LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 65, 14 September 1943, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PRICES AND LIVING COSTS

Sir,—lf, officially, the cost of living has increased only 13.5 per cent, it is fairly obvious that a wrong formula is being used, and the figures, except for political purposes, are useless. Since 1939 prices have risen' enormously, e.g., suits from £9 to £16, raincoats from 39s 6d to £5 ss, and even the humble but necessary handkerchief from 6d to Is 6d (150 per cent). One could quote scores of" items, but why reiterate what all shoppers know? As to foodstuffs, dietitians say that 80 per cent, of our food should consist of fruit and vegetables, but these are at a prohibitive price for the family man. Instead of telling people to grow vegetables in the poor soil and worse climate of their backyards, we should utilise sunny Maiiborough (only 20 minutes away by air) for an abundant supply. One Marlborough farmer, unable to market a large quantity of carrots, had to sell them for poisoning rabbits. Another having 50 acres of vegetables for military camps found that the camps had been abolished and the vegetables useless. The obvious and urgent need is for efficient transport and marketing.—l am, etc.,

W.R.S,

ELECTION LEAFLET

Sir, —The leaflet issued by the Communist i Party was produced in suffir cient quantities to distribute through the Railway Workshops, Wellington Woollen Mills, arid other factories, and outside meetings to be addressed by me. It definitely includes advice to vote for the Labour candidate, and otherwise consists of personal abuse directed at myself which sails pretty close to the wind. Otherwise it is in no sense a "reply" to an article dealing with Russia's foreign policy and relations which I had the temerity to republish from a reputable American magazine for the information of New Zealanders. Such a reply is in fact being prepared by the New Zealand Society for Closer Relations with Russia, who were offered, and accepted, the opportunity of equal space in my paper to present their views on a matter of public interest. The object of the leaflet was clearly to enlist support for the Labour candidate by falsely representing that I hold views inimical to our relations with Russia as an ally, when in fact I am endeavouring to present all sides of this question so that the public can judge for themselves.—l am, etc.,

JOHN HOGAN.

THE FAIR RENTS ACT

Sir, —Possibly the facts revealed in a recent Supreme Court action will bring home to some more people the system of control under which we live in New Zealand. In the instance referred to justice has been done after prolonged legal action.

Are home owners aware that where even a fully-furnished home is temporarily leased on a written agreement for a definite period and on terms that are generous, there is still no right of repossession of the property at the end of the lease? The tenant may refuse to give up the home until suitable alternative accommodation is provided by the owner. Otherwise the only chance of justice for the owner is to argue greater relative hardship in court; if the rent is more than £4 per week the case must be stated in the Supreme Court.

Such are the laws of this country as enacted by the present Government that contracts can be broken, personal feelings and rights set aside, and family affairs interfered with under the shelter of these laws. How much of this has happened in all avenues of public and private life? How much is yet to come? —I am, etc.,

T. F. CORKILL.

FRENCH AIR FORCE

WIDESPREAD ACTIVITY

Rec. noon. RUGBY, Sept. 13. The reconstructed French air force is now engaged in active operations throughout French North Africa and in England, Russia, Syria, Gambia and French Equatorial Africa, says a correspondent at headquarters in North Africa. It is equipped with the latest types of British, American, and Russian warplanes.

French squadrons engage in daily activities such as convoy protection, patrolling, photographic and fighter missions, submarine hunts, and bombardments, while since the landings in North-west Africa French transport planes have flown 1,800,000,000 kilometres and carried 10,000 passengers —8.0. W. "