THE PEOPLE'S FORUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1937, Page 15

THE PEOPLE'S FORUM.

A HIGHLAND REGIMENT,

THE ORAKEI PA.

RUSSIA IN SPAIN.

SALE OF MILK

From Our Readers to Our Readers.

SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED JOURNEYMEN.

(To the Editor.)

Perhaps "Labourer's" line of thought with regard to the present Government has not travelled along the avenue of deduction, but he may know tliat during the last reign of the Xational party, boys and girls were not apprenticed to trades, with the result that to-day when trade is increasing a great shortage of qualified journeymen and women is apparent, with the unfortunate effect that 70 per cent of the people are looking for labouring jobs. This is quite apparent by advertisements seen every day in the papers. The situation amounts to this, that skilled trades are crying out about a shortage of labour, while, on the other hand, we have an over-crowding of labourers brought about by the legislation of the past Government, because nien, or rather young people, had to accept petty employment in preference to trade work. The placing of so many labourers is rather difficult, as in the course of ordinary events, there is, generally speaking, a.bout two- thirds tradesmen to one-third labouring, but at the moment the position is reversel. If a. normal routine had' been followed in the past, with regard to apprentices, 50,000 unemployed would not appear on paper. The Labour party promised to restore the purchasing power of the people, which they did. I do not remember their promising to reduce the price of commodities, that is something that is controlled outside of any political party. The Government did what they promised. The fact of people having two jobs is always present under any system, but they are in the minority. "Labourer" speaks of firms paying overtime, double time, etc.; here it is again, a shortage of qualified tradespeople; firms are piling up work, are not able to secure trained workers, therefore they are forced to work their staffs over hours to cope with the orders. With regard to the Orakei Maoris, "Labourer" wants to wait and see things finalised; he is only guessing at the present time. TRADESMAN*.

The Orakei Maori is threatened now with the loss of his remnant of ancestral lands; in fact, the extinction of the last of his tribe which at one time .save great warrior* in battle and was no mean adversary. Picture them to-day. A poor, hopeless people—79 adults and 48 children—overcome by the advent of the pakeha (white brother, the term is very often meant). I am sure that every pakeha who has a thought for his brown brother will repudiate that sale of the Orakei lands and do everything possible to rehabilitate him to that which is his not only by his prerwit only means of abodo, but by all the ethics of British justice, which in cases like the present is apt to be forgotten. People are likely to think in terms of money and business firstly, instead of stopping to think that the Jale of Orakei property was made with the blind faith of the Maori (who is but a simple grown up child who lues for to-day), thinking that the future would be provided for. How disillusioned he now is to find that in all possibility he will be told to go. On the skyline behind the pa we see new houses being built. What a feeling of gratitude would be felt if the Government were to overlook the sale of the property that the Maoris are asking for and build a decent settlement for them to live in. not on the lines of a model pa. as has often been suggested, a< we di not want to turn our Maoris into performing monkeys to please sightseers, but on the lin-s of the pakeha settlement on the hill. I trust that some movement will be formed to prevent this grave injustice being forced upon the Maori, and I give my name as one willing to help. T. X. NEWMAN.

In my letter of the 21st ult.. I remarked upon the action of certain English clergymen in associating themselves with a report on the Spanish question without having first investigated the case for the anti-Communists. That the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr. Cosmo Lang, should have condemned the partisan political activities of Dr. Hewlett Johnson is not surprising, for it now appears that the Dean and his colleagues were actually invited to tour the territory of the Rightists, on condition, however, that they paid their own expenses. The. invitation was not accepted. There remains for our reflection then, the expressed determination of Largo Caballero's "Government" "to make Spain a land of militant atheists and to transform all Spanish schools into Communist schools." Some, no doubt, are able to view the machinations of Russian Communism in Spain with complacency and even enthusiasm. Chesterton, that indefatigable defender of the rights of the people, saw in Communism a mountainous menace to liberty and civilisation. While we patiently abide the result of this calamitous struggle, it is well to remember that wars in the Iberian Peninsular have a habit of continuing for years. Napoleon, thinking to take the country in his stride, was involved in a seven years' campaign that finally brought about his fall. Mr. .T. L. Oarvin recently recorded his opinion in the ''Observer" (London): "The Reds cannot win because against them impregnably are at least two-thirds and probably three-fourths of the Spanish people proper —mark that distinction—including its strongest elements occupying the dominating interior of the land." I do not quote this passage because of the prophecy it contains, but rather as a reminder that, as Mr. Garvin points out, Cal'allero'a junta "has not the tittle of a title to be called 'the Government' of more than a quarter of Spain."' Future writers will furnish us with accurate accounts of the naval and military movements of this titanic issue between, on the one hand, the historic spirit of national Spain and, on the other, the forces of atheism, class war and racial disruption. The incursion of Russian Communism into Spain is, however, already a matter of ktatory. In Mr. Garvin's opinion "the exultant Russian hopes of a Bolshevik Spa : n as the basis of Communist expansion in all Western Europe has failed for ever." J.C.T.

