ELECTION CRIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22721, 6 November 1935, Page 6

ELECTION CRIES

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I cannot refrain from replying to Dr M'Millan when he states that there are 10,000 under-nourished children in the Dominion. If that statement is intended to be/ a vote-catcher, it is the most fallacious I have ever heard, and should do the Labour Party u lot of harm. It is a slure on the Government, on parents, on the Plunket Society, and on social workers. lam a colonial born and have a large family, and such a statement as that made by Dr M'Millan is very cutting. There is no need for any persons, man, woman, or child to go without food in this Dominion of which •we are proud. If the schoolmaster thinks that any child attending school is under-fed he has only to let it be known and help will be given. Help can be obtained from the Hospital Board, the Mayor of any town, the chairman of the county councils, the Farmers' Women's Division, the Salvation Army, or any minister of the town or district. I have heard visitors from overseas say we have the bonniest and healthiest children they had seen on their travels. When visitors to our country thus praise the children, it says very little for Dr M'Millan when he is telling the people that we have 10,000 under-fed children in the Dominion. It will not only be in our papers that this statement will be reported* but it will get into the Home papers, through the Labour Party with a heading " 10,000 Under-nourished Children in New Zealand." Will the mothers of children submit to that without contradicting it? I have attended several meetings held by the Democrat and Labour candidates, and from start to finish their speeches have been nothing but abuse of the present Government, together with promises which it is impossible for them to fulfil. No Labour Government has done any good to any country. If Labour should get into power it will never be able to carry on, and another election would be forced on the country, and the taxpayers would be put to a lot of expense. There is no sane person who will not admit that the Government has been up against it, and has come out on top. What with the war, depression, earthquakes, floods, fires and frost, the Government has continually had tb help the people. I am an old mill hand, and in my opinion it will be better for the country to keep the present Government in power after its experience in managing the affairs of the country during the worst time the Dominion has, ever known. It will be far better than to put unexperienced men in control of the people's business. It is just the same as with a new starter in the mills. It is necessary to have the experience to be perfect in order to satisfy the "bosses." —I am, etc., Fair Play.

TO THE EDITOR. SiR, —Notwithstanding your leader in last Saturday's paper, most thinking people will agree that Dr M'Millan is not overstating the case. We know that there were over 50,000 unemployed who were below the bread line, and thousands of others who are on sweated- wages—little better off. Every unemployed wife and mother who have brought their children through the slump without their being undernourished deserve the V.C. Then we must give some credit to the social workers and councils. If it had been left to the Government, then God help the children! It was only after three riots in Dunedin, Wellington; and Auckland that the Government sat up and took notice. We have now the doubtful distinction of being the only food-producing country in the world except Northern Irftland which has this disgrace. Give the Labour Council in Christchurch credit! It saved the situation there, although things looked ugly with the tramway strike. —I am, etc., J. Hepburn. Cromwell, November 4. [The premise in the above letter is not admitted.—Ed. O.D.T.]