CHASTISEMENT WITH SCORPIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 19

CHASTISEMENT WITH SCORPIONS

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Although not a Labourite, I, like many others, voted for the Labour Party in 1935 because I was attracted by its many promises of eternal bliss. Its “ something for nothing ” fascinated me. We now realise our foolishness, but have only ourselves to blame. Then, in 1938. the people of New Zealand, despite persistent warnings by the Leader of the Opposition and other National candidates, of the consequences of a further term of Socialist rule, told the Government to go straight ahead with the brakes off. and it has taken us at our word. But what does make me sad is to think what might have been our happy condition if the Labour Party had never gained the Treasury benches. After three of the most prosperous years m the country’s history, years so different from those of the depression, all the thousands of unemployed would have been absorbed back into their former occupations, with all wage cute restored, and unemployment would truly be a thing of the past. With the unemployment tax and the sales tax both temporary measures, repealed, the cost of living would be falling instead of soaring as at present, with apparently the sky the limit. The result would be a higher standard of living—and the workers know it. It is true there would be no social security scheme, but where is the social security? The Government, is continually telling us there is no unemployment and so the people of New Zealand are paying their shillings in the £ for something they do not receive and are not likely to receive. Pensions have certainly been increased, but the rising cost of living would warrant that in any case. History has proved that all attempts by totalitarian leaders to bring about by Socialistic methods what Hitler and Stalin call the Kingdom or Heaven upon earth, have failed, and the result has been instead the Kingdom of Hell upon earth, with the workers as the chief sufferers. We all agree that the last Government was far from perfect but the present financial chaos and fear of the future remind one of a verse in 1 Kings 12; 11: And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke. I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. —I am, etc., New Zealander.