LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24664, 17 August 1943, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Entertainment Centre Sir, —Following all the correspondence and public interest in the above question. Dr. Alexander Hodge very pertinently asks, "May we know what is transpiring?" All I can say at this stage is that an application has been made to the Auckland City Council to receive a deputation of citizens at the meeting of the council on Thursday next, when representations will be made concerning the matter. J. Victor Macky. When the State Takes Over Sir, —Why does Mr. Holland worry about the nationalisation of the land ? It certainly will be the day when the Government takes over our farms and puts us all on wages. As far a.s we are concerned, the day cannot come too soon. The joy of drawing a weekly wage without any worry! The relief of knowing that stock losses are not our loss or concern! The long-delayed justice of being on a 40-hour week, with overtime pay. extra pay for wet days, and triple pay for Sunday work and holidays. All family labour will be abolished, and no longer will children and wives bear the shed drudgery. The help of the extra staff that will be necessary will make farm life a joy. Of course, as usual in State-run enterprises, the inevitable result will be a big increase in the price of butter, but I am sure all good New Zeaalnders will_ but rejoice that at last the producer is in line with other workers. Aoricoi.a. Aliens in the Forces

Sir, —Although I am of the opinion that it is part of the refugees' war effort not to take part in discussions about the refugees. I think the item "Alums in Forces" in your issue of August 12 should not remain unanswered. In fairness to truth. I wish to make the following statement: —The vast majority of the refugees of military age in Christchurch and Dunedin (I do not know of the refugees residing in other districts) volunteered for military service right at the outbreak of the war. Many of them have volunteered several times later, e.g., the writer of these lines four times altogether. Only a very few have been admitted to the Army. It seems to have been the policy of the military authorities to allow as few refugees as possible to join the armed forces. Whether that attitude was right or not, belongs to a different chapter. But surely the refugees cannot he blamed for staying outside, if they have been forced to stay outside. Refugee.

The No-party "Party" Sir, —Your correspondent "New Zealand First" mav know more about the mind of the National Party than I, but it is obvious there is no alarm in the ranks ot the Socialist Party at the "number of independents coming forward." They know qui to well that all these so-called Independents can achieve is to disrupt the anti-Socialist ■ vote. This seems to confirm the growing conviction that the People's Movement sponsoring this "Independent Group is primarily concerned in keeping the Socialists on the Treasury benches. The electors should note this fact. It is sillv to claim a party is not a party when it calls itself a "group." They apparently are qui to a united party at the thought of splashing £100,000.000 of the people's savings. 1 wonder how niiiny gullible persons there are who will 'give them the chance of doing it. It is pertinent to recall the origin of this so-called People's Movement, "the sponsors." A year or two ago their eni ranee to the political arena was heralded at a meeting in the Auckland Town Hall. A ja/.z band gave a touch of hilarity to the proceedings. Most of the "important" gentlemen on that platform appear now to have gone into obscurity. There remain Mr. Davy and .Mr James Crisp, The closing sentences in the letter from "New Zealand First ' are just plain nonsense. Democracy and democratic privileges practically disappear under controls necessary to a total war effort. To argue what is host lor wartime is best for all time is pure Nazism. The downfall of France was brought about by the absence of a strong Government. Thero were 27 or more independent groups in the French Parliament at the outbreak of war. One may also wonder where England would have been without a strong party Government after Dunkirk. The people of New Zealand should think of these things and realise that if they want their country to he free from totalitarianism or Nazism they should turn a. deaf ear to the flamboyant utterances of these yes-no men. Liberty.