THE ELECTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23634, 8 October 1938, Page 18

THE ELECTIONS

To The Editor.

Sir, —In answer to all the Nationalist letters H your paper, the Labour Government has done more for the people than any other Government, and if any of the unemployed vote for the National candidate they deserve all they will get if the Nationalists go back. They should remember Mr Hamilton when he was Minister of Unemployment when the wives of the unemployed took their undernourished children to him. During all this time there was more food in the country than the people could eat. They also remember that the Nationalists will rob the old-age pensioners of 7/6, the widows of 5/-, and . will .cancel all the other good things that the country will get for an extra fourpence in the pound. They should consider all the schools this Government has built and the improvements it has , made to others. lam quite aware that overseas’ prices were improving when this Government came into office, but if the other Government had been in power, we, the people who mean most to any country, would not have noticed the difference. Those that had plenty would have had more—that’s all. Mr Savage and his Government have been the Saviour of the people of New Zealand by trying their best to give the people work and happier times. —Yours, etc.,

THANKFUL LABOUR SUPPORTER. October 7, 1938.

To The Editor.

Sir,—My husband is one of the “selfish creatures” spoken of so contemptuously by a Minister of the Crown, though “selfless” would in my estimation be a more fitting description. I cannot say I feel goaded by the accusation and my only feeling is that of pity for the man who uttered it. My husband and myself have since early youth earned our living honestly. I started life at the age of 14 years when left to mother my six brothers and sisters. I have no “vested interests” and have looked at all sides of this argument with an unbiased mind. I have come to the firm conclusion that New Zealand can come to no real and lasting good under a Government that believes in socialism. Some time ago we used to hear a lot about the intelligent use of public credit. Is this an example of it—this onslaught of Cabinet Ministers? Could not these workers whose money they are spending have found better use for it? If their policy is so good, there is no need to ram it down our throats. We are an intelligent people, and shotild know good when we see it. Mr Semple talks of doing things “regardless of expense.” “Regardless of taxation” would be the better term. Can we, individually, say we will do things—no matter how necessary—regardless of expense ? If we cannot do it individually can we afford to do so collectively? I would ask every socialist who, like one of your writers in Monday’s paper, thinks Mr Savage is bringing the “Kingdom of God” to earth, to ask himself this question: Does it make you love your neighbour any better to be getting the same salary as he is ? Does it make you turn

the other cheek, when he does you a dirty one? We hear a lot about the Christianity of taking the rich mans money. It is so evil to have money so Un-Christian, but are the poor Christians, because they have little money? If we expect Christianity from the rich man—or even from a man with a business: he may not necessarily be rich—should we not expect the same from the working man? ’ What of our records of strikes t What of the' miners who down tools and do not care if their employers mine floods with water? What, I ask you, of the Christian spirit shown by the waterside workers who let the producers’ produce rot on the wharves while they wrangle for more pay, regardless of what the industry can pay ? These men are assisted by union secretaries, and certainly they do show a very Christian spirit . and . should be nice sociable people in this “Kingdom of God on earth” that one. of your correspondents looks forward_ to. It will indeed be a wonderful kingdom presided over by Mr Semple and those of his kind. Mr Semple, I believe, is “not afraid to put the boot in.” We can certainly expect love, peace, harmony and forgiveness: “Scrim” on Sundays will.be able to tell us of all the “unmitigated liars” he meets during the week. Our judges of the Court, if they follow their Prime Minister’s example, will be able to pronounce in melting tones: “Of course our prisoner has not been abiding by the law, but after all his conduct is very human and I cannot convict the prisoner because he is a personal friend of mine.” It should all be very nice,' but some of us might prefer other quarters. The Hon. Mr Langstone (Minister of Lands) evidently considers no one has a right to the title deeds of land except the State, for what reason I cannot tell except, I suppose, that God made the land and therefore no one can own it. If a man cannot hold the 'title deeds of land, has he any right to hold the title deeds of a house, which is built on God’s earth? The bricks and wood also came from the earth. Houses, like land, are fashioned by man’s hand and in no way is there any difference. I will say this, that if we do not own New Zealand individually then we do not own it collectively. What would the position be if socialism was applied internationally? If it is-right internally it is also right internationally. Are nations of people, who do not recognize the individual rights of persons, likely to respect the rights of individual nations ? Have not poorer nations of the earth the right to demand portions of their richer neighbours? Would this bring peace to New Zealand? If so, then, let the Japanese, the Germans and all who have less than we have come along and Mr Savage will provide for them under . the universal superannuation scheme.—Yours, etc., COMMON SENSE. October 7, 1938. / To The Editor Sir, —As an earnest seeker after the real truth regarding political affairs, which are of such momentous importance to every thinking man and woman at the present time, I would very much like to know why Mr Savage is going to allow every single person to have £2 10/- a week, which will enable two to live together having £5 a week, while respectably married people are only to be allowed to have £4 a week? Surely this is a step that will lead to a great decrease in marriages? Or is the dictatorship at which the present Government seems to be aiming going to prohibit any two single people from sharing a home? I read in a report of one of Mr Savage’s speeches a while back that he expects to draw this old age pension himself, and he is single, which may account for those that dodge the responsibilities of married life being favoured. Second, I wonder if you, or anyone through your columns, could give information as to how many of the men who are at present members of Parliament were successful business men in the line of life each had chosen before entering Parliament? Or how many took on that job because it .would give them.easily more money than they had been capable of earning? It seems to me that a country needs the most successful business men that can possibly be induced to take on the job of guiding, that country to success, instead of those who are filled with envy and malice for all who have used their brains and energies to bring their efforts to a successful issue.—Yours, etc., INTERESTED. October 7, 1938.

To The Editor

Sir, —The political views of the Hon. Adam Hamilton have produced for him, from one of his political opponents, the designation of “The man with the umbrella,” but after having studied the policy of the Prime Minister and listened to his speeches I am inclined to think that the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage is worthy of the of “The man with the fly hook.” The policy which he advocates and the manner in which it is put forward reminds me very much of a fly hook. It is beautifully “dressed” and made very attractive and alluring. It is \ skilfully “cast” and if greedily “swallowed” seriously endangers liberty.—Yours, etc., NOT NIBBLING. October 5, 1938. v