CONTRASTS.

Evening Star, Issue 22720, 6 August 1937, Page 13

CONTRASTS.

TO THE BBITOK. Sir, —What funny tilings one reads in the dally papers! One in particular is the. Government’s advertisement informing people of tho fact that it is allowing interest at the rate of 5 per cent! on railway travel coupons. I presume this is to be on holiday rates, making any such excursion as one desires more enjoyable by being able to purchase refreshments along the line with the interest allowance. No doubt many will take advantage of this generous offer on tho part of the Government, and many again would like to do so but cannot, owing to circumstances. Let us look to tho relief worker. I am sure he would like to take advantage of this offer, but his weekly allowance will allow him only a return ticket for the family,, say, to Port Chalmers.. Again, take his less fortunate companion iu distress, the sustenance man. What is his allowance? Well, this is where the laugh comes in. He is allowed to earn, say, from £1 downwards according to the scale of sustenance allowance received; but in the case of a man, wife, and two children this is £2 3s a week or thereabouts; in any case, bis allowance and allowed earnings, if any, must not exceed £3 2s, yet tho Government has set tho basic wage at £3 16s. If this man wants to save and take advantage of the 5 per cent, offer on travel coupons what is his position ? He may be lucky and find two days’ work on odd occasions. What is his reward? He might think himself lucky until _he furnishes his weekly report on his earnings; then what does he find? The generous Government, that offers 5 per cent, with one hand, will talko from him with the other, for his earnings, together with his sustenance allowance, must not exceed £3 2s. The difference will be deducted’ from his allowance, and he will be where ho started, his hopes dashed, and faced with the problem of getting the family boots repaired and walking from Normanby to St. Clair and back, and when home and tired then perhaps he will have time to think of the empty promises of the Government that offers the 5 per cent, interest, and, incidentally, fixes the rate to be offered or charged by anyone else. Then, when the election comes round, the party that can promise the most will pet his vote. He will he able to sit back and laugh and say to himself: “ I have at least been consistent.” —I am, etc.. Humorous. August 5.