VISITORS' CRITICISM

Press, Issue 22599, 3 January 1939, Page 5

VISITORS' CRITICISM

TO THE EDITOR OT THE PRESS Sir, —Many unkind things have been said lately about visitors to New Zealand who criticise its institutions, politics, etc. I notice that in your issue of December 28, Mr Ernest Bevin, secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, has a great deal to say in praise of what our Government is doing. He says that the farmer is a very difficult person to deal with because he wants to make money when he gets a chance and hates losing it. Very strange and unnatural. He then goes on to say, "They (the Government) are endeavouring to keep prices at a point which will keep up the volume of consumption, their object being a greater turnover and smaller profits, which is the reverse of the practice which has been going on ’in this country for some time." This last sentence apparently refers to meat, butter, and other commodities. Farmers will no doubt rejoice to hear that the Government’s ambition is to enable them to make still smaller profits than in the past. Then he says, “Then . road and rail transport development is very interesting.” It is very, for those who have had their businesses compulsorily taken away. His statement is full of innocent ingenuous enthusiasms, but his conclusions are open to argument. But the point is this. Are visitors to be allowed to praise us . but never to blame us?' . To be consistent should hot the Prime Minister have ,told Mr Ernest Bevin to mind his‘own business?— Yours, etc., CONSISTENCY. December 29, 1938.