AN INDEPENDENT ON PARTY POLITICS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22419, 4 June 1938, Page 22

AN INDEPENDENT ON PARTY POLITICS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TRESS. Sir. —In your criticism of Mr Atmore’s broadcast address you ignore certain facts; first, that the Coalition Government made large remissions of taxation to wealthy concerns, and that it recouped the loss of revenue at the expense of the old-age pensioners, the most helpless section of the community. Again, the retrenchment of the Coates-Forbes-Hamilton Government merely aggravated the depression and retarded recovery. Mr Coates has confessed that the situation could have been eased but the Government made no effort to do so. You say that they took expert advice. Their chief adviser was Sir Otto Niemeyer, of the Bank of England. The old lady in Threadneedle street wanted her pound of flesh. Regarding the position of Mr Atmore as an independent member, he has no alternative but to support the Government. I as an independent radical, am ip the same position. I do not approve of much of the Government’s legislation. That they are honest men who are anxious to help the aged and the poor I have no doubt. The alternative to them is a party that is chained to the chariot wheels of wealth and privilege.—Yours, etc., F. W. BOURKE. June 3, 1938.