THE MASSEY MUDDLERS.

NZ Truth, Issue 889, 9 December 1922, Page 13

THE MASSEY MUDDLERS.

Dear "Truth",— Dr. Thacker brought before the House recently a suggestion that something ought to be (.one Immediately to try and' minimise the toss of life by motor traffic. The Minister for Internal Affairs- made reply that no legislation would be brought down this session on that subject and that the people would have to take it upon themselves to avoid -being killed or Injured. I think that is what the population of New Zealand have - been doing all the time; it is not very likely that people go wilfully and put themselves In the way of cars or motor, cycles Just to be killed or injured. Mr Downie Stewart (the Minister) had better be careful, for it may. be his turn to be knocked down; and, after reading his callous reply to Dr. Thacker, I am afraid tfi^. public of New Zealand would not have much sympathy nor would they erect a monument to his memory. If he has an opponent m the ' election for his seat m the House, surely he will not forget fo mention the above fact m his platform speeches just to demonstrate -what class of legislation, they can expeeffrom him or the party he belongs to. The country is spending money to bring out immigrants to New Zealand; over £200,---000 has been voted by the Massey muddlers for that purpose (extracted from a tax-ridden populace who have • great difficulty to exist and pay their way) with the Massey idea, I presume, of relieving the "burden of heavy taxation.". Why not take more care of the inhabitants of New . Zealand? Why allow them to be "killed without making an effort to enforce more care on motorists? A man who is already here is surely as good to the country (or better) than the man they have to spend money to bring across the world,' and, m a great many cases, to be so utterly disappointed that it Is a sorry immigrant we get — no house to live m, no work to go to, Just to earn enough to keep body and soul together. Then we get the . parrot cry about the failure of an Immigrant. He is not made of the stuff the pioneers were, or he could make a do of it. Times now are not . pioneer times. I woula like .to see a man attempt to even build a shack as a shelter without holding the title of the land. And the price the poor, unfortunate has to pay for even enough land to erect a shelter on! Yes. the pioneer had an opportunity whioh the present day immigrant could not find with a' microscope. Massey is greatly responsible for the present shortage m houses and also the condition of the roomers. He no sooner got on the Treasury Benches than he made the Advances to Settlers and Workers' Act useless. He made a limit of £450 as the maximum amount loaned by that department. But to try and get £450 you would have to have security for £1000. The man who wanted to build was driven to private moneylenders who charge 7 per cent., and he must havo a good margin to get that The Act that was passed by the Liberal Government, providing that a man with £10 could get a home, was made useleas. Therefore, houses were not built. Hence a great deal of the present shortage is due to that cause, and not the war. It has been a great shelter for Massey that ,war, a better shelter than an unfortunate immigrant is likely to get All the muddling that has been done this last eight years m this country has been caused by the war. It is hard to foresee how any Government . can avoid bankruptcy which the war and the Massey Government has brought upon us. — I am, etc., W. J. CAMPBELL.