WORLD DISTRESS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20572, 14 June 1932, Page 14

WORLD DISTRESS.

TO THE EDITOR OT TUB X-XE9S Qir—The present conditions are unparalleled in the history of tho world, and I don't want to hear anyone say that the present conditions aro the result of causes beyond our control. The whole thing is man-made,, which is an unpardonable disgraco to liumanitj. Almightv God has been divfnely merciful, in that the world is fuller to-day* than ever before of all that is good and all that wo need; and yet millions aro practically starving, and millions are unemployed. Now all those millions have a perfect right to live. . . . • one may say. "What is your solution? It is just this. Restore to the worker his purchasing power. I say thi.->, simply because. I consider it the only logical method of bringing peace on earth. Xow if something had happened which was altogether beyond our control and which had reduced the means of life to a great many, it should be at once the' duty of those who had more than they needed to help the needy; but at present no such conditions exist, and a great many have yet learn that the stacking up of wealth is not tho highest ideal of life. With regard to tbo Churches 6£ tlio world, they at last are waking up to the fact that they have not been walking in their Master s_ footsteps. Yours, etc., v June 13 th. 1932. 10 TBI EDITOR 0* "I'M I'IKSS Sir,—lt seems to mo that there has been a terrible amount of wind-beating in the past over the depression and its cures. I can sec only a horrible waste of money in many of the : eheme.a launched to overcome unemployment. I cannot sec prosperity in New Zealand, or even in tho Empire, until we have established friendly relations with the rest of the world; and ye are not going to do that unless wo face the music and abolish reparations, agree on the armament question, restore the gold standard, do away with the high rate of exchange, and lower interests. To alleviate the internal distress produce more and .charge less for it. For instance, if a nian can produce 1001b of butter-fat per acre at la a lb, equalling £5 per acre, then by producing 1501b of butter-fat per acre a-j 9d a lb, the yield will-be £5 12s 6d per acre, and so in all products, making all better off. Nor will these things bo done if we wait for the other man to move first. Let ug, tako the bull by the horns and act. Only as we act will the depression be lifted.—Yours, etc., W. D. HARTLEY. Sefton, June 12th, 1932.