WHAT OF THE FUTURE?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23830, 9 June 1939, Page 15

WHAT OF THE FUTURE?

TO THE EDITOR Sir.—l have a genuine sympathy for anyone who by reason of some physical handicap is unable to be as active and competent as the average. The majority of people in New Zealand were similarly minded in the days before the war, and cases of need were, in the main, well catered for. The persons who, while being physically fit, claim that the world owes a living to them, are the parasites. This class of individual has increased in numbers since 1914 in New Zealand, and chiefly from -overseas. To-day we find ourselves with a Labour Party containing many people who want something for nothing all the time. The Press Committee of the O.L.R.C. is like that, if its complaint to your paper is a representative statement. “We can do no' wrong.” they say, “ but the others cannot ever be right.” When a man was worth his salt a day’s work was a day’s work. The money earned was respectable. Today we see laziness and selfishness screaming viciously for what it can never earn. The “ goose ” that laid the “ egg" is required to provide unlimited “eggs,” although underfed and otherwise ignored. The men who have worked and. with their savings, have created industries and employment are classed to-day as “ profiteers and capitalists." this in spite of the fact that they have worked and still work and had no greater opportunities than others who went to school with them. This class distinction is not. however, a creation of New Zealanders, but o* the “foreign,” gentlemen, and it has been taken up by some of our own folk, who come under the classification stated earlier in this letter. Common sense and reason are being ignored to-day . for the purpose of selfish gain, and nothing Mr Savage or any of his party can say can exclude . them all from participation in this callous scramble. Jobs are created and groups manoeuvred to keep the voting machine leaning the one way The cost of the “ to-morrows ” ahead is not being considered by any. If a reader wants to test the sincerity of anyone let them ask plainly, “What are you doing to strengthen the future hopes .for telfowship and goodwill? Ihe Labour Party’s replies only evade honesty and give subtle promises which they themselves would realise are unattainable if they would be honest with themselves. The total disregard for facts, and an eagerness to libel honest effort. Is the surest guide to a future devoid of every hope of happiness. The

tragedy of the whole matter is not the “ parasite,” but the decent folk who, by general apathy, are joining hands in the dark against themselves and all the future holds. Let those who can and will, think back to the bright days in this bonny land before the war. Many blame the war; but it was not the actual war. but the aftermath, made by those who suddenly wanted to take advantage of the mental condition resulting from that great trouble. To-day we in New Zealand are reaping a harvest we did not sow. The weeds have blown on the wind, smothered the decent grassland, and owing to so many of the true labourers being buried overseas where they fell, the land is waste and easy prey for the wrong element. What is needed to-day is self-analysis.—l am. etc., Look Ahead. Dunedin, June 7.