MR COLEMAN AT TE HAPARA

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10740, 10 November 1928, Page 5

MR COLEMAN AT TE HAPARA

(To the Editor.) Sir, — When addressing the electors at Te Hapara on Wednesday evening last, Mr Coleman stated, when dealing witli pensions, that the Government deducted all wages received during the year by tho old age pensioner from the amount of his or hex pension. 1 would like to be clear on that point, as I always under-'

stood old age pensioners were allowed to earn £1 weekly, irrespective of pensions. Mr Coleman did not say so. While agreeing with Mr Coleman over the number of immigrants brought out here by false representation of the country—everyone knows the harm that has been done by immigration—l do not quite with him re charitable aid assistance, say rather the ratepayers’ assistance. A few men, who are in a position to bear the increase of rates "every year, and'do not feel the pinch, call themselves the Charitable Aid Board. What about the poor working man who is trying to live and make ends meet, and paying ever increasing rates,, and who gets about six or seven months work in the vear. These are the ones who are keeping the immigrants. Ihev feel the pinch in trying to pav rates and live during months of idleness. Charitable aid is very good, it lv administered. If the Board would take the trouble to inquire, into the circumstances of all the recipients or charitable aid who have ever been on, their hooks it would find cases where there was £4 and £5.- and even up to £6, coming into the homes, per week, and still thev got charitable aid. And some poor working man with “nil" per week had to keep these: It is a scandalous system. I was surprised at Mr Coleman making mention of the ‘ slip of Mr Lvsnar’s regarding the public debt of New Zealand as £240,00. I believe everyone knows it was a “slip” as they call it, and I thought that the Mayor was ‘ more dignified than to refer to it. I was also surprised when Mr Coleman said A, mt the public, debt of the Gisborne Borough Council was more than £240,(XX). Well it should not be. and I say “mote shame to the Borough Council’’ if that is so. It is not because they are shy in raising the rates every year that they are so heavily in debt. Would Mr Coleman kindly tell me if it is any worse to use “ramshackle” houses in Reel Street for storing wool than it is to use “ramshackle” houses in the borough for human habitations? Mr Coleman evidently does not believe in war, or in keening .prepared for war, but if a “Chink” or “Jap” or some other foreigner comes . along, and demands possession of his family and property, is Mr Coleman going to sit quietly b- and let them have his property? One must go to war to defend' •'-one’s' self.—U am yours, etc., “FAIR PLAY.”

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