“WHERE’S THE MONEY GOING?”

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

“WHERE’S THE MONEY GOING?”

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—The question with which this letter is headed is perplexing the minds of many in this Dominion, from the navvy to the capitalist. A quarter of a million pounds is being extorted through the sales tax month after month, from the public. People are being bled white by every conceivable form of taxation. London funds during the four years of Labour control have disappeared to the tune of forty million pounds—and to what purpose? It is alleged that 40,000 unemployed, alias “public work” employees, are receiving £4 10s per week, equal to an expenditure of £IBO,OOO weekly, most of it going in payment for the performance of unremunerative and unpayable work, evidently intended to maintain a solid, safe vote for Labour. The list of import restrictions published in your issue of Wednesday last should prove one of the last nails in the coffin of our bungling, muddling Labour administration. Farmers are at their wits end through mal-administration. The business community is being driven to distraction. Housewives are distressed and helpless at the ever increasing cost of living. while all the time the Labour members of Parliament, Labour leaders and the rest are telling us that we are all happy and everything is going on nicely, and, to prove it, another five shillings a week is being given to the “Public Works unemployed.” But what is to be done? One of your correspondents suggested a few days ago that the anti-Labour public should strike. There may be something in the suggestion. Anyhow, some kind of revolt is long overdue to end the present deplorable state of affairs. The members of the Cabinet are attempting a task for which they have neither experience nor ability. Mr Nash, with all his self-assurance and the multiplicity of positions he holds, is proving utterly incapable of dealing successfully with the situation. • Transport regulation and import restrictions are turning multitudes of men and women out of their jobs, while shopkeepers and importers are being driven almost crazy. The time has long passed for Chamber of Commerce resolutions and such like. Labour has failed lamentably, for beyond breaking promises (a la Hitler) it has done little for our young country. The time is ripe, rotten ripe, for a change. This kind of amateur Government has proved positively disastrous. The question is now: What steps are to be taken to effect a prompt and effective change in administration? I have not too much confidence in the National Party. If It can do anything to help, the sooner It gets on to the job the better.—l am. etc.. A Disappointed Unit.