LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25954, 7 November 1949, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

1. Letters sent to the Editor for printing must be written in ink on one side of the paper only, and writers must send in their names and addresses in full, i whether they wish these to be printed • or not. 2. Writers must say clearly whether or not their letters are being or have been sent to other papers. 3 The Editor cannot return or keep any letter which for any reason is unsuitable for printing, nor can he acknow- ( ledge unsuitable letters, although this | will be done where it seems to be; needful, or enter into any correspondence about letters sent in. 4. Letters must not be of more than 150 words in length.

More Tanks.—Too long. See above. A.M.—Name and address must be given. Disappointed.—Does not comply with conditions above.

GENERAL ELECTION

Sir.—Mr Nash accepts full responsibility for the meat and wool pools; and that may cost him his job. Farmers are deprived of all individual rights to the huge sums comprising the pools, w’hile collectively there is no precise obligation placed upon the boards controlling those pools to do anything for farmers. The pools provide an opportunity for swinging more farmers’ votes than anything in New Zealand politics since mortgage relief put the Labour Party in power. The votes can be secured by a definite assurance that farmers will be given individual rights to their respective shares in these pools, and that the earner and owner of each share will be able to use that share in cases of hardship, capital replacement, retirement, disablement, or death. —Yours, etc., H. J. BUTTLE. Darfield, November 4, 1949.

Sir,—ln her address last night Miss Howard says. “Pensioners are limited in their earnings unless they become someone's ‘skivvy,’ and when we get old is our future to be servants of the rich?” Does she not know’ that pensioners are always asking to be allowed to earn more to supplement their pensions, and does she mean they should be dictated to as to what work they take up? Does she not know’ how the mothers of this country live from dawn to dark bringing up children, housekeeping, fetching and carrying until exhausted? These she grudges help in the home, and w’ould sooner foster class distinction than goodwill, and selfishness than service. She should remember she is one of the so-called “rich.” with a large salary and emoluments oaid by all the peonle. Her speech does her little credit, esoeciallv comins from a Minister of the Crown.—Yours, etc..

FOOD FOR THOUGHT. November 4, 1949.

Sir, —Is not the Labour Party w’rongly named? Forty hours a week are less than a quarter of the week, and the 40 hours are interrupted by some workers by go-slow, stop-work meetings, and strikes, which hold up shipping and other things necessary. It must be very hard for decent workers to be tied up with those of the other type by unions and Socialist and Communist drivers, not leaders. Let Christianity come in, not that of the Finance Minister, but that of the Bible. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with they might.” and “Whatsoever thou wouldst that men should do with thee, do thou to them.” Let honesty and goodwill come in, and trustworthiness: give an extra hand sometimes without seeking for high pay. Forsake so-called “Labour”; come in, and be British.—Yours, etc., HONOR BRIGHT. November 4, 1949.

Sir, —Already Labour candidates have adopted tactics directed at discrediting the intentions of the National Party members. Such campaigning is detrimental to no one but themselves, though admittedly, with such a meagre oolicy - of their own, it is not surprising their speeches contain only reference to the past and criticism of their ooponents. with hardly a word of the future. Is it reasonable, too. that electors should be asked to accent their word if they are not drepared to accent that of their opponents? Furthermore, there has been an om’nous silence, both in the Labour Party manifesto and in speeches (excent for Mr Kearins’s untimely remarks* on the subject of further Socialism. that mean that Labour hopes to gain office on false pretences. then detail its whol** nolicy? pp’-v-o-tc responsible Minister will enlighten the electors before polling day.—You s etc., E.F.B. November 3, 1949.

Sir, —There appears to be some misunderstanding about how Mr Holland w’ill ease the burden of supurannuitants and adjust their anomalies. The reply to “Inquirer s” letter in “The Press’* to-day does not answer his question regarding exemption from social security payments up to £3OO per annum. The National Party’s policy deals only with penal tax on taxable income. The “reward” promised by Mr Holland would, to use a phrase favoured by Mr Nash, affect “a relatively small number only,” and in a relatively small manner. “Inquirer” is one of many thousands who feel they are suffering injustice by having been compelled to contribute to two funds and are allowed to benefit freely from one only. As one of these.* I am disappointedly certain no sympathy can be expected from the present Government, and do hope a concrete promise will be given by the Leader of the Opposition before November 30.—Yours, etc., ANOTHER INQUIRER. November 2. 1949.

