THE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

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

THE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —While the flowers appear in the earth, the voice of the bankrupt is heard in the land. Indeed, the noise of his cry has reached up to heaven, and citizens now know the reason for the Prime Minister’s appeal for men to think of higher things (than “National” finance!). Patriotism demands that petrol be rationed in the Dominion, but neither in Australia nor other Empire countries has this been necessary. Possibly there is some subtle influence possessed by their London funds which is not shared by those of New Zealand. On the other hand, the London funds may have no more connection with petrol than they will have with perspiring pantless postmen delivering the King’s mail in uniform undress “for the duration ’’!

The lack of funds may have nothing to do with petrol or postmen, but the import restrictions appear to have such a relationship, otherwise why is it that fresh air and sea water are the only categories which are immune? List “ G ” prohibits as many articles as the remaining schedules admit on a heavily reduced scale. By no elas-

tlcity of imagination can many of these item? be regarded as luxuries —there may no longer be either buttons or nails for the suspension of male attire. The plain truth is that the country is not on the edge but over the bank of bankruptcy. Doubtless the present administrators nightly thank Hitler for the patriotic smoke screen he has provided to cover financial chaos. One item on the “banned” list seems to cut at the foundation of our national welfare—“2oß (1) . . . infant feeding bottles.” How is the population to be increased without feeding bottles? Does it mean that citizens are being so well cared for that they are past the bottle stage? Or is It true that politicians’ babies, like those of bachelors, are breast-fed?—l am. etc.. Thankful Adolf.