Letters to The Editor

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21391, 6 February 1935, Page 6

Letters to The Editor

Correspondents who do not comply with our rules net out in the last column of our Leador Pago will eicuee us from notioing their letter!. Cook and Baker—You do not give your name and address. MORTGAGE FINANCE TO THB EDITOB OP THE PRSSS. Sir,—l am neither a politician nor a financier, nor am I a farmer, and I have no money invested in land, hence I feel that I can express an unbiased opinion on the economic position of to-day. I have lived for some years in a rural area, and am in close touch with farmers, some of whom are personal friends, and I am intimate with their position. In my opinion the plight of the farming community is due to greed and selfishness on the part of the farmer, the land agent, and the stock and station agent. There are men on farms in this district who were not able to pay the full interest even in the good days. They are not poor farmers. One man I know on a small farm of 50 acres, for which he paid £2O()U, was compelled, even in good days, to take contracts for ploughing to keep going. He is off his farm now, and is better off, than when on it. Another farmer had an equity of £SOOO in a farm. Through the stupidity of the firm which was financing him. he has lost all that, and is to-day walking the streets looking for work. I notice that one of the financial guides of Christchurch, Mr A. C. Bretherton, compares farms to motorcars and hats. It is lamentable to think he should take upon himself the task of criticising the Minister for Finance, who is trying to do an honest job.

Farms do not depreciate with use, the more you work them the better they are. The same gentleman said wool was at the lowest price for 60 years. Is that a fact? I thought that last year wool reached a good price and sheep and lamb realised good prices. The big sheep farmer is a Crown tenant. The trouble with the sheep men is that many of them paid too much for goodwill. The only goodwill that should count is the value of improvements less depreciation. It 'is true that the farmer spent lavishly and unwisely in good years, but it is also true that the lawyers, the land agents, and all who fatten on the farmer, spent lavishly in good days. Speculating in land is the root cause of our present position. Land must be written down; is it fair that the farmer should fcear all the loss? I am glad that the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce did not accept the report of the Wellington committee. The sooner lending institutions realise that the value of mortgages is not there, the better for New Zealand. We have lived in a fool's paradise; for goodness'sake let us look facts in the face and try to put things right. The intolerable strain on the farming community for the last four years must be brought to an end. The unemployed worker is in a far happier position than many of our farmers today.—Yours, etc., OBSERVER. February 5, 1935.

