LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25357, 12 November 1945, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

War Gratuity Sir, —it is with dismay that T read of the Government's proposition to spread payment of the war gratuity over a number of years, beginning sometime next year (maybe), all because the Government members think we are irresponsible. Wl,iat short memories they have. Now their homes are safe, their savings must not handle money. They might get married or have a well-earned holiday. Did the cry of inflation eo up when the workers all received their back pay in a lump sum? To me it seems as if Labour members want to make a big splash just before_ the election next year b.v announcing payment of the gratuity. A Poor Sapper. Pin-Pricking of Motorists Sir, —I understand it is the intention of the City Council to employ 50 traffic inspectors. As it is they haunt the streets seeking those on whom they can pin their tickets. The City Council charges us an annual licence, the Government accepts fees for registration, swamps us in extortionate tax on petrol, neglects our roads and causes us endless trouble trying to elude newly appointed traffic •inspectors. Having taken our fees, the authorities should provide us with somewhere to park cars legitimately used for business purposes within reasonable distance of Queen Street. Will any councillor tell of any effort made to accommodate the harassed motorist with parking places? Business Motorist. Lower Living Costs Sir, —Cleaning up today I found some old accounts of 1#26 and had some real shocks because I, like thousands of others, # had been led to believe money today will not buy anything like it used to do. In 1920 a 21 b loaf cost me 7.U1, against 6d today. I can buy 251b of flour now for about 4s 3d, whereas in 1926 1 paid two shillings more for the same amount. I was rather amazed to find that in those so-called "good old days" I had to pay just the same price for milk, cauliflowers and apples as I have today. I can give the figures. Even sugar, which we could get, was |d cheaper. Competition has had its say in intervening years and I find that such things as soap, coffee essence and a few lesser necessities are cheaper than they were in the good old days. Due, I suppose, to "cutthroat competition. Spud Murray. Social Insecurity

Sir,—There appears to be a lot of misapprehension about the provisions of the old-age pension. Even Ministers of the Crown do not make the position clear. For instance, Mr Parry, according to the press report, stated that "any single person of 60 years of age whose income was less than £2 17s 6d a week was entitled to some benefit." Now, as I read the Act, this is only true when the beneficiaries' private income is an "earned" one. If, for example, he lias an "unearned" income of (say) £l6 4s (3 per cent on £lslO Government loan) he cannot receive a single penny of the old-age pension. This is because his accumulated funds, over the £SOO allowable (i.e., £1010) reduces the pension by £lOl, thus completely wiping it out. Such a man, if bo cannot work, must exist on £lO 8s Od (£l6 4s less taxes), or about 15s fid a week. He will not even get the universal pension for another five years. So much for social "securitv!" Tf 1 have misread the Act will Mr Parry put me right? Not A Pensioner. The Tobacco Shortage Sir, —Wo seem _to have developed a bad habit of looking at things from the wrong end.- There have for years been releroncos to'the advisability of rationing tobacco and. cigarettes. Yet we are told that there is plenty of tobacco, but insufficient manpower to treat it. Might it not take as much manpower to distribute tobacco coupons and keep rationing nyming? Probably more. Why is it that there are plenty of cosmetics, plenty of beer and plenty of many lines manufactured in New Zealand which are less important to the average man or young woman than a smoke? These products require labour to produce them. If products less important than tobacco can be produced in sufficient quantities why is it? Is there something wrong with' working in a tobacco factory? Should tobacco factories be classed as essential still? Another thing—if tobacco factories are so short of manpower, why do they not concentrate on producing cigarette and pipe tobacco, cither packeted or loose, instead ol supplying made-up cigarettes. It would be more reasonable to supply mono "smokes" in the form of tobacco and to let the consumer roll bis own than to use the labour in making up packets of ten. Bhowned Ok p.