Credit or Discredit.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 939, 8 December 1933, Page 6

Credit or Discredit.

Dear Sir, —Mr Archer and the rest of tne Labour Party would like to create an impression that the strike was the cause of the Labour Party’s victory at the tram wav elections. It may have had some effect, but not much. Mr Archer and his party did their utmost to stir up emotion on account of the strike, and in so far as they were successful, they brought discredit to themselves. They had asked for arbitration; it was given them. They nad nominated an arbitrator; he was accepted 1 hey agreed to abide by’ his decisions, and they didn’t. The arbitrator was an impartial man He heard both sides and gave a decision against the union. The Labour Party broke its contract by trying to get another decision from an emotion-crazy mob by giving only one side of the case; and they claim to have got it. It is similar to what occurred about 2000 years ago. when another emotion-crazy mob cried. ” Give us Barabbas.” It can be said in defence of B«rabbas that he didn’t push his own barrow. The real cause of the Labour victory was “ damn the ratepayers.” There were over 72,000 voters. The proportion of iatepayers to non-ratepayers was about three tc four. When the trams were first introduced the ratepayers practically gave a mortgage over their homes, and ratepaveronly had the right to elect the board of control. The law was altered to give all residents a vote, but the responsibility was left on the ratepayers. Where people have rights they should also have responsibilities. Where there is a residential vote there should be a residential tax. People should be responsible for what they do. I discussed this matter with a prominent present-day leader of the Labour Party some y’ears back. He said the idea of the pioneers to have a home of their own was a mistake. They’ worJced hard for it, but it never became their own. They migJit have the title deeds, but tfce City Council had a mortgage over their property. And then the Tramway Board had a mortgage, and all local bodies had mortgages over his heme. He had some protection while only ratepayers could vote, but he lost that protection when the law gave votes to all residents. When the non-ratepayers, who were now more numerous than ratepayers, realised the power that had ben placed * n their hands, they would tax the ratepayers until they would be glad to give their homes away. Some non-ratepayers regarded ratepayers merely as landlords, who cught to be fleeced; others regarded ♦hem as unfortunates, who had placed their savings where all could see them, and who would be taken down by any party’ that set out to do it. This Labour leader's advice to me was “ Don’t attempt to own your own home. If you can save Anything put it away where no one will Know of it. Don’t swank by owning y’our home. Everyone will know of it, and y r ou will be stung through rates and taxes. We are going to lead the non-ratepayers against the ratepayers, so take my’ tip and don’t be a ratepayer.”

It was shortly’ after that that tne Rev J. K. Archer made bis famous remark, “ Damn the ratepayers.” Most people thought he was excited and spoke jut of hij turn. To those who knew better it was a call to all non-ratepavers to rnlly’ to his party. The Labour Party was out to take the ratepayers down, and all nonre tepavers w’ould support them. The idea of getting something at the cf oil ers would appeal to everyone. 1 said to my Labour friend, ” What about morality in this scheme of vours?" He replied. ” There is no morality in politics, it is all a matter of getting votes.’—l am, etc„ CRITIC.