Citizens Say —

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 509, 12 November 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

A FISH STORY?

Sir, —* You know the public of Auckland is treated to a lot of innocent humour from the newspapers. Speaking of this many-mouthed stranger from the deep, I see that one newspaper says it has three mouths and The Sun says four. How, sir, have you folks “said a mouthful” too many or the other fellows a mouthful too few'? Odsfish! I have heard many fish stories in my 80-odd years, but this one takes beating. _ J. GALE. THREE POLITICIANS Sir, In reply to your correspondent, “Old Liberal,” let me point out to him that unemployment was with us to as great an extent if not greater before the Arbitration Court or preference to unionists were thought of. So one can conclude that the evil is deeper rooted and that the remedy proferred by “Old Liberal” is not the panacea! It is w’ith diffidence that I broach a comparison of the greatest and truest Liberal that has guided the destiny of New Zealand, for far be it from me to dim in any way the prestige and honour due to any. The three great men that have ad** orned politics in our age are Mr. R. J. Seddon, Mr. W. F. Massey, and Sir Joseph Ward. Seddon was a great humanitarian, and the greatest leader. Massey was a great leader and the greatest politician. But when the prejudice of battle dies with us and the accomplishments of men stand silhouetted for the future generations, the Muse of History dipping her pen will write in the blue above the name of our ablest and greatest statesman, “Ward.” W.J.A. “LIARS IN POLITICS” Sir. — Tour col-respondent, “Printer.'’ suggests., that Mr. J. A. Lee was not speaking truthfully when levelling a criticism at the Reform Government for having granted a rebate of duty to tire newspaper “Dominion’’ on machinery imported from America, at his Parnell meeting on Wednesday night. Assuming an intimate knowledge of the affairs of the “Dominion.” and In an endeavour to defend its patriotism, “Printer” goes to many pains to assert that all the “Dominion’s” machinery hears the imprint of the British manufacturer. In doing this “Printer” meets with a head-on collision with the Comptroller of Customs, who in answer to an inquiry by the Hon. A. D. McLeod as to what other newspaper firms besides the

“Dominion” have had rebates of duty on imported foreign machines, replied that rebates had been granted to the proprietors of the “Daily News,” Carterton, “Evening Post,” Wellington, Waipukurau “Press,” Hutt Valley “Independent,” and Ferguson and Osborn, printers, Wellington. Surely this is “Printer’s” answer and Mr. Lee’s vindication. The question is: Can these machines be procured in Great Britain? The answer is “Yes”—but at a greater price. So much for patriotism. If the machines were not procurable in Great Britain, then it ’would be obvious that no protective tariff would be necessary, and any tariff would be placed there for revenue purposes. Has the Government given rebates of revenue, or has it assisted in giving preference to foreign machinery? GAVIN C. STOVE. 9/11/28. GENERAL ELECTION Sir,— After the hall is over After the dance is done. May I suggest the following will be the result: Reform. Labour. United. 44 24 18 How about no-confidence then? Who will twist? But this may be the result: —Reform 44, Labour 22, United 14—which would mean “as you were.” A NEW TUNE. MR. LEE AND HIS CHARGES Sir. — Mr. Lee admits he was wrong in stating at his meeting in the Parnell Library that the Minister of Customs had remitted duty amounting to £9OO on a printing press for the Reform newspaper, “The Dominion.” He has now discovered that it was type-set-ting machinery, and pleads ignorance of the technical details of printing Most persons will concede that when a Parliamentary candidate levels what amounts to a serious charge of cor ruption against a Minister, he ought to go to the trouble to get the facts right. Mow. what are the facts? Type setting machinery was first used in New Zealand about 1896. For thirty years it had been coming in free of duty, irrespective of the country of origin. The only two machines of importance are the linotype and the intertype. the former being made in England as well as in the United States American type-setting machines are chiefly used in New Zealand for the same reason that we buy American motor-cars: it is not a question of patriotism, but one of the performance of the machine. When the Govern(Continued in Next Column)

