CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 63, 14 March 1924, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. A MOTHER.—The finding of the com- ; ! mission must precede any comment. j A PLAGUE OF FLIES. (To the KOltor.l Sir.—We here in Grey Lynn are simply nauseated in our homes by flies which" swarm everywhere, devouring our food, and crawling on ceilings, walls, 'floors and clothing/ 1 do not exaggerate I when I tell you 1 could not recognise ! some quite familiar white garments on a screen last week owing to the black mass of flies crawling on them. Is it wonderful that our children are ill so frequently? We are told the plague is owing to so much rotten fruit and food being thrown around and into dust bins. This may be correct, but, I ask. why should we in Auckland, paying such high rates and taxes, be compelled to endure all this disease-producing filth? Surely, sir, something can be done to stir up the authorities to move in the matter. —I am, etc.. AN IRATE RATEPAYER. THE FAILURE OF REFORM. (To the Editor.l Sir. —Mr. Massey loses no opportunity to represent the position Oi the public finances of the Dominion as satisfactory. and the policy of the Reform Government as beneficial to all sections of the community. However untenable his arguments he is backed up by a section of the Conservative Press, 'which, l.y loudly shouting "Mr. Massey is right." presumably hopes to cover up the de- I plorable condition of affairs that this j Government is responsible for. Outside j war loans, Mr. Massey has borrowed for I domestic purposes nearly as much in | eight or nine years as all the previous Governments " put together, viz.. over £00.000.000.. Yet we find these words j used ill 1890 by him (Hansard, vol. 108. p. ; IK2 17/S/09I: '"So far as the Govern-; nient is concerned we are almost living on borrowed money. That is the policy ; of the Government. T want to say this, that 1 believe it is the most contempt- i ible and humiliating policy it is possible for the mind of man to conceive.'' The public must certainly ask is this the | same Mr. Massey. and is lie right! j Again in vol. 92. p! 233. "23/0/915, "Han- ! sard"' stales. Mr. Massey used 1 hese j words: "We cannot expect, settlers] to be successful if we place them I away back without money and with no ! means of employment except from the Government." What do the farmers and soldier settlers say to-day to this': Will they say Mr. Massey is right* Again' Mr Massey. in his election speech last November at Pukekohc, re- | fcrred to improving the Advances to j Settlers Act by chattels loans to farmers ! up to £1000 'or £2000. Apart from 1 whether this promise has been carried ; out let mc refer again to vol. 92, p. j 234, 23/0/90. Mr. Massey said: "I anil sorry to see by the Governor's speech we are likely to have a large number of Socialistic bills dealing with the subjects of State labour farms, Government lire insurance, etc. The country is heartily sick of this unnecessary and mischievous legislation and interference with every possible industry!"' Will the public say Mr. Massey was right? I could go on for a week with Mr. Massey's statements on almost every subject connected with this country in which the Premier's public statements on finance, legislation, and economics have been proved on vital questions to be positively wrong. It is therefore useless for the Reform Press, Reform Ministers, and supporters to try to create by loud shouting, a leader to be trusted, out of a man whose lack of vision on almost every public question has proved to be lamentable. The Premier and his party have destroyed this fair Dominion's foundations, economically and financially, and. from a producer's point of view, must go. before they bring the whole country down to an inextricable position. —1 am, etc.. HALL SKELTOX. THE SINGAPORE NAVAL EASE. (To the Editor.) Sir.—Mr. H. Holland is reported to have said at Wostport in reference to Mr. Massey's reply to the British Government regarding the above, "that it would furnish a rich harvest of national suspicions, ripening towards fear and hatred and ultimately making for further warfare." One naturally wonders why any nation should become suspicious or afraid, and why it should hate the British for a mere act of prudence in making provision for the defence of the Empire and for protecting the transport of its commerce. Certainly for .he last half-century Britain has displayed no bellicose aggressiveness that other nations should be timid. 1 would rather think that the supposititious hatred would be engendered tas the German hatred was) through these nations being foiled in their nefarious intentions. Probably Mr. Holland can enlighten us as to the actual grounds for those alleged nervous national feelings. The party to which he belongs notoriously does not approve of adequate navies or armies. Owing to too much Labour ant! Liberal influence in Britain in this respect she was caught napping in 1914, and she dues not mean to be caught again at a disadvantage.. Mr. Holland goes on to say that ""It was certain that the Xew Zealand. Australian and British Labour movement was uncompromisingly opposed to the .Sing a p ol - e scheme." With all due respect to the Labour parties Mr. Holland must not think that it is a dominant power in any of those countries, even in numbers, certainly not in intelligence. The English Government lias no mandate from the people to abandon this much-thought-out scheme, which is a matter vitally affecting the whole Empire, and even that Labour Coveniment is hesitating in doing that which the light-hearted New Zealand and Australian Labour party have decided against long ago. The" Labour party mentioned dues not believe in war, or adequate navies or armies. That is no good unless the people of other nations entertain like views. The world is not going to stand still. evolution will slowly proceed. There are nations which desire lo spread out. owing to increase of population and other causes. There may eventuate all sorts of combinations or alliances of nations hostile to tinBritish Empire, and it behoves ilio-e responsible for it-! protection and integrity to put the Empire's house in order. It is not to be presumed thai the members of the Labour purn have burglarious intentions, but 1 imagine that they take the precaution of locking their doors at night. The Labour parties do not . ppcar to have any alternative scheme whereby the outlying Dominions and transport of commerce may be better guarded and protected than at present against eventualities. The same amount of skiil i-~ nut requisite for demolishing as for erecting an edifice.—l am. etc.. JOHN A. BEALE.