THE DUKE AND THE UNEMPLOYED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19773, 22 February 1927, Page 6

THE DUKE AND THE UNEMPLOYED

The leaders of the Christchurch unemployed are to be complimented upon their proper decision to use their influence with their followers to prevent a demonstration on the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York. It may be hoped that the men will respond.

The King is the head of our State. The office of head of the State deserves to be treated with respect whether filled by King or President. And when the occupant of that office is a thoroughly decent gentleman, as King George is, still more does it deserve to be treated with respect. On the other hand, disrespect to it is disrespect to the body politic, in other words to the community itself. The Duke of York comes as the King’s representative. The inference is obvious. Furthermore, the King is a constitutional monarch; as much bound to follow the advice of a Labour Government as of a Conservative or Liberal one. He cannot interfere in politics on his own initiative. If it be claimed that he has a right to interfere on behalf of the unemployed, then it cannot be denied that M has also an equal right to interfere in respect of other matters, if he so choose. As a matter of fact he has no such right, either one way or the other, and he would be the last to attempt it. The Duke, then, can do nothing, though no doubt he would be sympathetic enough. To ask him to interfere would, therefore, be futile. And what is the use of wasting time on futility ?