UNEMPLOYMENT AND POLITICS.

Evening Star, Issue 20780, 30 April 1931, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT AND POLITICS.

' TO THK EDITOR. Sir, —Some time ago, in regard _to sustenance allowances, you drew a lino distinction between may and shall, but you are bound to admit Mr Forbes gave a definite promise that no man would be allowed to starve. Yet alter the Government has taken the single man’s last 7s 6d it has repudiated its word, and thrown the responsibility on the Hospital Hoard, which refuses to acknowledge the claim of the down-and-out. Regarding fusion, you mention tho seventh point of compulsory conscription. Well, to the destitute, country and flag signify nothing, as hunger just feels the same under any emblem. Jf tho country’s finance is in such a perilous state wo have no right to spend a penny on militarism while a single man, woman, or child is denied tho necessaries of life. In any case, there is no more need for conscription in New Zealand than in Canada. Bntainj or Australia, where tho unemployed aro all bettor treated. There would bo more money in the Treasury to-day if the farmer had paid his dues in times past, Jn ‘Hansard’ lor August 7, 1924, Mr Macpherson, M.P. for Oainaru, stated that a family in his constituency had a w’ool cheque lor £91,000, yet did not pay sixpence by way of income or land tax; and further stated that did time permit lie could cite scores of similar cases. Mr Wright (Minister of Education at tho time) stated that tho .Budget was being debated in tho early hours of tho morning and the members were not very alert, and the clause slipped through. However, there wore no Hip Van Winkles among them when reduction of salaries and wages was under review. Equality of sacrifice? Ob, yes, tell me the old, old story.—l am, etc., April 30. 0. S. MacArthur.