THE COUNTRY’S AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 116, 17 April 1939, Page 5

THE COUNTRY’S AFFAIRS

(To tlie Editor.)

Sir, —“Ajax” as a pessimistic eva- j sionist is a gem ol the first water. Ho has encircled every vital point contained in my last letter and hardly touched any. He agrees that in individual cases people do think intensely, but not in the aggregate. However does he square tho latter part of his statement with the tact that at the last election 55 per cent, of the people thought intensely? Is that not aggregate enough for him? He is concerned about the country s finances. Does he know of many countries in the world where the finances are not causing concern? What country’ would he like to quote as his model? ‘‘Ajax’ says that the Nationalists faithlully warned the Government concerning the country’s finance. And what did they do til on ? They went from the North Cape to the Bluff damning the ■ country in the eyes ot the world. One member of the New Zealand Parliament visited Australia, and advised the people there not to invest their money in New Zealand. Every time a Tory arrived from overseas whose opinion, was detrimental to the Government, it was rushed into print, but if it was a person with a favourable opinion, such as Hon. Dwyer Gray expressed, what happened? Mr Gray was sent a cablegram deploring bis interference ill New Zealand affairs. Now wlint does “Ajax” think of the Nationalist methods for building up confidence and the finances of New Zealand? What would happen to these people if they were in some other countries-? They would be regarded as the wost possible advertisement for their country and traitois to it, having been responsible for disestablishing confidence in the country. and driving capital from it,. “Ajax” talks about the cost of Social Security to the contributor, viz, 2s 7d per bead, adding that the contributors did not realise that benefits derivable by them had to he paid for. What an insult to their intelligence. The balance of necessary security money, lie says, will come from the people. Will lie state where the extra money came from to supplement the superannuation scheme existent under previous Governments? Did he raise his voice in protest? No insurance company in the world could give the same benefits for premiums paid as those provided for under the social security scheme, and “Ajax” knows it. Why (ioes he not admit it and not distort facts for political purposes? The scheme compels the would-be improvident to be provident, and will eventually save tho taxpayer thousands in charitable aid charges. H lie puts two and two together he will conic to the conclusion that it is costing the world’s inhabitants more than 2s 7d per head for war purposes. "What is spent on war would provide millions with social security.

The railways of New Zealand are paying, and not at the expense of starvation conditions despite your correspondent’s assertion to the contrary. Is he a greater authority than the accountants who draw up the bal-ance-sheets? He waxes sarcastic by saying that New Zealand only developed 3} years ago when Labour took office. Statistical information is available to him to prove that it was not till the Labour Government assumed office that New Zealand awoke from her long lethargy. Let him deny that previous to tho assumption of office by the Labour Government New Zealand was on the decline, emigration exceeding immigration; but not so to-day. Facts are stubborn tilings and speak louder than words. The dig at Mr Serimgeour carries no weight; it is personal, not political argument at all. Professor Algic figures in a different category altogether, because he is a professional propagandist and has to provide £ISOO worth of convincing opposition material every year.

“Ajax II” loft himself open to attack when he stated that the farmers during the depression had doubled their production. He has put up a good case for mo for which I thank him. Now if tho farmers doubled their output wjiy wore 50 per cent, of them bankrupt at the time? Answer: Simply because the workers, who are in the majority, had no money to buy his produce with. The Labour Government gave the workers the money and they have consumed a larger amount locally, leaving the lesser exportable surplus to command a better price. “Ajax IT” infers that the diminished production of farm produce to-day is due to Labour legislation. It is nothing of the kind, and he knows it. Why is ho not fair and so attribute the diminution to its proper cause, viz., the prolonged dry spell? Anyway, the farmers received less lor their doubled production than their diminished output. W ill “Ajax TT _ state where the farmers are going ofl their land, and where the men have been chopping weeds ofl the sides of the roads during the last nine months. His statement that men are being retired on pension docs not excite me in the lenst. Docs he not believe m a retiring age? Seeing the displacement of labour by machinery, "bat, chance have the young chaps for worn or promotion if everyone hangs on to their jobs to the grave, especially in view of the strides made in the promotion of longevity? The jibe at Mr Semple reveals his political prejudice. He says that Mr Semple is reticent concerning the purchase of new and hi'dilv expensive machines. Now. “Ajax IT.” you profess to possess a formula for the conduct of the aflairs of this country in a business-like way. T would ask you a simple _ question: Vs you are always croaking about high costs, why do von object to machines that keep them down? It is reported that some of these machines have paid for themselves in nine months. Now we come to the last comment. Ho complains brokenhearted! v of the state of the finances, and then deplores the fact that Mr Savage was going t'o pay his London creditors 17 millions with produce, and was getling no goods in return. Will he tell

mens an economist how lie would build up the London funds, because 1. as a muggins in such matters, cannot see how you can have London tunds lor goods and debt payment at the same time?—l am, etc., W. F. CUTLER. 47 Ada St., 13-4-39.