A COMPLAINT.

Southland Times, Issue 21577, 15 December 1931, Page 3

A COMPLAINT.

To the Editor. Sir, —I was much astonished, and also dismayed, to read in your issue of this morning Mr Coates’s appeal to the citizens of Invercargill. For some months past we have had what practically amounted to a Coalition Government and facts and figures relating to unemployment must have been at their service. Also it was anticipated that the Coalition Party would come back to Parliament with a big majority over Labour. Surely, then, the leaders of the Coalition should have had, cut and dried, a programme for dealing with unemployment, or, at all events, for providing temporary jobs until some permanent programme could be put in force. Furthermore, Mr Coates announced that

it would not be necessary to increase the levy on wages from 3d to 5d as sufficient funds were in hand. Now, the Government says that it is going to be a black Christmas for numbers of worthy people unless private citizens shoulder the burden that the Government was elected to bear. Surely this is inefficiency rampant. But you may ask:—“Have you, the critic, a cure for unemployment ?” Tlic answer is, “No”; but then I did not ask my fellow citizens to put me in power on the score that I could tackle the problem. —I am, etc., A COALITION SUPPORTER.

[The appeal is for something more than the Government is able to give to ensure a better Christmas in these homes. —Ed. S.T.]