TO THX BDITOB Or THE PRIS3. Sir, —The Associated Chambers of Commerce has stated its case from the point of view of its members. Briefly, it considers that any relief to the farmer mortgagor should come from the community, not a section of it—the mortgagees. The newspaper reports give no facts and figures arising from the deliberations. It would be interesting to know, for instance, the measure of relief, by way of reduction of principal, obtained by farmers operating under what is known as the "Chamber of Commerce scheme." Instead, we have a lot of generalities and the expression of a "difficulties complex." The plain fact of the matter is that creditors always want to be paid .back in terms of money. Creditors ignore the fact that money is merely * measure of value —the vital factor is the purchasing power, of the money unit. The bulk of the money owed by the farmers to-day was borrowed in money of a very low purchasing power. It took approximately £2O to buy a bale of wool, 2s a pound of butter. To-day money has a greater purchasing power; e.g., rt takes approximately £lO to buy a bale of wool, Is a pound of butter. If £IOO to-day will buy that which took £2OO some years ago, would not full justice be done both to mortgagor and mortgagee if the debt charge is arbitrarily scaled down to one-half the amount borrowed. Why should farmers, or any other mortgagors for that matter, lose their equities to enrich the mortgagees by payment of twice the amount borrowed in terms of purchasing power. We must get it clearly fixed in our minds that never before in the history of the world was credit mobilised to the extent that occurred in the prosecution of the Great War. This vast credit mobilisation resulted in drastic depreciation of currency. In our case the value of the £ fell to less than 10s. In the main that is the kind of money the creditors lent to the far- j mers. Whatever the merits of the proposed Mortgage Corporation, your correspondent is of the humble opinion that Mr Coates, in enunciating a principle of permanent relief, is moving in the right direction. The method to be adopted is open to challenge. Why not face up to the issue and legislate for partial repudiation in fact. That if?, after all, what is contemplated; but what a cumbersome and relatively expensive machinery. Whether the present is the time to afford permanent relief is an important consideration. The trend of events seems to point to £". reflation of prices nearer the 1029 level, and then international reversion to the gold standard, but on the basis of a lower content of gold in the metallic currencies. If what some authorities-' anticipate material-1 ises we shall have, at some future date, a sovereign containing one-half I the weight of gold it formerly contained. It is to be expected that when the rest of the world is ready we shall get an era of stabilised currencies and higher price levels. If such an event can have no adverse effect to either party to an earlier repudiation, then the point is of no moment. The mortgagees, stock, and station agents, even the banks, all rushed in to lend money to the farmer. Greed for the high yields was the motivating force. Why should the community shoulder the cost? Why should currency manipulations, moving in the first instance from the states in order to prosecute tne war, bo made an agency for the money-lenders to become richer. In the long run the State is concerned with the well-being of the community taken as a whole. Situated as we are in a primary-producing country, we cannot move forward until the farmer has a greater spending power. Beyond bare requirements, his earnings, are all going to the mortgagees and stock and station agents. This does not give consumer demand and that is what we need. The possessing class does not spend—it hoards, or, in politer language, invests, its money. That is not wanted to-day; there is more than enough money for Investment purposes. Therefore, if equity cannot to-day be achieved the State must lean toward the farmer, and, at worst, that is what Mr Coates is doing.—Yours, etc., .. , • L.D. February 5, 1035. -•••*»

TO THB BDITOB Ot TUB PRBSS. Sir,—Another mortgagee would like to raise his voice in protest before being offered by the politicians as a sop to their farmer friends. The politicians pilfered the funds of the Highways Board, and would now transfer the savings of the mortgagees to the pockets of the farmers. These farmers, these sports, if they backed the wrong horse would ask their monev back. Having given the land bought for them by the lender m pledge for the loan, they wish now to keep both land and loan; and a .sporting government which does .not dare to face the electors will go a long way to make "God's own country" a debtors' paradise.—Yours, etc., YET ANOTHER VICTIM. February 5, 1935.

