MR GOODFELLOW’S CRITICISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23951, 28 October 1939, Page 9

MR GOODFELLOW’S CRITICISM

ro THE EDITOR Sir,—Your correspondent "Alert” should make sure of her facts before attempting to propagate on behalf of the Nationalist Party, otherwise she will merely serve the purpose of recalling to the public mind the extraordinary and unwarranted happenings under Nationalist rule. Did not the Nationalist Government (or its predecessors masquerading under another name) increase the telegraphic rates and double the postage charge on letters? On that occasion, however, owing to the lack of purchasing power in the hands of the people, brought about by the deflationist policy, business fell off to such an extent that it had to reduce them again. The same thing applied to the railways when the fares were increased by it. Let me remind your correspondent that these increases took place when there was not even a state of war to justify them. I find “Alert’s” memory again hazy when it comes, to examining the Nationalist Party’s record. She mentions that our children were not taxed under the Nationalists. The fact is that a heavy tax was imposed on children as low as 14 years of age (not 16 years) when the 15 per cent, cut in wages was imposed by the Nationalists. This was done to help to balance the Budget, not for the purpose of providing the liberal benefits now available under the social security scheme. In referring to “ Uncle Scrim’s ” salary your correspondent has overlooked the £3500 paid annually by the Nationalists to Mr Sterling, late general manager of Railways. Subsequently this gentleman retired on a superannuation of £1447 per annum, but as if this were not enough, Mr Hamilton’s Government paid him a further £IOOO per annum as chairman of the Railw'ays Board with four other members to assist him at £SOO each. Needless to say, these latter were all good party supporters. This, no doubt, Mr Editor, would be “ good business ” for the taxpayer in the eyes of some critics, as at that time we only had 80,000 unemployed in the country.—l am, etc., October 26. Elector. TO THE EDITOR Sir, —I notice that “Elector,” after several months’ convalescence and licking of wounds received at the hands or pens of your correspondents in his previous efforts to excuse the Socialists, has sufficiently recovered to limp back into the arena. While one cannot congratulate him on his wisdom. one must appreciate his courage. It is to be regretted that during his enforced retirement he could not think up something better than the usual Socialist clap-trap, loud-mouth frothings and idiotic babblings which one has grown accustomed to hearing since childhood from every soapbox, street corner, gutter and public convenience in the country. All of his senseless vapourings could have, and would have, been ignored were it net for the fact that he, like our Socialist dictators and his many Trades Hall associates, seeks to use the war as an excuse for the Socialists. No doubt the war is rightly regarded by the Socialists as a heaven-sent gift, just as it is recognised by the decent worth-while section cf the community that nothing short of a war on a world scale could temporarily save the face of the Socialist arch-blunderers in Wellington. “ Elector,” as a Socialist supporter, has the temerity to inform your readers that the Empire is engaged in a life and death struggle with the forces of Nazism overseas The honest, upright, law-abiding decent people of New Zealand have been engaged in a life and death struggle for the last four years against oppression. confiscation, tyranny, suppression of free speech, petty graft, compulsory unionism, compulsory levies, abuse ‘ and censorship of wireless, spoils to the victors, taxation of children, censorship of news, pimps, inspectors and informers, trade union secretaries and liaison officers tar more repulsive than Nazism ever contemplated The only effort the Socialists have so far made to defeat me overseas enemy besides appointing aliens, among them being Germans, to highly paid soft jobs in the Government service has been to increase by 5s and 10s a week the allowance to members of the army of 24,000 or more unemployed who are being cared for by the Public Works Department. As the Government denies that there has been any increase in the cost of living this is obviously an extra inducement to these men to remain in these camps and keep out of the military camps. To a Socialist, a vote is oif supreme importance. Your correspondent expresses a tear that New Zealand’s credit overseas will be injured, by Mr Goodfellow's recent review of the facts. Mr Nash had it made painfully plain to him m his recent visit to Britain that, whatever little credit this country ever had under Socialism. had completely vanished. A day or two after our Government had decided, against its promises, to take part in a capitalist foreign war,” the German wireless announcer who had probably never heard of Mr Goodfellow, stated in English. through his chuckling, “two bankrupt islands in the Pacific have declared war on us.” It is really amusing to see that “Elector” objects to correspondents remaining anonymous, and sets a typical Socialist example by himself remaining so. Evidently he has already been appointed a liaison officer or some such thing—or is it a librarian? Or does one require to be completely illiterate to secure the latter post? As he appears to have appointed himself Socialist Minister of Information will he please enlighten your readers as to when the benefits are to commence under the much

vaunted social security scheme. I am well aware when the additional taxation, including that of school children, came into force, but it appears now as if the “benefit” clauses are to remain a dead letter. Finally, where is "Colonel” Semple?—l am, etc., October 26. Vigilant.