RUSSIAN MATCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 85, 11 April 1931, Page 19

RUSSIAN MATCHES.

Being a buyer and seller, I was interested in letters regarding Soviet .matches. Mr, Woodcock writes saying, "even if 50 per cent is written off as pure bunkum the reports of Soviet ex-" cesses,' - etc. Why 50 per cent, Some, as we know, would write it all off, while others would do the reverse. The reasons, are obvious. In any case, the fact remains that the cheaper the matches the greater the demand. Being a grocer, Mr. Woodcock knows that under present conditions the New Zealand wage-e&rner can't afford to be patriotic. He buys on the cheapest market, and doesn't ask whether the goods are made in Russia or rimbuctoo. Imagine a relief worker (18/ a week) paying 6£d for an article that he could get .No, economic conditions are forcing us to put' patriotism to one side. But, I ask, why pick on Russia ? What about the rice, tea, cocoa, or sugar that our correspondent serves out? Does he not know that while he is comfortably asleep in the dark, early hours of the morning there are little children on our own farms working to produce the butter and cheese that he sells without protest? While we have men and boys, and women, too, working 90 and 100 hours a week for a few shillings, and allegations of child slavery to clear up, we would be better engaged putting our own house in order first; then turn to Russia. , RUSTIC.