THE POLITICAL ISSUE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21088, 14 July 1938, Page 8

THE POLITICAL ISSUE

To the Editor >t rhe Timaru Herald * Sir,—May I assure “Audrey Cunninghame” that in my reference to “easy going” 1 was not aware of his occupation? He stoutly resents the

suggestion, and goes on to defend | himself and his fellow workers by maintaining that the Government ' stroke was abolished years ago. A ; synonymity between a public service ! job and “easy going” is suggested by ( Mr Cunninghame himself. It is all a j matter of conscience, and the com- ; parison is his, not mine. He says thatl should the Nationalists be returned ] next November pensions and wages j will be cut. I suggest he is taking j Labour as his pattern. He must be aware that the National Party definitely states that it will not reduce wages and pensions, but “Audrey Cunninghame” is suspicious, insofar that he has seen the present Government dishonour its pledges. He states that the National Party is trying to alienate sympathy from the present Go-| vernment by saying that Labour Is | Communistic. Well, after all, it is a , matter of interpretation. Perhaps Mr Cunninghame can tell us just where ’ the following terms differ in practical i application: “Socialism,” “Communism,” "Bolshevism.” By listening in to ! the commercial radio stations next I Sunday between 7 and 8 p.m., he will I no doubt get his cue from the deputy- ( chief Labour propagandist. This gen- ( tieman, in approved Uncle Scrim style, i threatens to tell us all about “isms.” In preparing the way he very obvi- I ously avoided Socialism, mentioning , Mahomedanism and other "isms,” but' we know what is coming. “Audrey Cunninghame waxes en- I thusiastic over Mr Semple’s achieve- I ments as a Cabinet Minister. No doubt Mr Semple is “doing things,” but this I was only made possible by the late Government’s careful administration. This was made manifest when Labour | assumed office, taking over the country I with everything in its favour. Should our export markets again become unfavourable. the Public Works programme will be the first to crash. In visualising a Minister of the late Government as carrying out the policy laid down by the “foreign man” from London "Audrey Cunninghame" imply illustrates just how far he Is out of his depth. We know this is the usual Inspired Labour propaganda, but we do expect a person of average intelligence to think for himself. Your correspondent bestows the title "Think for yourself" on Uncle Scrim’s radio Labour propaganda campaign. A more appropriate designation is: “Do not wake up, lest you vote Labour out.” Now, Mr Cunninghame, on his own showing, has been badly hoaxed once, but in spite of this he is again “asking for it.” A couple of sharks beat him some years ago, yet he is still open to gullibility, as evidenced by his whole-hearted support of Labour. He swallow’s hook, line, and sinker, and in

his unthinking frame of mind is vigorously clamouring for the rod. The member for Timaru did make reference though to Timaru's share of the class “one born every minute.” Labour, in endeavouring to get “onside,” will no doubt answer “Yes, those are the people who voted against Labour last election.” This will not stand, though, the law of averages implying that the majority Labour vote included the larger share of the community referred to by Mr Carr.—l am, etc., R. W. ANDERSON. Timaru, July 13.