HOME-MADE POLITICS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22083, 4 May 1937, Page 13

HOME-MADE POLITICS

TO THE EDITOR Of THE PBBB3. Sir, —Your correspondent “Ajax” states: “To compare conditions for the two or three years before last election with conditions since 1935 during a world recovery in prices is misleading, and must be either deliberately or ignorantly so." The comparison is apparently exasperating to “Ajax,” so much so that he angrily accuses others of spreading untruth by inference. “Ajax” himself is by inference contending that the fall in world •prices 1931-35 left this country desperately short of money, and that this matter was beyond the power of any government to alter. There is, however, a very important item in this connexion that “Ajax” has not mentioned—l do not say deliberately. Any mention of the, undoubted difficulties faced through 1931-35 should include the information that during that period New Zealand piled up enormous sums of money in England. The constant appeals for financial assistance to the very poor, the heavily increased taxation, compulsory reductions in interest and wages were all, it was said, du® to the fall in the national income consequent on the fall in world prices. During this period we piled, up millions and millions of pounds in England and began the 1936 export season with an overseas surplus of nearly £48,000,000. Opinions differ as to what should have been done with this situation, and possibly "Ajax" thinks that the right thing was done; but nevertheless, to omit all reference to it is surely just as misleading as the statements he so violently objects to.— Yours, etc., D. C. DAVIE. May 1, 1937.