LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24464, 23 December 1942, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Problem of Inflation Sir,—According to the industry and trade editor of the Economist, inflation may be said to begin when people spend more money on the same quantity of goods and services, or an equal amount on fewer goods and services, that is to say, when their prices start to move hT an upward direction. Studying the prices I now pay for vegetables, I am convinced that I fully understand the meaning of inflation. Lex. Open Cities Sir,—l see a report that negotiations are being carried out with the view to declaring Rome an open city. What kind of a war is this? What would happen to our cities if the Germans and Italians were winning the war? Remember what happened in Holland. The way to treat these people is the way they treat us. To-day everything that makes a country run along is a military objective and no city should escape under the "open city" racket. Spitfire. History Papers Sir,—A correspondent would have us consign our famous men to oblivion. Our educational leaders have long held this view, and we have the spectacle of men honestly trying to shape a future who are ignorant or the past. If we do owe advancement in civilisation to revolution and not to the patient work that flowers in legislation, that is no reason for forgetting the doers of the past —the tyrants and martyrs, the knaves and statesmen, the impostors and resisters, the loaders and fighters of the entire story. Planetary awareness will not come at a single bound, or by any ignoring of the past. Inevitably we shall pass on from nationality through federation to world oneness, but the lower rungs of the ladder, the individual, the family, the tribe, the confederation, are to be remembered. "Let us now praise famous men," with old Ecclesiasticus, and thank Dr. Mazengarb for drawing public attention to the tendency of history instruction. Ebwin Greensmith. Roadside Loading of Pigs Sir,—The letter of "One of the Carriers" does not bring much comfort to the pig-raiser. As "Carrier" makes no mention of reduced cartage charges, I assume that he is quite satisfied to give less efficient service and charge at the old rates. So it is quite easy for him to write of "accepting the position," etc. The position is ridiculous. My lime is delivered at the shed in four-ton lorry loads, yet pigs may not be lifted from the sty less than 50 yards away, and it is certainly easier to handle bags of lime than 1601b. baconers. I ask only that when the paddocks are dry and the farmer has a loading race at the sty his pigs should be lifted there. If chains are necessary, the farmer should deliver his pigs at tlie roadside. No matter who framed the regulation, it is too arbitrary, and it is inflicting a serious hardship on people already fully occupied, and certainly not overpaid. Carriers should be allowed to use their discretion. In general, they render most efficient service, and are quite willing to render assistance when circumstances demand it. How women and children struggling alone on a farm are to comply with the regulation is beyond me. Cow Cocky. Honey Control Sir,—ln the interests of freedom, which so many are at present striving to serve in supporting the war, I wish to bring to the notice of the general public the methods that are being adopted in the recent control and price fixing of honey. As an almost full-time honey producer myself, .I attended the meeting of beekeepers in Hamilton on December 15, and raised many objections to the control scheme. I declined to vote when it came to a show of hands for its support. An analysis of the price schedule that the consumer will be expected to pay, as compared with what the" Internal Marketing Department buys for, may serve to open the eyes of your many readers. The actual, price being offered the producer is on a pro rata basis of 7d per pound, which means that an average honey grading 90 points out of 100 will actually receive a little over 6d, which, after tins and cases are paid for, will be under 6d. The price to be charged the consumer _ for the same quality honey in a 51b. tin is to be allowed to be 6s Id, which, after the value of the tin and label is deducted, leaves a price of over Is Id per pound. The price paid the producer by the Internal Marketing Department is based on the 1940 level, and furthermore it commandeers hv its regulation 70 per cent of the crop. Now, as this price level is insufficient to meet present-day costs, the remaining 30 per cent left with the beekeeper for Ins disposal is his calx means of meeting production costs. A. W. Hansen,