CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 36, 12 February 1943, Page 2

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

THE FARMERS' WOOL To the Editor. Some months ago the British Government, after listening to the representations of the Australian authorities, granted a 15 per cent increase on all wool purchased from the Empire's Dominions. Our own Socialistic Government decided that the farmers of this country were unfit to be trusted with the expenditure of this huge sum, amounting in all to from £25 to £50 on an average sized clip. As a result of this decision farmers are to receive (at some later date) a proportion of this increase in non-negotiable Government bonds. The reason for this action was given as the Government's desire to avoid any tendency toward inflation. One reads a lot of the dangers surrounding our adolescents who are receiving weekly wages varying from £2 10/ to £6 10/ weekly. It is further reported that the bulk of this is being spent on clothes and divers amusements. Observing the Government's tender regard for the welfare of the farmer (usually men of maturity and of family responsibility), surely it will not fail to take immediate steps to protect our young folk whom war conditions have placed in a position of great danger. Would it not be an act of wisdom on the part of the authorities to retain, say, one-third of the wages earned by these young people, invest same in non-transfer-able bonds and return it to them after the war ends, when they would have at least a nest egg to tide them over difficult times? SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE.