Woman’s View of Power Cuts And Household Shortages

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26774, 18 May 1948, Page 2

Woman’s View of Power Cuts And Household Shortages

NOTES FOR WOMEN

“ I feel that if all Socialist ideas were really carried out the Government would come perilously close to Communism,” declared Mrs W. J. Poison, addressing a women’s meeting in Wellington. “ Their ideas are repugnant to people used to living in a free way.” .

New Zealand was having to put up with too much discomfort and irritation these days in spite of its boasted progress, she said. “We are confronted with more difficulties than in pre-war days and unless we do something now these conditions will not improve,” Mrs Poison continued. “ I get tired of the Labour Government's theme song, ‘We are living in an earthly paradise and all improvements, progress and prosperity are due to a Socialist Government.’ ”

The recent manufacturers’ conference in New Plymouth gave a distressing picture of coming difficulties in being able to get “ bread and butter lines,’’ Mrs Poison commented. Such lines meant things as men's suitings, tea towels, towels, sheeting, crockery, and infants’ flannel, which she was told were all going to be even shorter than they were now. “Mr Nash,” she continued, “ gives lip service to the Atlantic Charter, and yet in his avowed effort to help Great Britain he forces shortages by restricting Great Britain's exports. It is quite obvious that he fought hard to retain this selfish self-centred policy at Havana.

Among irritations Mrs Poison quoted as having an effect upon the happiness of all New Zealanders, wives and mothers in particular, were the po ; wer cuts. The housing position was serious enough with 55,000 people waiting for State houses and more young people prevented from building their own homes because of prohibitive costs and needless restrictions.

“ I am ashamed to read the statements of British manufacturers that the work of those tired, hungry employees in Great Britain was being refused in this country,” she concluded.