THE MAYORALTY TO THB EDITOR OF THB PRBSS. Sir, —So far the Citizens' Association has not published the name of its candidate for the Mayoralty. Might I make a 'suggestion. Mr Mawson Stewart would be a good man for the position. His business ability would be a great asset to the city and I am sure both he and his wife would carry out the social duties of the position with dignity.—Yours, etc., A WOMAN ELECTOR. February 5, 1935. THE WEATHER TO THB BDITOft Ot THE PHB3S. Sir,— Though Mr Skey remarked that the recent depressions have not been deep enough to produce rain, I find that the heaviest falls in Otago during 1934 came with moderately high pressures. The heaviest of all, 250 points, from September 23 to 27 at 30.1, the second heaviest, 215 points on May 4 at 29.9, while the deep depressions of 29.3 of April 24 and 29.1 of May 17 produced only 53 and 65 points respectively. As "Cyclone" remarks, pressure determines the movement of air, whereas rainfall depends largely on the composition of air. There is no need to call upon some magical force to explain why rain does not fall. Rain is not made in the upper layers of air, but is the result of saturation of the layer next to ground level. Examination of humidity values shows that at no time in the last two months has the saturation been sufficient. The sudden showers we have had were caused by an electrical condition of the air, due to the lower layer being abnormally dry- This was particularly the case on Monday, January 21, when the percentage of saturation was well below 30 at 4 p.m. That evening produced electrical rain-showers. sleet, snow, hail, thunder and lightning, and a heavy grass frost. Similar conditions obtained at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 1934, in Christchurch, followed by a terrific electrical storm and hail and rain at 11 p.m., followed by frost. The same conditions at 5 p.m. of Tuesday, November 24, 1931, produced 8.6 degrees of frost. The same atmospheric conditions at 5 p.m. of February 11, 1933, produced a terrific electrical storm over Canterbury two days later. Again the same conditions were present at 9.30 a.m. on Christmas Day, 1923, followed four hours later by a heavy thunderstorm, hail, rain, wind and electrical display, doing damage to an hotel. Electrical conditions were also recorded at 5 p.m. on January 3, 9.30 a.m., and 5 p.m. on January 4, 1930, followed next day by gale and floods in the city. Electrical conditions were also present at 5 p.m. on July 15, 1934, followed next day by four hours of snow and the flooding of streets. All of these took place in the city of Christchurch, as "Cyclone" may verify for himself. Space does not permit of the full list which goes back to July 10, 1903, when the Waimakariri bridge was damaged. Cyclones such as the recent one in Auckland are due not to high temperatures alone but also to low humidities. Every one can be predicted several hours ahead. Those who think this is mere theory are invited to peruse the hygrometric figures for all the dates given above. There is no need to gaze upon the planets for inspiration—the data are nearer at hand.—Yours, etc., TORNADO. February 5, 1935. TO TUB EOITOE Or THE PKKH3. Sir,—l read "Cyclone's" letter in "The Press" this morning, and whilst appreciating the originality of his observations, cannot understand how his forecasts can be put to any practical use. The farmer and the man whose livelihood depends on weather conditions is interested mainly in what is going to happen on or around his farm and not hundreds of miles away. "Cyclone's" forecasts are too ambiguous to be of any real value. As he remarks, he publicly forecast rain to fall on February 2, and whilst rain certainly did fall in a few isolated places, mostly in the North Island, what consolation is that sort of prediction to the thirsty stock and arid irrigation channells around Oxford, etc. There are several kinds of inclement weather conditions which take thousands of pounds out of the farmers' pockets every year, and these are frost, snow, and electrical disturbances. If "solar action" can forecast when the orchard district of Central Otago is going to be wiped out again by frost or North Canterbury is to lose thousands more lambs by a visitation of snow, I will take my hat off to "Cyclone" and his theories. What this country needs and needs badly is a chain of meteorological stations situated in or near every agricultural district throughout the Dominion and then perhaps we could rely on getting something like a reasonably accurate weather forecast. —Yours, etc., WILL-O-THE-WISP. February sth, 1935.

POTATO TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA to ':hb bditok or this mass. Sir,—Until the farmers of New Zealand and the consumers of potatoes in Australia wake up the potato embargo will never be lifted. As regards the "disease" which Mr H. Nesbitt meni tions concerning New Zealand potatoes, I think it all nonsense. The disease that the Australian Trade Commissioner refers to is simply a scab on the potatoes that are grown on very new or extra strong land. Now is the lime for New Zealand farmers to get some of their own back by holding on to their produce, such as potatoes and onions, because this year, on account of the dry spell that we have experi* enced, ' such produce will be scarce. My advice to farmers, especially the farmers of Canterbury, where the bulk of potatoes comes from, is not to sell forward, so as to benefit the merchants, but to hang on and get a Eaying price this year. As to the "emargo," forget it for another year.— Yours, etc., PUBLIC OPINION. February 5, 1935. FUNCTIONS OF THE BANKS TO TUB tMTOB OT THB PRBS3. Sir, —After perusing the account of the social given to a retiring bank manager last week I was somewhat interested in the remarks made by Mr Holland, the Parliamentary member for Christchurch North. He eulogised the

technique and administration of the banks almost to the point of suggesting that these institutions were of a philanthropic nature. By virtue of the fact that this gentleman is in a political position and fully realises his responsibility to the public, his obligations to investigate matters of importance and acquaint the people accordingly is obvious. To expect Mr Holland to justify and qualify his assertions that banking institutions do not create credit &nd that they do lend their depositors' money, also that they function for the welfare of all the community is obviously reasonable. With a view to this an open challenge in debate is tendered to him to occupy a public platform and thus give his, electors an opportunity of discriminating as to the truth of his questionable assertions. This challenge accepted through these columns will, I am sure, highly gratify many of Mr Holland's electors. —Yours, etc., J. H. ROBINSON. February 4, 1935.

