IN THE PUBLIC MIND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 304, 23 December 1943, Page 4

IN THE PUBLIC MIND

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND RUSSIA (To the Editori You published recently under the heading "Appeasement Dominates Britain," a cabled extract from an article written by P. A. Voigt in the vnfflish publication, The Nineteenth Century and After." In this article the author discusses the alleged Russian lust for hegemony over Europe, and says:—"The Czechs, or at least those of their ruling class or that part of it represented by the President, Dr. Benes, are Pan-Slav and pro-Russian still. They therefore are the favourites of Russia to-day. Their function, as it is conceived by Russia, is to be the instrument of Russian domination of Central Europe." It is contrary to historical fact to state that the Czechs are Pan-Slavs. On the contrary it was a fundamental principle of" President Masaryk's policy that the Czechs must orientate their political thinking towards the democratic West, a policy which he implemented during his struggle for the liberation of Czechoslovakia in the last war, often against the proCzarist tendencies of certain Czech reactionary circles. Masaryk, together with his disciple Benes, organised the struggle for liberation in England and France, and the declaration of an independent Czechoslovakia as an Allied war aim in President Wilson's 14 points fully vindicated Masaryk's policy. The Czechoslovak people cheered the Russian pact not as an expression of PanSlavism, but as a foundation of a democratic front against Nazism. President Benes and his Government have been the only stabilising and constructive force among the various emigre Governments. If the Czechoslovak Government decides therefore to organise a Czech /..rmy on Russian soil, the only foreign armed force to fight side by side Avith our Russian Allies on the Russian front and if President Benes concludes a treaty of alliance with the Soviet Union, thereby following a lead given by Britain, he is assured of the support of an overwhelming majority of the Czechoslovak people F.T.

MR. NASH AND WASHINGTON

Unless Mr. Nash, before leaving for Washington, can give the public an unqualified assurance that he will oppose the contemplated return to the gold standard (envisaged in both the British and' American sugar-coated plans), his visit abroad may spell disaster for us. He has not given any such assurance. Only a referendum should settle the acceptance or rejection of - what Mr. Winston Churchill in 1925 described (after experience of the gold standard) as "a hideous oppression" and its results as "this monetary convulsion." Mr. Nash's defence cf international monetary orthodoxy (which, from self-interest, leans towards the calamitous gold standard —and divil take the hindmost, the masses) makes him surely our very last choice as our representative in international economic councils. Is it too late to stop him? TOCSIN.

FL-lES

From conversations with local residents as well as from our own experience Point Chevalier district seems to be infested this summer with a plague of flies, and I am anxious to know if this matter is one that can be investigated and given, publicity to either by the Government health authorities or the City Council sanitary department. Apparently there is some breeding ground in or adjacent to Point Chevalier, and I suggest that in the interest of health an early investigation is urgent. I have tried various sprays, fly-papers and "swotting by the hours, but the air still remains literally black with this germ-carrying pest, whilst the same position prevails in other homes I have visited. Perhaps one of our medical authorities would be good enough to enlighten us on the dangers of this pest, as I feel that the numerous cases of summer sickhiiMhw 0 "? chilc ' ren mi *»t be attributable to food that has been tainted by flies. ANXIOUS PARENT.

AFTER THE BATTLE

Your correspondent, Mr. Humphries asks me if Ihave heard of the Pnmn I 1 0"" i YeS > X haVe ' and iS common knowledge that the Soviet had to abandon a lot of its idealistic 3™ s a »er the monarchy had been M ou t-. The best example of Socialism in Europe is Germany/ ] ? as National Socialism. g t a? \ may seem - the German rSS rTH s he is fi S h ting for the ofrrLr, were'possible to ask a For hiJ^ er Wlat he is fi S htin g National Vtm & S - a Y- Jam fi ghting fo? Aational Socialism against the AineHca^Sn^^" 1 °f En^and ™* tnrlhin „ Sialism leads to a dictais I Parham , en t in New Zealand for tio t rather expensive joke nwil L tax ; P ayers. Our laws are nrrw y n few - Cabi net Ministers by H^fJ;?" 00^ 1 ?^ 1 - Members of ParrS CoUk } be re P la ced by gramophone records with -'Yes, yes aye, fZf' on them, and it would save the taxpayers thousands of pounds. "was not Socialism but private enterprise that built up the great ™£w a Com monwealth and the mighty American Republic. Private ™SjH e alwa ys gives better lesults for lower costs and more efficiency. . e. STEVENSON.

STATE FINANCE

Mr. Lefeaux has pointed out that 7^i. 01 r lrl '? of the war "saved New avnirt nds t . bacon " and allowed us to S? o national bankruptcy. It is a matter of surprise that an orthodox "f,™ I '. such as Mr. Lefeaux, should publicly admit that the h " ai ?cial system in which he was officially engaged in New Zealand and in which he is, doubtless, still occupied, or, at any rate, still interested, was such that, under its control a country such as this, with almost limitless possibilities of production, could have been brought witam measuring distance of national bankruptcy, requiring us to be at war in order to remain solvent. Is it Mr. Lefeaux' belief that if we continue to borrow money (or credit) from outside New Zealand and live nationally on the Proceeds of oversea loans that we shall be 'living within our means?" One assumes that any loans raised overseas—or internally—will find their security in the existing wealth and potentialities of New Zealand. It would be interesting to the public .to have from an expert, such as Mr. Leteaux, a clear explanation as to what benefit could be obtained by New Zealand from outside loans which could not be just as easily obtained from the Government's use of its own credit with the same national backing as security. Surely here is a field for detailed explanation which would perform a public service in informing the people on a matter in which they have been, up to now. supremely ignorant G. HINTON-KNOWLES.