N.Z. LEGION AND MR SEYMOUR.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18926, 21 April 1933, Page 7

N.Z. LEGION AND MR SEYMOUR.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I read carefully the pronouncements of Dr. Begg in launching his new party. The doctor made a beautiful speech full of high Ideals, and a call for self-denial and spiritual conceptions on the part of all those who might link up with his party; but the letter of your correspondent “Democrat" put a number of Very pertinent questions to the three local representatives for Dr. Begg’s new party some time ago, which these gentlemen have thus far entirely Ignored. It may be, of course, that the period of secret and carefullychosen gatherings has not yet expired. However that may be, I submit, Sir, that it is a matter of publio interest that, since the founder of this new partv has such high ideals of social justice, the views of Mr Douglas Seymour—one of the local representatives —should once more be emphasised. Some two years ago I asked Mr Seymour what he thought might be done to assist the farmers in their parlous state. His reply was: "There is only one thing to do—apply to them the good old law of supply and demand.” When I pointed out to Mr Seymour that this would probably result in a very large number of farmers being out of house and home in a short period, and that therO was nothing fof human sympathy ,or Christian ethics In such a policy, his reply was: “My dear sir, the law of supply ahd demand has nothing to do with human sympathy or Christian ethics, and I stand by the law of supply and demand." It Is quite possible that after listening to Dr. Begg’s appeal for selfdenial and spiritual considerations on the part of all those who linked up with him Mr Seymour may have renounced his hateful theory that supply and demand supersedes all considerations of human sympathy or Christian ethics, but as I have said, Sir, it is a matter of public interest to know whether this is so or not. Dr Begg was sincere enough to emphasise the fact that unless individuals were prepared to support his high Ideals it was their duty to “get out." Without discussing the matter any further in the meantime I suggest that Mr Seymour is under obligation to the publio to state definitely (avoiding all buffoonery) whether he still holds the theories of social organisation that he propounded to me personally some two years ago. The many letters written by Mr Seymour, which were printed in your correspondence columns 18 months to two years ago, will be recalled by many of your readers as evidencing Mr Seymour’s faith in supply and demand alone as worth serious thought. As I have said, it is a hateful theory, since it repudiates any connection with moral sanctions or ethical standards. Whatever may be the ultimate fate of the New Zealand Legion, one thing is obvious, and that is that the theories on social problems held by Mr Seymour two years ago are so hopeless that they should be combatted and opposed on every possible occasion.—l am, etc., JOHN SYKES. Hamilton, April 20, 1933.