I Commenting on this letter, Mr Holland said that he had spoken with the widest knowledge on the subject, as he had been on the Monetary Committee and had heard evidence from the best banking authorities. There was no question that the banks were a great help to the people of the Dominion, said Mr Holland, and if a person's prospects were good he could always expect willing help from them. Mr Holland said that he withdrew nothing he said at the social function and wouTd stand by every word.]

RELIEF WORKERS AND CHARITY TO TUB BDITOB Ot THB PRESS. Sir, —It is remarkable how many people fail to realise that in New Zealand to-day there are just two classes of workers—relief workers and those who have been lucky. In the ranks of the relief workers are men who represent almost every trade or profession; many of them were able, until the slump hit them, to pay 20 shillings in the pound on demand, and could rate their assets at anything up to five figures—and they did not start with a nought either. They were men who always voted true blue Conservative and many of them even now cling pathetically to their old political ideas. But letters like that signed "Constructive Administration" in "The Press" are calculated to swing them over to the side which "C.A." is attacking. Any reader of average intelligence can see that he wanted badly to have a shot at the Labour Council, and used the relief workers as an opener. His "thousands of the unemployed publicly demanding charitable assistance" is great stuff, but it is not accurate and the writer knows it. And if he were genuinely in sympathy with all cases of distress, he would not need to ask "What did the relief workers do w/i their money?" Let nim think that three weeks' pay (approximately £3 ss) had to last the men three weeks, and that many of them, realising the importance of keeping a roof over their families' heads, paid three weeks' rent straight away. Another blunder on the part of this over enthusiastic penman is to conclude that all relief workers got double issues of rations, when it is safe to assert that the big majority of relief workers have never yet attempted to get rations; and yet another, and the greatest, is his assumption that men Hot relief from the Returned Soldiers' Association as well as a Rotary hamper. The two bodies work so well together that every recipient of assistance from the Returned Soldiers' Association is known to Rotary before the distribution of hampers commences, and should any of the names appear on the Rotary list of recommendations, they are at once deleted. I think "C.A." owes an apology to both organisations. I have nothing to say about his objection to the Municipal Electricity Department funds being diverted to charitable channels; he can go as far as he likes between now and May, when he gets a vote, or, if he is a business man, a whole lot of votes. But I would like him also, since he is such an ardent advocate of lily white administration, to say his little piece about the diversion of big blobs of boodle from the Unemployment Fund into bank accounts that really had no claim on it. If he is a supporter of the present National administration I ought to talk about the mote and the beam, but I refrain. All I would ask him to do is to study the administration of the Unemployment Fund, note the difrerencn in the circumstances of the recipients of relief; i.e., the relief workers and those big concerns which have been subsidised, then remember this: there are children in New Zealand whose parents were hard working and self respecting before 1929—children, who, from birth have never had a new garment, whose parents have been driven by desperate conditions to accept and later to ask for charitable aid. until now it has become a habit. Why abuse them? The more I ponder this letter the less inclined I am to believe that "C.A." is sympathetic to any case of distress, however genuine. May I add that some years ago, when the papers were besieged with letters about "loafers in the parks" and "What do we get for our thirty shillings?" I predicted that some of the writers would be on relief work themselves in time. It has happened. For his own sake, I hope it doesn't happen to "C.A.," although it might do him a world of good if it did!— Yours, etc., 2* DAIY MAN. A PLEA FOR THE'MOTHERS TO TBB «DITOB OF TH» PltlflS. Sir, —I see by "The Press" this morning that the Hon. S. G. Smith, in his wisdom has given authority to the Education Boards to keep schools open, during the mornings only, during February. This is being done in the interests of health. Whose health? Has any thought been given to the health of the mothers. Many of them are wearied out with dragging children to the beach and such places for the last six weeks, and are now faced with perhaps the most trying time of the year—preserving time—with children •still round them or clamouring to be taken out. I have brought up a family and am still in close contact with families of school children, and all my experiences go to show that at the end of six weeks' holiday children are quite ready to go back to school. This year they have had almost a surfeit of sunshine and should be in a fit state to stand the few hours in school. In this warm weather windows and doors can be kept open and the children will not miss very much fresh air. What will the Government do next? This is election year. What about closing all business places on every Monday during the hot weather. It is very trying to go back to work after a week-end of freedom.—Yours, etc. GRANDMOTHER.'

