OPEN COLUMN

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 10 August 1932, Page 5

OPEN COLUMN

This column is open to the free expression of opinion under certain restrictions. . . ", '.....'

All letters must be signed with the correct name and" address ol the sender. The signature is not for publication unless desired—and we shall take it that it is so desired if no. nom-de-plume likewise accompanies the letter—but as evidence of bona fides.

Letters should riot exceed 300 words in length, and preference of publication will be accortied short letters}- provided they are deemed of sufficient interest. ..-.;>,

Correspondents should write on one side of the paper only—in ink, and as clearly as possible.

,:• :SMALL' FAEMS

To the Editor

Slß,—lf you will allow ;me space I would like to congratulate Mr Roy Ellis on his speaking so well of what he expects the unemployed to do on then?.small, farms. .'>>.:.

A few,months.ago the disparaging way;he ; spoke .of these men-is -very different to what he is telling us "today. -He now speaks of these unemployed as making model farms of their, few acres, and .showing farmers like^himself many lessons in farming. He also speaks of the miserable>existence ; on relief work, which is also, to the good, : and really the whole tone of his letter to the Herald was.much more tolerant of that poor unfprtunate class whom I now feel sure we would all like to assist. I also agree with him that' the 4A scheme is a menace, or .the.f^buse of i,t\is a T menace.. ■~ . ■ ■ ;;

:.gQ r far asthe 10-acre scheme goes to kelp us: to solve the unemployed problem I am.afraid it is not going to, take us,f ar. The department con - sjder it .will cost .them■.£2so,.,peit Settier'J toMget'" th'ein v •■established; ■HMej -are;. -I believe,;setting aside £1,000,000-"toward, the scheme, and at that .rate if they ■ spend it all' Ml settle'4;'ooO unemployed out of a total to-day of over 67,000.' Another cut in: wages will add over another 4,000 to ths unemployed and so the' game goes on. It is a fact that after every cut in- wages the unemployed figures..: have jumped up rapidly. Perhaps those unemployed "on the farms will also be able to teach Mr Ellis something of economics as well as farming. The cry now' going up frormthe producers is for raising the price levels, and T want some producer ;to . tell me how this is to be done.: otherwise than raising the purchasing- power of the consumer. Keep cm decreasing the spending power of the consumer and our difficulties "increase.; go into reverse gear and increase the spending powery and surely the result is obvious to every one. . ••>••'■ •' Perhaps some of , those bright young-Tories who want a blank cheque to govern this fair land will show where' these doctrines are wrong..l ■'. •■ '■"" ' "'■'" i Hoping I have not- taken?'up too much space.—-I am, etc., -• ■' ■' ..."-?■•:.■• J." G. . Babclatl»'■-