GRAVE NATIONAL PROBLEM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 2 March 1939, Page 2

GRAVE NATIONAL PROBLEM

IT * The Editorl Sir.—Two letters in your issue of last evening support my opinion that the policy of the present Government of New Zealand is by the slow depressing process of elimination to convert the capital of the country and the land of the farmer to State ownership. Excessive taxation will eventually eliminate the Capitalist and the letter of the president of the Farmers Upion to the Prime Minister is evidence that the process of elimination has already started amongst the sheep farmers, and "Grower's” letter on the “Apple Indus- | try Crisis” is an indication that the fruitgrowers are either to come under the elimination process or their in- | dustry rounded up into the State owned fold. The Hon. R. Semple’s comments in the same issue of your paper on the statement made by Mr Adam Hamilton touch on “slave camps” but it appears that the present government have only transferred the burden of “slavery” to another section of the community, but with this disadvantage. While the “slaves” the hon. gentleman refers to were “leisured slaves” with an assurance of plenty to eat and a few shillings to spend the “slaves” of to-day in seme cases have not got the consolation o* such an assurance to rest upon, while their lot is that of “galley slaves." The hon. gentleman in referring to a visit to one of these “slave camps” states that it was “the most pathetic experience of his life.” If he were to visit some of the “slave dwellings” of the man on the land to-day he would have another pathetic experience. He would there meet men with their wives and families who have been working long hours on farms which in some cases show evidence of the lack of sufficient labour, with no reward to themselves, but in a gallant effort to rescue the proceeds of their early thrift. Tl.eir natural optimism shaken and as Mr Mulholland puts it. “Giving way to feelings of depression.” The result of the last general election was an indication of the hope that had sustained their optimism and of the confidence (?) they had in respect of the policy of the government, in so far as it affected themselves.—l am. etc., A PROSPECTIVE SLAVE. Upper Moutere, Ist March.