THE CHURCHES AND POVERTY TO THE BDITOB OF THE PR«SS. Sir, —I have been expecting an answer to my appeal to the churches to clarify their attitude about their silence in the face of the many sacrilegious attempts to raise prices by restricting production and by destroying food badly needed by the people. Am I to assume that their silence towards this most vital question is either that they consider themselves powerless or that they condone it? My critics, Mr McKenzie, and "J.E.C." are evidently not connected officially with the churches, by the tone of their letters. They evidently agree that it is a desirable thing that religious bodies should give a pronouncement on the matter but they merely excuse the clergy by stating that it would not be to their financial advantage. While I agree that they have their livelihood to consider, I cannot admit the validity of this excuse. Having been reared in the

atmosphere of a religious home I have always regarded the clergy as people apart, who would, when the necessity arose, put the welfare of their flock before their own advantage. What would the average man think of the shepherd who sat in comfort whilst his flock perished H the snow. I think that' the time has arrived when it is becoming impossible for any one in authority to adopt the fence sitting attitude. As the position becomes more acute this must be evident. Will the churches accept their responsibility and once more become leaders instead of as at present merely pushed along by circumstances which they do not attempt to understand or to cope with.—Yours, etc., F. HARRISON. February 5, 1935. SOME QUESTIONS TO THE IDITOB OF THE PRESS. Sir,—l would be glad if you will answer the following questions: The Mayor, Mr Sullivan, M.P. (1) How many years has Mr Sullivan been a member of Parliament? (2) By how many votes did he defeat his runner-up in the two elections in which he was made Mayor? (3) The dates of these elections? (4) What was the Mayor's occupation before being Mayor? (5) What prominent functions has Mr Sullivan attended during his two terms as Mayor? The Mayoress, Mrs Sullivan. il) In what activities does the Mayoress take a keen interest'.' | The Town Clerk, Mr Neville. d) How many years has Mr Neville been Town Clerk? (2) What was his trade or profession before being Town Clerk? (3) How many years has he been a J.P.? Mrs Neville. (1) What activities does she take a keen interest in? (2) How long has Mrs Neville been a J.P.? Captain Tweedie, A.D.C. to the Governor-General. To what regiment does he belong—the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders or the Black Watch?— Yours, etc.. INTERESTED. February 4, 1935. (]> Mr D. G. Sullivan was first elected member of Parliament for the Avon electorate in 1919 and has been re-elected at each succeeding election since, and consequently is in his sixteenth year as member of Parliament. (2) At the municipal elections in 1931 Mr Sullivan obtained a majority of 1558 in the contest for the mayoralty with Mr (now the Hon.) W. Hay ward; in 1933 Mr Sullivan's majority over Mr L. C. Walker was 8130. (3) The elections were held on the first Wednesday in May. 1931 and 1933. (4) Before his election as Mayor Mr Sullivan was a journalist on the staff of the "Sun," Christchurch. (5) In his capacity as Mayor, Mr Sullivan has presided at practically all the civic receptions tendered to prominent visitors to the city, and has presided over, or attended, many public meetings and meetings of societies too manv to enumerate. As to the Mayoress, in addition to her many duties as Mayoress, Mrs Sullivan is keenly interested in her fund to provide assistance to expectant mothers. As to the Town Clerk: (1) In April this year Mr J. S. Neville will complete 11 years as Town Clerk. <2) Before his appointment as Town Clerk Mr Neville for 23 years was Assistant Town Clerk. (3) Mr Neville has been a Justice of the Peace since 1924 As to Mrs Neville: (1) She is keenly interested in the work of the Red Cross Society, the Plunket Society, and the Mayoress's fund for expectant mothers (2) Mrs Neville was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1932. Captain J. W. Tweedie, A.D.C to hi* Excellency the Governor-General belongs to the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders. HIGH SCHOOL UNIFORM TO TUT! EDITOR OF THE TRESS. Sir,—Will you please allow me space to endorse all that "Rights of Parents'* has to say in reference to the high school uniform. My boy also has suffered from kidney trouble and I would sooner take him from the school than allow him to wear those hideous pants, now part of the school uniform. My boy commenced secondary school last year, and for about six months had to wear a suit a little darker than regulation until I could replace it with one of the correct shade. How thrilled he was to have his complete uniform, only one in his position can understand. Just before the change I bought him a Sunday suit (which he has worn twice) in the hope of its being his school uniform later, but now it is not what Mr Lancaster desires, so the child will once more be cut of date, through no fault of his parent. I also object to the new cap badge. The boys were informed that an enamel badge could be bought to wear on their caps, and transferred to their cadet hats when needed. The silver hat badges, which cost ss, my boy wore once only, during cadet week last year, and is now told politely that they can be kept as "souvenirs." Now I ask what widow, or anyone for that matter can afford "souvenirs" these hard times? We are all trying to do our utmost to educate our boys, in the hope of their being able to obtain a position when they leave school, and I think the least Mr Lancaster could do is to help by not making a hard road harder styll and refrain from changing uniforms and making our boys a laughing stock at the expense of their parents. I, for one, would like to see MiLancaster ride a push-bike for half an hour every frosty morning with a pair of 25 inch shorts up to his thighs, and

