A CARTER’S LICENCE

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24369, 22 September 1944, Page 8

A CARTER’S LICENCE

Sir, —The rejection of an application by a returned soldier for the right to operate a carrying business in North Canterbury is 1 believe, typical of the promise of the "happy times in store" for returning servicemen and others alike during the so-called rehabilita tion oeriod There are comparatively few who remain in the calling of their own choice at the present time, and even fewer industries into which one can go—either as a principal or worker —without a licence of some sort. Socialism. to be effective, must continue to control us body soul, and spirit—or bust. The unfortunate part of the' business is that those endowed with power to control the “other fellow’s’’ destiny are sufficiently well provided with the products of the Reserve Bank to make them indifferent to the other fellow’s needs.—Yours, etc., H. L. HECC. September 21, 1944.

Sir,—l was surprised-at the attacks by W. R Fincham and “1914 Digger’ on Mr T. H Langford’s decision. As a disinterested spectator in another case I listened tor about half a day to the evidence, and the decision is the only one that justice merited. While admitting that rehabilitation of soldiers is of prime importance, the evidence convinced me that the farmers’ representatives were principally concerned with trying to overload the Hawarden district with more transport than it required, and t;hus be able to play one operator off against another to get, cheap transport, regardless of chaos to, follow The authority (Mr T. ,H. Langford) quite rightly refused to take. from the present operator a good part of his business and hand it as a gift to the applicant.—Yours, etc., • • . SPECTATOR. September 20, 1944.