LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24555, 10 April 1943, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Mr. Jones' Statement Sir, —News from London says that Mr. Jones, Minister of Def6nce, stated we had increased our production of butter and cheese as a war effort. I was under the impression there was a decline last season of over 9 per cent, and this season will see a further decline of approximately 10 per cent. It is to be hoped dairy companies will not allow this misleading statement to go unchallenged. He further gav<? the number of troops we had sent to the Pacific. This kind of information has not been considered wise to broadcast in New Zealand, and we have secret sessions and electors are kept in the dark. The Japanese now have it from the Minister of Defence. Are we to assume that similar information can be given in private letters to our friends, without being censored and the writers heavily fined? Indeed. Housing Shortage Sir, —Let me tell your correspondent "Homeless" why ho is homeless. Possibly ho does not know that the chief cause is the unjust treatment which is meted out to the small builder and the elimination of all competition in building. When materials become scarce does the small builder get liis quota? Is he treated justly when labour is required, or is it the big man who gets all the necessaries to carry on? Is any preference given to returned soldiers in this and other lines of business? Many of these men are suffering from ailments which they contracted in the Great War. The small builder lias always done a good job of work and because of keen competition in past years, many honest men are still in the struggling, cautious stage. Let permits, labour and material be apportioned fairly and the small man be given consideration, and there will be no housing shortage. Victimised. The Political Future Sir, —None of your contributors on this subject has replied to my inquiry as to whether the raising of salaries to certain members of Parliament by pooling lias produced a superior political type. In some of the Australian States M.IVs receive almost double the New Zealand rate of pay. Is there any information as to whether the Commonwealth has produced a higher standard of political representation than ours? Will the mere payment of higher salaries to M.P.'s have an improving and elevating effect upon the public spirit and political intelligence of those by whom they are elected and upon whose judgment their appointment depends? We have had men of the highest calibre in Parliament, and many more who offered their services. But the best men either go out or are quickly thrown out. Men of the quality of Rolleston, Taylor, Fowlds, were regularly defeated at the polls. Is it not an axiom that we get the government we deserve? The truth is that political intelligence and public spirit are not things that ean be bought. They must l)e taught. That we must "educate our masters" is just as true now as it was in Disraeli's day. G. Henry.

Honey for Market Sir, —My attention has been drawn to n letter appearing in your April 1 issue, written by Mr. F. D. Holt, as president of the South Auckland Association. Mr. Holt gives his case away when he says his branch is not prepared to agree to any section of beekeepers being given an advantage in the price received. In other words it means they would pull all producers down to their own level. South Auckland producers have never had sufficient business initiative to build up a demand for and stand behind the quality of their individual packs. Wo in Canterbury have done this, with the result that our net returns on the same price ceiling are worth more to us. It is this we are fighting for. If the Internal Marketing Division comes in between us and the market we have developed, its own costs, plus the costs of unnecessary handling, must reduce our net returns. Tho exigencies of war do not come into tlie question at all. Tho first move toward this control was taken nt a conference in 1938. Since then the question has beep debated at every conference and the majority for it has steadily dwindled. Our branch is demanding that a postal vote of all members be taken (o get a true indication of the feeling. W. B. Bray, President. Canterbury Branch, Rational Beekeepers' Association.