then be expected to do school work to the satisfaction of Ihe teacher.— Yours, etc., A.H February 5, 1935. THE DROUGHT TO TEE BDITOB at TUB PRISS. Sir, —Owing to the long spell of dry weather and its serious consequences, would it not be desirable for rain to be prayed for in our churches? Aye, and in our homes, too. The Church of England prayer book contains a short and beautiful prayer (under the heading of "Prayers and Thanksgivings") for the purpose, which is as follows, in case anybody may desire to use it but has not a prayer book: "O God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son Jesus Christ has promised to all them that seek Thy Kingdom, and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance, send us, we beseech Thee, in this our necessity, such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our- comfort, and to Thy honour; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen."—Yours etc., ANGLICAN. February 5, 1935. MODERN SPIRITUALISM to THi aorroß or tic prsbb. Sir,—ln your issue of February 2 there appeared a !etter on modern spiritualism, signed "Witness," and as could quite be expected, on February 4 our old friend, Mr Peter Trolove, makes his usual attack. I would ask "Witness" and all of his co-thinkers to take heart and not allow themselves to be browbeaten

by Mr Trolove, or spiritualists generally. I challenge the organised spiritualists of Christchurch, or any other part of the world, to produce a concrete hypothesis substantiating their claim to a belief in spiritualism, which will stand up to scientific analytical investigation.—Yours, etc., W. O. RICHARDS. Little River, February 5, 1935. A CHARMING WOMAN TO THB IDITOK Or THI PRISS. Sir, —Before this correspondence proceeds further, may I draw attention to my second question, which those who answered my have so far ignored, and which is the most important. I repeat it: "What should be her greatest charm?" I had hoped to draw Miss B. E. Baughan, Miss Jessie Mackay, and Mr Peter Trolove. Where is Peter, who is a little older than I in experience?— Yours, etc., J.G.F. February 5, 1935.