MR NEILSON AND RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 13

MR NEILSON AND RUSSIA

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I did not reply to the letter from Sane Labour ” in your issue of March 12 because I knew the same writer would soon come with another; and I was not disappointed, because this time ‘ Sane Labour” signs himself “ New Zealander. ‘‘New Zealander” says he is a native born New Zealander. As I also was born here, perhaps I can say the same. It seems, however, because he and I view things from a different standpoint he considers himself o.k. while he brands me as taboo. Nevertheless, I appeal to my critics and others who may think likewise to try and clear their minds of prejudice, and let us get down to facts as they are, and are fast developing. “ New Zealander ” , designates what I write as “ tripe.” Good tripe, I understand is part of animal food prescribed by doctors for invalids and patients of a low standard of health. I will just say here, therefore, that I shall try and make my prescription as palatable to my critic’s standard of mentality as possible, and I can assure him I shall stick to facts. He refers to my being a city councillor and Labour member for Dunedin Central, Then he says: “Let him get down and do something beneficial for the city in which he lives,” I may here say that I have no other motive in life but to be of service; but who is to judge this? The facts are against “New Zealander,” because I got sufficient votes to be elected in both places, and can “ New Zealander” give me one instance where I have neglected to do anything (if it was in my power), and have failed so to do. A perusal of my correspondence file can easily prove the opposite, if “New Zealander ” cares to call and see for himself. He shall have a full dress rehearsal, L can assure him. “New Zealander " says that Russia does not concern me, and asks if I am so wrapped up, why don’t I go and live there? I have no authority for making the following statement. But perhaps “ New Zealander ” will remember many years ago now, when to mention Russia was to be called by a vile name. I wrote then that I believed we would be doing a good service to our country if we tried to do some trade with Russia. Hands were held up in holy horror. I believe I was one of the first who made such a statement, and I believe to-day our Government might well explore that view now and send a trade representative there. The following statement and figures are taken from the London Monthly Review for January: “Great Britain this year occupied first place both as an importer of Soviet goods and as an exporter to the U.S.S.R. The imports were 3.304,421 tons, valued at 79,200,000 roubles, while the exports were 160,510 tons, valued at 39.127.000. Germany came next with 62.046.000 roubles exports to, and 18.553.000 from the U.S.S.R. The United States third, with imports from 23,301,000 roubles and 28,852,000 to the U.S.S.R. I will now ask “ New Zealander to look at the same paper as his letter appeared in, and he will find the following:—“The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says the Soviet marked disapproval of Herr Hitler’s policy by cutting off its negotiations with Germany for 500.000. marks of credit for Russian purchases of German goods dining the next 10 years.” We here are, and have been, looking for markets. Russia supplies the largest. Russia will take our wool. These credits that Germany has lost will perhaps (some of them) go to Britain. This will employ some more of her unemployed. These, as a result, will be able to purchase some of our butter, cheese, meat and wool. Some of our wool will be re-exported to Russia. Indirectly we thus benefit. Supposing we were to transfer some of our oil necessaries from the United States to the U.S.S.R. All these avenues, may be worth our while. Soviet Russia is also a big factor for peace, and the transfer of the above-men-tioned 500,000,000 roubles away from Germany will surely assist Messrs Hitler and Co. to sit up and just think how they will fare if some of the other countries were to go and do likewise. • I just want now to conclude this letter by a statement I have before me made by Mr A. G. Ogilvie, Premier of Tasmania; “I have seen so much of interest in Russia, and have so many matters to discuss, that I have decided not to make any statement in London, except of a general character, and to reserve my remarks, which will be of a detailed nature, until I return to Tasmania. Lean assure you that very many of the stories we have read in the press in connection with Russia arc utterly untrue. Ihe system of Government is most interesting, and the Russian standard of living is distinctly advancing at a rapid rate. 1 will leave it at that.—l am. etc., March 15. P- NeilsoN.

[The letters by “Sane Labour” and “New Zealander” were not written by the same correspondent. Wc do not permit correspondents to write over different signatures on the same subject.— Ed. O.D.T.J