SPONGING ON THE COUNTRY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 14197, 23 August 1919, Page 5

SPONGING ON THE COUNTRY.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have frequently animadverted upon the growing mental discrepitude that seems to be creeping over the nation. Further evidence of this is by the action of the meeting of meat producers yesterday, resolving to ash the Government to pay the expenses of a delegation to England. I am astounded, I was under the impression that if there was any spirit of manly independence left amongst us it would be found in the wealthy farmers. We might well ask, can these be the sons of the men who wrested the supremacy of the seas from the Spaniards and carried the British flag to every quarter of the globe; subdued all opposing interests in North America, and built up the Empire to the foremost position which it now occupies? Whence comes this rot, decadence or paralysis or whatever it may bo termed, when these owners of millions of pounds worth of property demean themselves to practically beg alms and attempt to sponge on the country for the wherewithal te go and look after their own concerns? That this spirit of dependency and feebleness is pervading all classes, one can easily gather from Sir Joseph Ward’s manifesto. Everything is to be gathered in, and managed by politicians. Capitalists are losing confidence and are willing to hand over their capital for the State to invest and take the risk. Coal mines are no longer a safe investment; they are to be handed over to the State. Eight through the whole programme, openings are to be made to employ the capitalists’ money and the State is to take the risk. What a reflection on the mentality of the nation these proposals are. When did politicians ever demonstrate their capacity for capable management? Has it been in the military training camps, has it been in the Railway Department, or do we find it in its best form in. the Bdu cation Bureau? And yet Sir Joseph Ward takes such a low estimate of the mental capacity of the people that he believes that politicians can manage the everyday affairs of the public better than they can do themselves! And the action of the meat producers gives point and emphasis to his opinion. Woe betide us!—l am, etc., c ‘ PRO PATRIA. ’ ’