IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23987, 30 November 1939, Page 7

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

To The Editor Sir—One cannot help being impressed with the pride the Labour leaders are showing in the centennial of their adopted country. One would think it had all been accomplished in the last four years. What a different country New Zealand would be at this time if Labour had been in power during the 100 years. What with the 40-hour week with penalties if people worked overtime, and the party’s intense dislike of borrowing, the state of the country can well be imagined. There would have been no public works, because the Labour Party would never condescend to borrowing, and with no exports to tax where would the money come from? Perhaps it would just have turned up. The people of New Zealand should certainly be thankful that they have enjoyed 96 years without socialist rule. Mr Denham says the war has made the present import restrictions necessary. Is his memory so short that he does not remember the extra prosperity during the last war? Increased production brought increased imports, and it would be the same today if the London funds had not been exhausted by extravagant, unnecessary expenditure. No, the Government and not the war is solely responsible for the serious condition in which we find ourselves today.—Yours, etc., NEW ZEALANDER. November 29, 1939..