GIFT TO BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26416, 21 March 1947, Page 9

GIFT TO BRITAIN

Sir,—One can fully agree with your correspondent, " Humanity,” lhat 11 the whole •financial system is too stupid for words.” and also, to a large extent, with, his opinion that the economic system assumes scarcity where none exists, and that “ this erroneous assumption of scarcity is the tragedy of the age.” But the question of plenty or scarcity must always be subject to the rhythm of Nature, which controls not only the fruits of the earth, but also man’s ability to use them wisely,. and, therefore, his evolution towards enlightenment. Science and machinery, allied to rational finance, can enable us to produce a great abundance of food, clothing, shelter for all, but it Is Nature’s rhythm that finally decides how much raw material goes into the machines. Let us beware how we attempt io stimulate Nature’s pulsation, lest, in aiming at greater abundance, we create a desert nr a pestilence. Much of the world’s surface is barren, but Mother Nature, if treated aright, provides her children with enough, but not to spare. She allows no room for Idleness —as distinguished from leisure—nor discrimination. She aims at “ one world," not favoured oases like New Zealand, into which the half-famished masses from without glare hungrily. We can exist individually or nationally only as parts of ihe whole,, and, as such, must use our united intelligence to co-operate with Nature’s rhythm or it will destroy us. That means, above all, that the incentive of greed, both political and financial, must be replaced by the social motive, for greed is seen to be man’s greatest destructive agency To attempt to streamline and disguise this greed incentive under fancy names, and to graft it on to the social urge can only end in failure. We must get to where we belong and stay there if we are to survive.—l am, etc., March 18. F. R. 11.