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS. Mr. Kirk, president of the Soldiers' Re-establishment League, states that some disabled soldier pensioners are still unemployed because they believe that "ill working they could not earn more than the pension they at present receive without working, and that their outlook is all wrong, yet later in his remarks he admits how difficult it is to train and pass men through the factories (Soldiers' He-establishment League factories, I presume) on to other eniplovrnent. Are the factories at Auckland and Dunedin large enough to train all soldier i>ensionere to take their place in civil occupations? Again, Mr. Kirk states that the pensioner U afraid to take employment, as. if he is unsuccessful, he will be penalised. He states that they will not be penalised. If Mr. Kirk is right, how does he account for the large number of pensioners or ex-pen-sioners who have been turned down by the Tensions Department after being forced out of employment through ill" health or ill-luck? The soldier pensioner has never had a square To prove this, take th P case of a soldier on a partial pension. He is allowed to earn so much extra if he can get it, but even if he hasn't earned anything for ten months of the year, should he strike it lucky and earn over £1 per week for any period, the pension is cut. INTERESTED.

Under tho above heading Mr J W Emslie remarks that "91st Highlander's , '' suggestion of a regiment of New Zealand Scot* Mould he both popular and welcome. I will go further and add that .such a body would be a national asset, a very useful unit to New Zealand. There has been much discussion on defence during the last few months, and, with world conditions as they are to-day, this is a vital question—even though we prefer to think otherwise. Whilst we had a territorial force there was a body of men at least partially trained, together with the fact that every man received a training which was beneficial to him. For myself, ten days in camp would make me quite as fit as any sports could—and I've tackled the lot. With the present system of volunteer service the number of trained men is inadequate, so to improve this and offer, as in England, more enticement, a cycle section has been formed. In this country there is a very high percentage of Scottish blood, and with the opportunity to serve in a kilted force —be it only khaki kilts, such as the London Scottish wear, when the expense of put - ting- a man into uniform would be very little ii'>ie than at present —this blood will show up. This has been proved by the Australian Scots, where, I understand, there is a waiting list, and in Canada, where there are battalions corresponding in name with each of the kilted regiments in Great Britain. This then would be a popular means of augmenting New Zealand's defence force with the fighting traditions of one of the Empire's greatest nations behind it to ensure its success as a unit of defence and as a smart and colourful body on ceremonial parades. SUPPORTER.

I am mucTi interested ill the letters of Mr. Baker. Mr. Kmelie and "Cuidieh'n Righ."' 1 did not know that the Highland Rifles had been formed and disbanded sonic years ago. I thank Mr. Einsiie for the information. Mr. Baker thinks that his association would assist in forming the New Zealand Scottish. If the •Mocks"' are non-political. I cannot see how they can assist in a matter like this, as the question of defence is definitely political, although I have no doubt that"the ".locks," like other association* of its kind, are performing as useful work. "Cuidieh'n Righ" *eems to think that the Government have missed the opportunity of raising the "Dinks" and bringing their colours to the front. Well, it is never too late to mend, and I have no doubt that there is room for both the Rifle Brigade and the New Zealand Scottish in this little country to-day. Perhaps the Minister of Defence, now that he is to make alterations to the army in New Zealand, with a view to increasing its strength, could do worae than resurrect the "Dinks.'' form the New Zealand Scottish, and possibly a few other battalions associated with other famous regiments, and so give the people of New Zealand a better feeling of security than we enjoy at present. As a suggestion, make the age limit 18 to 42 years of age, so that while including the untrained youth of the country I it would also give an opportunity to those who have seen some service and carry with them the old traditions on which the whole Empire stands to-day. One who would be willing to do his little bit would be 91ST HIGHLANDER.

I would like to challenge Mr. Douglas, of the Milk Council, to show how under ite amendments the council will be al>le to reduce the price of milk. He state-? that under zoning the public oii the Xorth Shore and Avondale receive their milk a halfpenny a quart cheaper. May I point out to him the real reason for this reduction ? Just prior to the zoning being put into operation a deputation waited on the Milk Council protesting against the reduction, jwinting out that the vendors would not save anything like a halfpenny per quart (one vendor saves a few shillings a week, but the reduction costs, him over £3). Mr. Hutchison's reply was that most of the vendors in these districts were producervendors, and dealing in raw milk, and did not have any treating costs, therefore they could afford to reduce the price so as to give the public some compensation. Xow, if the council gets its amendments through, the majority of the pro-ducer-vendors in Auckland", who Mr. Htitcl:ison admitted could supply the milk cheaper and who also handle a better article, will be forced out of business Therefore I fail to see how the milk will be supplied cheaper. Mr. Andrew* seems to think we vendors will have to use a lot of influence to induce our customers to sign a petition to stop the amendments. Let me assure him the majority won't need much p;rsua- ; sion if they are told the truth. Furthermore. I think it is time something wa; done to stop thU waste of hundreds of pounds every year trying to get powers through. C. J. UTTING.