Poverty Amid Prosperity

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 237, 4 July 1938, Page 11

Poverty Amid Prosperity

Sir, —Your correspondent “Labour Truth” has not successfully answered the questions asked in my letter. The main question asked, when really condensed, was: Should we accept Cabinet Ministers statements that poverty is a thing of the past and the unemployment problem is permanently solved to be correct? The second question wa s also vaguely answered. In mentioning the broadcast of community sings, I had no intention of making any political propaganda, as all right-thinking people know the leaders are performing a wonderful service for a humanitarian cause. No one grudges giving what he or she can afford if it is urgently needed, and I for one believe it is, but, Sir, the point I wished to make i 6 that as “Labour Truth’s” Government has brought about such a wonderful degree of prosperity that relief for distress should now not be needed I Another point I wished to make, that is, if unemployment is definitely solved, why are therc so many men on the road asking for food and shelter? The farmers in this district pay huge taxes every year to keep men on public works. Why should they again help to feed the “X won’t works” of this Dominion, simply because this Government is not sympathetic toward them and turns them out on the road? No farmer begrudges help to any person,' but with the advent of the Labour Government we were told that unemployment would cease in the first year of office, so perhaps your correspondent would tell us how we can absorb these people into regular employment? Or what is to be done with them? —I am, etc., FACTS. Marton, July 1.