“CINDERELLAS OF SOCIALISM ”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27112, 21 June 1949, Page 6

“CINDERELLAS OF SOCIALISM ”

Sir,—“Simple Confession” ignores the fact that the New Zealand Government of the day was not responsible for the depression. Although I belonged to the unemployed class, I had the opportunity to judge conditions during the peak of the slump in Australia and New Zealand, and I thanked God humbly and sincerely for the privilege of living in a country that was not governed by Socialists, Communists or Labourites (call-'them-what you like) during this world-wide, economic crisis. Many people seem to be unaware that the Labour Government of Australia sent their leading economist. Professor Copland, over to advise and to get New Zealand to co-operate with them in reducing Government expenditure, cutting wages, slashing pensions and reducing the staffs of Government Departments. After a prolonged discussion, Messrs Coates and Forbes agreed .to reduce expenditure, but in a much milder form than was already operating in Britain and Australia. Mr Savage and Mr Fraser also agreed, remarking that it seemed the only way to meet the crisis. It is well to stress that wages, pensions and salaries were slashed in New Zealand 12 months later than in Australia where they were cut about a-third more than in New Zealand. - _ A jumble sale was held at South Dunedin last Friday, and what a pitiful sight it was. How the angels must have wept as they looked down on those old people pushing and struggling to get near the heaps of worn clothes which were all their meagre pensions would allow them to buy. Yes, r ‘ Simple Confession,” for a Government that ■ has enjoyed 14 years of record prices overseas for our primary produce, we have a sorry picture of poverty to show —a picture that puts the slump picture in the shade.—l etc.,

Sir,—“ Matilda’s ” statement that the widow's pension of to.day has not the purchasing power of - the same pension as given by the last Tory Government is not borne out by the facts, for the last Tory Government reduced the pension from 22s 6d to 17s 6d weekly which, with the then unemployment charge, reduced that total to approximately 15s 9d weekly. To-day's pension is 45s weekly, so surely she will admit that she has been indulging in some more- of her usual 'foolish assertions? There figures are heavily in favour of to-day’s happily-placed pensioner by comparison with the miserly hand-out pittance of the Tories. She also sneers at to-day’s price of vegetables. Only last week the Minister, Mr Skinner, stated that prices for these essentials were higher on the open market of to-day than when under the control of the IMD, so once again “ Matilda s sneer has missed fire. She also insinuates that “Mr Nash introduced the permanent wave, New Look, nylons, gay shopping bags.” What utter rubbish! He had no more to do with their introduction than did ’‘Matilda,” and well she knows it Why introduce such utterly^ridiculous statements? On top of this, her, advice to vote for the Tories was a gratuitous insult to your discriminating readers.—l am. etc., v Plain Jane.