POLITICAL PROPAGANDA

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

POLITICAL PROPAGANDA

ro fHF EDITOR Sir, —In ills lengthy discourse in Monday morning’s Daily Times, “A Worker ” wanders to Christchurch South in the vain hope that some support might be forthcoming for his obviously poor case. He clings to the forlorn hone that this electorate might turn to the much-discredited Nationalists. Well. Sir the result Is now known, a twp to one majority for Labour, so he will not find much consolation in it, But vhy go ail the way to Christchurch to obtain the feeling of the oeople when we have just had a byelection so close at hand as Dunedin.” The only reason that can be assigned f or such a “Nationalist" reverse is the bungling of the present City Council—its dismissal of men. and its methods of handling the Kaikorai tram purchase including the amount paid for it. One of the main issues at the last general election was the Social Security Act, and Mr Savage took the people into his confidence on that question. But the Nationalists repudiated this magnificent scheme and were relegated to their proper place, political oblivion, by the electors. Whilst on confidences, may I ask your correspondent did the “ Nationalist ” candidates for the Dunedin City Council tell the electors before the elections that they intended to increase rates by 4d in the £ and then raise the valuations on people’s properties as well? It is remarkable that “A Worker” now objects to the Is in the £ tax for pensions, medical and hospital benefits, seeing that Mr Hamilton’s party taxed him Is in the £ but failed to provide any of the above benefits. It would almost seem that ne goes into a political trance when the Nationalists tax him. but becomes intensely tax shy when Labour acts similarly. The above ailment may account; for his failure to remember the deficits of the Coalition Government of £1,600,000 in 1931 and £2,140,000 in

1982, together with other deficits in 1929 and 1934. I am pleased with his admission that Post Office Savings Bank deposits have increased under Labour: previously he stated they had fallen. I am, however, at a loss to understand why he had to proceed to Germany and invoke the aid of Hitler to provide a suitable smoke-screen to escape from his own blunders. Out of consideration for your space, Sir, I have no desire to reply to his other long-winded generalities.—l am, etc.. Dunedin, June 6. Elector.