POINTS OF VIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3813, 25 September 1936, Page 7

POINTS OF VIEW

OPINIONS OF OUR READERS. MENTAL ASYLUM. Sir, —Mr Doidge wants to know of a sillier thing than Mr Savage’s policy in regard to the Reserve Bank. Certainly we do know of a more stupid policy—that in this country, where there is plenty for all, both land and food; where there is work waiting to be done for the good of the community and plenty of men to do it; that all these things, both goods and works, should not be brought to the people who want them. In the past they were divorced from one another, but now Mr Savage and party are endeavouring to bring about employment, for all able-bodied men, so that they can consume the goods and food they need and produce. Mr Doidge was. evidently quite content with tlie unemployment d> our citizens, the want and poverty of our women and children. He is deeply distressed that these things are to be changed. Ho would, no doubt, prefer to have the people humbly asking for a mere sustenance to keep them just existing. Then Mr Doidge and the Beaverurook Press could cast their net around them of camouflage and lies and dragoon them into war. What for? Well, we have been living in a mental asylum in regard to the causes of war, but now our people are waking up. New Zealand is a small country, but she may yet lead the world in social reforms. There was another small place, a tiny spot called “Nazareth," and what came out of Nazareth shook the world: Great social reforms, entirely upsetting all preconceived ideas and policies. We have been living in a mad world based upon dishonesty and greed, but we are coming out of our mental asylum. —I am, etc., EX-INMATE. WHAT MAKES A GREAT PEOPLE. Sir.-—John Bright is credited with saying: “I believe there is no permanent greatness to a nation except it be based on morality. I do not care for military greatness or military renown. I care for the condition of the people among whom I live. There is no man in England who is less likely to speak irreverently of the Crown and Monarchy than I am; but crowns, coronets, mitres, military display, the pomp of war, are all trifles not worth considering unless with them you ha Vo a fair share of comfort, contentment and happiness among the great body of the people. Palaces, baronial castles, great halls, stately mansions, do not make a nation. The nation in every country dwells in the cottages, and unless the light of your constitution can shine there, unless the beauty of your legislation and the excellence of your statesmanship are impressed there, on the feelings and conditions of the people, rely upon it, you have yet to learn the duties of government.” These words of this great statesman are. worth recording, for they never grow old.—l iam, etc., WORKER. BROADCASTING FIASCO. Sir, —The Prime Minister has now announced the appointment of Professor Shelley to the position of Director of Broadcasting. This is just another instance of bad judgment, by an Administration that has already shown, by its dogmatism, that “Those who pay have no say.” In his application Professor Shelley states “I am prepared to give my life to the work.” This statement makes one think, when his age of fifty-two is considered. It is easy to prognosticate that the present putrid programmes will degenerate' into a fiasco comprising, dull lectures, morbid music and so called educational broadcasts. It is for the listeners to decide the type of programmes to be given, and in this modern age a virile man of thirty is the only solution when choosing a Director of Broadcasting. We hear a lot about culture and education; those who require such can get all they want from books, but those who buy Radios for entertainment purposes are entitled to decent programmes in return for the money they spend.—l am, etc., CONDENSER. WORK FOR THE IDLE. Sir, —Some months ago I remember the head of New Zealand’s Unemployment Board saying that until some new industries were established there would never be less than from 30,000 to 40,000 male workers requiring some assistance through loss of employment. Away back in 1926 it was contended there were 11,000 unempldyed in New Zealand. Our Labour Government have been doing their utmost for some nine months, and it is doubtful if they have reduced the figures for unemployed and sustenance. Last year we imported something like £500,000 worth of woollen goods into New Zealand, and it is stated our woollen mills are employing less hands than they did in 1928-29. It is hardly likely that a forty-hour week will promote further production. It has already been responsible for a steep increase in nrices for woollen goods produced locally, which means the importer will get busy in the Australian and English markets and possibly have an eye on the worst market of all from the commonsense viewpoint—Japan. Is it not time the Labour Government fulfilled their promise to prevent the importation of cheap Japanese goods?—l am, etc., CONCERNED.

got off scot free. Santa Claus truly has been very generous. Before the election the Labour leaders declared further taxation was obt of the question; but to-day rising costs in every direction bring it forcibly home to the consumer that Coates-Forbes and Co.’s policy of yearly adding to the people’s taxation burdens has once again been relentlessly carried out. Taxation of over £9 13s per head, plus municipal and hospital levies will not assist in the direction of “filling the cradles,” and this is the gravest problem New Zealand and the rest of the Empire will be compelled to face in the very near future.—l am, etc., POOR OLD JOE. THE TOWN CLOCK. Sir, —You hit the nail on the bead in last Monday’s Courier when you said it. would be time to consider where to build the tower when we had some idea what it would Cost and iiow the money is to be found. The police station site will soon be dropped ii a public subscription is opened except it is to be compulsory subscription raised by r. rate. The Council should tell us how they propose to pay for it before announcing where it is to be put. Why has nothing been said about the raising of the funds? Does it mean that the Gifnorspi’s were going to pay for it themselves, and hence were foolish to tell the public about it before they motle their donation? —-I am, etc., X. Y. Z. TUNG OIL. Sir, —Some four or five years ago an industry which promised big success was started in the poor lands of the Far North. A large area was nlanted in tung oil trees, many thousands of pounds being invested in the ventu'.e. It was soon discovered lhe Winterless North could provide winds which did not assist the growth of trees indiginous to North China; and unfortunately necessary plantation of hardier trees to secure the necessary break to the gales had not been provided. In sheltered valleys, and in areas protected with shelter belts, trees have made good growth and will no doubt thrive excellently. Unfortunately, an exceptional gale has proved that disastrous to the growth of the main plantations that the liquidator has been asked to officiate; which means" there wilt be little benefit accruing to the enterprising shareholders who had such great faith in the venture. —I am, etc., INVESTOR. THE IMAGE OF GOLD. Sir, —The slender thread by which the peace of the world hangs is equalled ny the chain which nolds much of the world’s economic structure together. We are told there is concern in London over the price of gold. The high price of this commodity has been maintained by America continuing to purchase, at the high level of £7 per ounce. This is due to the plank in the New Deal’s Programme to keep the value of gold around this American standard. They have done many extraordinary things in America over recent years—so much’ so that the standard of currency has been aptly termed “the dancing dollar.” In the event of Rooseveldt being defeated at the forthcoming presidential election, which is possible, further extraordinary financial events can happen. If one party can raise the value of gold to unknown heights, another political party can just as readily pull it down. America previously thought that by controlling gold, and placing a high tariff Wall around her borders, she could control the economic position of the world, thereby transferring the centre of commercial gravity from London to New York. This was prior to the Wall Street crash in 1928. Her present attempt to keep gold values to dizzy heights cannot be maintained for all time, in which case the British Empire must suffer, for the sufficient reason that it is that Empire from which the bulk of the gold is produced. It is a topsy-turvey world, and anything can speedily happen these eventful days.—l am, etc. STERLING.

INEQUITABLE TAXATION

Sir, —When the Savage Government was elected they were considered to be something different to their predecessors. But they appear to have trod the same well-worn road as the old brigade. An estimated rise of £1,000,000 in customs, £440,00'0 in sales tax, £840,000 in land tax, £l,500,000 in income tax, £300,000 in unemployment tax, makes it appear as though no class in the community has