THE ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26509, 25 August 1951, Page 3

THE ELECTION

Sir, —The reinstatement of the old waterfront leaders in Wellington yesterday should give all thinking people pause to reflect on two facts: First, that a handful of individuals was able to hold the country to ransom against the Government and against public opinion in the recent strike; second, that Communism has everywhere gained control as a minority of ruthless men under cover of a sympathetic or apathetic Government. It can happen here, too, if power is vested in a party which cannot or will not heed the of many unhappy small countries; surely yesterday's decision by a mere handful of watersiders is as “writing on the wall" to people who value liberty above all else. Now is the time to decide on & government under which Communism cannot get a stranglehold of this country.—Yours, etc., D. E. MITCHELL. August 24, 1951.

Sir, —The question which all young married people are asking themselves to-day is: What chance have we to build a home of our own under the National Government? With the broken promise not to abolish land sales control on properties between £7OO and £3OOO, it is impossible for young people to build their own homes. Out-of-town sections, which 18 months ago were being sold for £lOO, are now offered for the terrific price of £350. Added to these increases is the greatly inflated cost of building a house of moderate dimensions. The building of State houses is definitely tapering off, as the number of men employed on their construction in October, 1949, was 6982; in April, 1951. the number had fallen to 4413, a decrease of 2569, or 36 per cent. What hope can applicants have of obtaining a State house under this bungling Government? —Yours, etc., P. J. KELLY. August. 24, 1951.

Sir, —Two questions—the preservation of world peace and our democratic freedom and security—should seriously exercise our minds on election day. Other questions, important in their degree, pale into insignificance by comparison. It is considered that the chances of averting a third World War are about 50-50; and this depends upon the continued expenditure of an enormous amount of energy and money, chiefly by America and Britain. though every free country, including New Zealand, should ao its fair share. Remembering, as we all must, how narrowly this country escaoed Japanese invasion (which would have meant death for many of us) a few years ago, it seems most deplorable that so little attention should be given by cahdidates to these vitally important questions. Mr Nash is especially to blame, because though he fully recognises their importance and speaks of them fairly often, he never gives them the emphasis they should have. —Yours, etc., GEORGE INGRAM. August 24, 1951.

Sir, —So Mr Parlane had to trot out the slump to justify the Red Terror and excuse his Labour Party for flirting with Communism. Can Mr Par-, lane tell us of one instance of a single person starving in New Zealand during the slump? There was a higher proportion of hungry people in Britain, when the watersiders refused to load food for them, than there were here during the slump. The Labour Party has no more justification for blaming the National Party for the slump than the National Party would have, if they claimed that it was responsible for the greatly increased wool prices. The question is, are Mr Nash and his party for or against Communism, or are they still benevolently neutral?—Yours, etc., HENRY KiTSON. August 24, 1951.

Sir,—All municipal milk authorities and the Department of Health have stringent regulations against adulteration of milk by adding water, and rightly so. It is plain dishonesty. Labour candidates do not take this view. They think it is a smart trick to water the financial milk by just printing paper money and filling the pay envelope with skim. Mr Mathison. candidate for Avon accuses Mr Holland of “turning the handle of the printing press.” He knows this is untrue. Not one note has been printed by the National. Government. Mr Mathison's quotation “It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid” is a despicable sneer at honesty and Mr Holland.—Yours, etc.. E. K. IBANFIELD. Rangiora, August 23, 1951.