ment, without warning, clapped a ter per cent, duty last year on the Ameri e.an machine, various firms and newpapers had machines on order. On representations being made to the Government that it was hardly fair to saddle those purchasers with the duty on machines which they had ordered, never dreaming that the tariff would be altered, the Minister exercised powers conferred on him by Parliament and remitted the duty. If Parliament did not intend the Minister to exercise discretion in such matters, it should never have given him authority to do so. It was not a case of corruption, but one of justice, and the circumstance that one of the papers to benefit was a Reform supporter has little or no bearing on the raattor Still any stick is good enough to beat a dog with. A politician with decent and gentlemanly instincts would scorn to descend to such methods. They appear to be popular among Mr. Lees constituents, and they may be successful. But it is hard to see how a party which can only get into office by calumniating and traducing its opponents is going to do much good for the country. PRINTER. NATIONAL HEALTH Sir, —- I heartily agree with your statement in Saturday’s leader that the question of national health should be the concern of all, and not only of the sick and incapacitated: but I must differ from you when you say that “none of our politicians has shown a marked or intelligent interest in this most important matter.” A perusal of Labour’s platform, which every one of thai party’p candidates is pledged to support, will show that national health is considered to be of primary importance. Daily and nightly, Labour candidates are elucidating the fact that free medical, dental, and maternity treatment will be provided by Labour in power. The electors may be certain that nothing that can ensure for this country a healthy population will left undone when Labour sets to work. Believing firmly in the dictum that prevention is better than cure, Labour proposes to give its attention not only to sickness and incapacity, but to the chief cause of disease—neglect and malnutrition, the result of unemployment and bad living conditions. A recent report from the Hospital Boarc stated that the number of cases of illness in our local hospital due to lack of sufficient nourishment had been greatly augmented during the present state of depression. As is well known, this matter is one of the chief concerns of Labour candidates, and it can safely be left in their hands. VERB. SAP. ELECTIONEERING PAMPHLETS Sir. I have just received a leaflet distributed by Mr. Alexander Harris, Government candidate for Waitemata, concerning a speech delivered by that gentleman in the House of Representatives when the harbour bridge proposal was being discussed. Now. i notice that this pamphlet was prints last month by the Government Printer* and that 5,000 copies were P nn rr Can anyone enlighten me as to whether members enjoy the privilege o* having their propaganda printed by ® Government free of charge? If ® this not exceedingly unjust? yvcj should the taxpayer be called n pay a sitting member’s printing ' penses, while his opponent finds sueexpenses out of his own pocket" ELECTOR When approached by The Sun* Harris stated that the pamphlets ** not printed free of charge, and nei n in his possession a receipt for £- ***■ * the cost of printing. The ®° ve £Pf? ' o f Printing Office, like any other this kind, will print what is paid 1 Ed., The Sun. POLLING BOOTH CLERKS Notwithstanding a recent •eyewash statement, many Government clemployees have been engaged to * as poll clerks on election day, of whom may or may not have atta their majority. At this time of unemployment, when returned soi - with impaired health and bob «, eD limbs are searching for work, men are haunting the labour exchange it is scandalous that the eligible among the unemployed should been passed over. As lam no “U sell one of the workless, and as i not at this or any previous g sought the duties of a poll cl is not a case of sour grapes. _ o# electoral officers personally r sible, or is the Government? The , should be known, and a gross i ice removed immediately. ARTHUR O'iJALLOR* I*- 1 *- Devonport. When this letter was refeiT®d *° 8 returning officer for one of tne wa s torates, he denied that Pf®*®** shown to Government employees- * ever possible, preference was eS s*rf outside applicants, but it Tlo sitk® s that they should be capable to i as polling clerks. Personally. returned soldiers as many oi th a * tions as possible. Ho P°‘ nt *~ .. ippli** the majority of the men who 13 workrefused definitely to accept . yy u»* Most of the applicants were suitable.—Ed., The Sun.