POINTS OF VIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3823, 19 October 1936, Page 5

POINTS OF VIEW

OPINIONS OF OUR READERS. ST. JOHN AMBULANCE. Sil, —May I be privileged to utilise a little of your valuable space to explain one or two points In connection with the present St. John Ambulance 'campaign for funds for the purpose of erecting a central ambulance station for the Waikato district. A great many people in the district seem to be under the impression that this station is being erected for the benefit of Hamilton, but this is not correct. The station is to serve the whole district, and the erection of the building in Hamilton is made necessary by the central position of that town and the proximity of the Waikato Hospital. Actually, the townspeople of Hamilton utilise the present inadequate ambulance service very little, as it is a comparatively simple matter to engage a taxi to convey a sick person the short distance to the hospital over good roads. It is only in cases of very serious accident or illness that the ambulance is utilised. On the other hand sick and injured people from the country have to travel long distances very often over rough roads and it is essential that they should have the best of transport. The second erroneous impression which I would like to correct is that all the ambulances in the district will be kept at the central station. It is true that the main service will be operated from the central station, but it is intended to station ambulances in other centres as funds permit, the ultimate plan being to conduct the service on much the same lines as a modern taxi service. As soon as a call is received the nearest ambulance will be sent, and if that ambulance is already responding to a call an ambulance will be sent from one of the other stations. In order to carry out a service on these lines a central depot must first be established, hence this campaign. In conclusion, may I point out to your readers that the members of the brigade are rendering a voluntary service, the only member out of 533 in the district who is receiving any remuneration is the driver in charge ol the vehicles, who is working on a day and night job at a very small wage. All additional drivers are voluntary. May I also state that I am personally not connected with either the St. John Ambulance Association or the uniformed brigade, but have offered my services to the Association because I am one of the many who think that, in a progressive district such as ours, it is high time we provided ourselves with an up-to-date means of transport for our sick and injured.—l am, etc., C. G. HUNT, Hon. Organiser St. John Ambulance Association. NOISY MOTOR CYCLES. Sir, —I was interested in your announcement that the old Te Awamutu Motor Cycle Club has been reestablished. I hope one of the first endeavours will be to require members to stop making those ghastly noises with their machines. It is senseless and unnecessary, as the old Club executive readily admitted when the subject was discussed in your columns at the time. I wonder that the proper authorities—either the police or the traffic inspectors have not prosecuted offenders. Perhaps each leaves the job to the other! Or is it that they have no power of prosecution? I would like to know, for if they neglect a public duty such as this it is time they were told about it. — I am, etc., DISGUSTED. IMPORTATION OF JAPANESE GOODS. Sir,—ln answer to “Real Fair Play’s” letter I would like to point out the absurdity of his statement re Japanese goods. I am going to ask “Real Fair Play” to think over the following questions and their consequences: (a) Why is New Zealand listed among the 49 foreign countries that have taken concentrated action against Japanese goods’ (b) What part of the community of Japan has benefited by our importation of their goods in the past? namely, capitalists, (c) What has the pressure shell mentioned in your letter to do with the present day situation of Japan? Obviously nil. I agree that New Zealand must trade with foreign countries at some time or other, but why question (a) has to apply with Japan is all plain talk to those who know Japan’s situation as it is to-day. The great nations of the world are not going to be flung into a conflict for the sake of war, and I ask “Fair Play" whether he would sooner see the Japanese fight their own problems as they are about to do, or is he preferring to give them a hand. I think he would sooner be selling cheap-jack goods and play safe. Anyhow, as no one is willing to help Japan how is her war to be won?

As early at A.D. 1185 Minamoto i’oritomo introduced a military dictatorship into Japan. The Emperor retired into gilded captivity and be came merely a puppet king—much as the King of Italy is to-day. Minamoto Yoritomo assumed the title of “Sei-i--tai-Shogun.” From A.D. 1185 until 1867 Japan had 15 military dictators, when the Emperor once again took rule, and ever since there has existed a party opposed to any form of constitutional government, and demanding supreme powers for the military cast. At the moment that party is dominating in Japan. Its one aim is the construction of a great war machine which can be used to impose the rule of the military, both on the Japanese and on others that come within the orbit of Japan's military schemes. The present Foreign Minister, Arlta, and commander of the fleet, Takahashi, are definitely of this caste. Even though modern Japan is reputed to be a democracy, the War Minister and others holding similar offices are not subject to the will of Parliament, but to the Emperor alone. The War Minister has just demanded the sum of £300,000,000 in one commitment for the building up of the war machine, and Parliament has got to find the money. So that at present, if these officials have their way Japan will simply return to the condition that existed during the feudalism of A.D. 1185-1867. But of course Fascism, or

Stateism, as it is known in Japan, must have money—and plenty ot it, And how is it to be obtained? Let us revert for a moment to the days of the Shoguns, and see how they raised it. They created a suborder known as Daimyo, who were petty dictators, controlling province# who portioned out the lands to Samurai and peasants, who in return provided, when necessary, the armies for Daimyo and Shogun, as well as taxes in kind. In short, every farmer was e. potential soldier; and this order remains the same to-day. Every sob dier and sailor is recruited fronl among the farmers, and where the farmers find as much as 70 per cent oi the whole revenue. But there is a limit to such taxation, and that has beer reached; sc wc now find the Government imposing heavy taxes on industrial workers, who arc at once beginning to object. Meanwhile the conditions among the industrial masses in Japan are fast becoming tragic. Ar. space will not permit I am not going to disclose the table of given by Japanese officials in regard to the wage rate of industrial workers, but the highest wage is stated as 0.34 sen per hour, and the lowest at 0.05 sen, making an average ot 0.12, or 3d per hour for eight hours. The table also states that women workers. are employed to as much as 70.1 per cent of the total. The number of children under 16 years represents 10 per cent of the total persons employed. So where- are the men? In a standing army. Thus we have Britain's re-armament policy. The flooding ot the world with cheap Japanese goods is at the expense of the Japanese masses, and they are paying the price, so I cannot see where “Fair Play’s” recovery scheme comes in. We believe there can be no doubt as to what was in the mind ot a Japanese banker when he stated, with Fascism demanding £300.000*000 from starving men, women and children, it simply meant revolt. We all know that sanctions were applied on Italy Io settle war. Now we have sanctions being applied to force Japan’s issue, as the Japanese have learned that with outside strife they will be no better off. Under a dictatorship Italy moved, but Japan won’t. In the face of the evidence I have stated, and that which room will not permit me to state, I would suggest that we all play our part in keeping Japan from striking overseas by doing as Australia has already done.—l am, etc., N. A. BOYES. Hairini.