hit to-day, but it may be you to-morrow. There is no safety for anyone in a community of brick throwing savages.