OUR READERS' OPINIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11954, 26 May 1933, Page 3

OUR READERS' OPINIONS

Mil J. P. LUKE AND THE ECONOMIC SITUATION.

(To tho Editor.)

Sir, —Mr. J. P. Luke's address to the members of the Rotary Club calls for some comment, relating .to matters concerning the depression. His remarks clearly show that lie has no conception of the real causes of tho depression, nor can he formulate any plan that can end the depression. He merely repeats the old cry to economise, therefore aggravating the present deadlock. He states that, to-day j. all classes nvere being dragged down by the millstone of high wages which wore not linked up with .eeonmic values. By “economic • values,” ho presumably means the real cost of production as distinct from the financial cost, but lie ignores tlie relation between financial wages and real wages. The wages of the worker a.re low, in terms of purchasing power, and industry and commerce arc stagnating through lack of effective demand for tho goods produced. In order 1° equate consumption with production, real wages must be raised by adjusting tho discrepancy between financial and economic values. Mr, J. M. Keynes, the famous economist, says: “There is no exit along that route, indeed, the tendency of wage reductions must necessarily be to rivet, more securely the existing level of prices, lor, in the long run, if is tho wage ievcl which mainly determines the price level. Until more purchasing power is pub into circulation prices cannot rise.” Mr. F. It. Ball said that- he believed there was a much brighter outlook and it way not far-distant. How many t-ime s have outv political prophets said this, ami how many tunes have their prophecies boon wrong? Major Douglas predicted that thiugs would get worse. ,He wa s right and our statesmen were wrong—l. am, yours. etc., G. H. lUCNETT.

A POPULAR POLITICAL PASTIME (To tho Edito’-.) Sir.—lt seems to be becoming more and more- popular to run down the Government of New Zealand, and our present Parliamentarians. 1 wonder if anyone pauses to consider just where all tills propaganda is going to lead us. I'm sure the maj-

ority do not. or they would discountenance it at once. It will surely bring us a socialist Government anti a repetition of wlmt happened in New South Males. I have heard with disgust in various parts of New Zealand, malicious liv s and slanderous statements about our public men—some of the stories so fantastic that it is hard to believe that credence could he given them. I have read with interest scores of letters in our newspapers condemning the Government, the majority anonymous and obviously written by people with little knowledge or a political axe to grind. 1 have paid to be entertained by the talkies at one of out- leading theatres, and as part of tho programme listened to un untuneful nursery rhyme ridiculing tbo Government and its leaders. Tlie silly nonsense, ol course, appealed because it is popular 16 condemn our Government. 1 have read’ advertisements, stupid parodies of song and verse containing slighting allusions to the Government and its leaders. The Government is unpopular. If wo condemn them we’ll be popular and may sell our goods. Rather contemptible, Mr. Editor 1 All this sort of thing, Sir, is gradually becoming a huge campaign of ridicule, slander, abuse and wholesale criticism ,of Members of Parliament and the Government. Those who are attempting to sell the unpopularity' of tho Government and its leaders are directly assisting in this campaign, and arc surely making' a rod for their own hacks. "Where aie wo going to get men hri stand for Parliament? Every day likely eanc.idates are being lost because of the abuse'Of our public men. Then, Sir, we have the Legion , surely the greatest bit of polilcal buffoonery ever attempted iu New Zealand, but doing untold harm ,preaching dire disaster, destroying confidence and insinuating all 'maimer of rotten things’ against our Parliamentary system. There will be no crisis and the Legion knows it! There will not be an oarly’ election. They don t know it, and will he terribly disappointed. The Legion will mil, becauso it is building oil sand. mil. the donors of the humble shilling and greater amounts, will find they have wasted their money and assisted in retarding the return to better times. Surely it is time fair-minded and decent citizens maeve an attempt to stop those slanderers and alarmists, and gel fair play for an honest Government. The" present members: of our Parliament wore elected openly by the people. They were .pot afraid : to : submit themselves to the vote.' -The National Council - of the Logion prefers to obtain,. the. pu,\er of by shifting the .political rights of ' the people to;"'hetur ■ selves. Political. 1 fair iilay. i- .. conspicuous by its absence in Tsfcwi Zealand £o-day - and <1 uni minded of . the words of Bracken : ?; ; .

“Poor-, souls with-stunted vision, . Oft mensure giants ty tiioir farrow gauge; - . Tlia poisoiicU. sliafts oP* falsehood. and derision . . . ° ...... Are oft impelled' 'gainst those "ho ■ > mould tho-age.” . ■■, . ', . • • ,I, am. Your, etc. . , .Aim snij^r.