TOWN AND COUNTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 15

TOWN AND COUNTRY

Sir, —A letter appeared in your issue of March 22, over the signature of Mr. A. J. Stallworthy, M.P., which, I feel, should not be allowed to pass unchallenged. It is illuminating in that it throws light on the hidden sources of income or those elected to office by their fellows, but it also discloses that a cleaning up in high places is badly needed. The writer's outburst about the incidence of taxation is amazing, seeing that the Parliament he entered, with his Divine mission, initiated it (after the failure of its claptrap of borrowed millions and railway completion), and the Coalition simply followed on till to-day the country finds itself in a hopeless morass of debt and distrust. Regarding the old-age pension, this was a splendid piece of legislation as first enacted, but now it is sapping the very foundation of those qualities that have built the nation until to-day it seems to be a proud boast to be receiving the old age pension or any other form of charity from an overtaxed people. I have even heard it referred to as "his beer money" by a recipient. Here is a field for a zealot like Mr. Stallworthy to clean up. He evidently knows nothing about the subject he writes about when he protests on what he calls an effort to subsidise dirt, inefficiency and greod. I do not think it is feasible to help farmers by a direct subsidy, but rather the remedy lies in reduced costs and relief from taxation, also in a cessation of the many grandiose schemes to place more settlers on the land to produce an article already in over-supply. The small farms scheme is an example that should be a lesson, as it is only a more elaborate' version of the State advances to workers that has proved so costly to the cities and the country. Regarding efficient farmers, certainly all farmers are not efficient, but neither aro some M.P.'s. As to greed, look for it in the cities, Mr. Stallworthy, for that is its breeding place, but do not libel the men and women who are carrying on that you may enjoy the amenities of town life with no risk of getting dirt under your fingernails. Chas. t W. Mttnns. Te Mata<