[“I am unable to answer this correspondent’s letter, because it is not clear what he is driving at,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) when this letter was referred to him.]

PENSIONERS’ CHRISTMAS PARTY

Sir, —We hope this year again to give all our old people their Christmas party. Last year we provided for just on 700 at one of the happiest functions it has ever been my lot to witness. There is no extravagance, waste or show about this gathering. To many scores of old people it is a very real thing, and the only party that they participate in during the year. Wardrobes are combed for this occasion, and it is a tonic to look along the lines of happy faces in the crowded hall. Last year the public helped magnificently to make this possible; and for any help that the citizens ot Christchurch can give us now we shall be sincerely grateful. We arc holding a stall in the Square on December 7 to help collect funds, and any surplus will be used to assist in providing Christmas cheer for the pensioners at Howardville. —Yours, etc., J. H. THOMAS. Honorary secretary. N.Z. Pensioners’ Association, Christchurch branch. November 4, 1949.

TWO COMPLAINTS Sir, —May I direct the attention of the City Council to the dangerous condition of the bridge over the drain in Hagley Park south, near the cricket ground. For more than 30 years it was a footbridge for the hundreds of pedestrians who used it every week, but since the council took over it has been widened in a shockingly

slipshod manner to enable the implepients .to be taken across. There are gaps in the flooring about 15 inches by six inches; and. anyone crossing in the dark could meet with a nasty accident. It is a menace to children playing about. Outside some vacant

shops at the corner of Moorhouse avenue and Stewart street there is a considerable amount of broken glass on the footpath. It has been there ior some weeks.—Yours, etc., RATEPAYER. October 24. 1949.

[“The widening of this bridge was a temporary measure only and was leeessary to enable certain equipment to be taken over.” said the Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast). “This work has no bearing on the dilapidated condition of the bridge, which is a very old one. Material for its renewal has been on order for some time. Incidentally. the council has already spent more than £5OO in repairing Hagley Park bridges since it assumed control of the park, and there is still a considerable amount to be done when material is available ”]

[“Apparently the glass at the corner was broken up very finely in the section at the back of the path and was not easily visible. It has now been cleaned up." said the City Engineer (Mr E. Somers) when this letter was referred to him.]

COAL PRODUCTION

« Sir,—Recently you published some figures quoted by the Minister of Mines, m which he stated that “if’ normal production continued for the remainder of this year there would be a record production. I have good reason to doubt these figures, but apart irom that a vast quantity ot rubbish and rock is included in the tonnage of ‘coal” produced. During the last 10 years the quality of the coal for householders has considerably deteriorated and the Minister of Mmes must take the blame for this, especially as coal from State mines is the main offender. If less time was spent talking about record production and more time spent improving the quality it would be better for all concerned.—Yours, etc..

, FACE THE FACTS. November 3. 1949. [“lt is not my policy to answer anonymous letters. In any case the assertions in the letter are contrary to the facts.” said the Minister of Mines <Mr A. McLagan) when this letter was referred to him.]

WOOL PURCHASES BY RUSSIA

Sir. Your report of the large purchases of wool made by the Soviet Union at recent Australian sales will, no doubt, give rise to various conjectures. The wool, purchased in open competition, obviously goes to the highest bidder, and representatives of firms operat.ng in the dollar conservation grouo will be at a loss to ascertain what factors have enabled these Soviet buyers to outbid the commercial representatives of our Western form of economy and finance. Possibly when Mr Molotov declined with profuse thanks the United States’s benevolent offer of Marshall Aid he had positive, sound reasons, which the recipients of dollars in other countries have yet to discover and analyse. The alternative to an appeal to enlarge the dollar allocation to Western bloc wool purchasers is. of course, to sell to the solvent, unencumbered purchasers. It is sound business.—Yours, etc.. D.H.C. November 4, 1949.

CONTROL OF AGRICULTURE

Sir, —Some progress would be made in volume ol agriculture if the Government were prepared to examine the International Federated Farmers’ •policy of control of production, distribution. and exchange. Its increasing pressure, as operated in New Zealand over the last nine years, has i proved it a failure. The Federated [Farmers in New Zealand should supply the answer and without delay, or admit their incompetence. Deflation, without the correct answer to agriculture. can only lead to further I trouble. —Yews, etc.,

H. BLISS. November S, 1949.