SOLDIER’S BROTHER WRITES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5595, 22 March 1943, Page 3

SOLDIER’S BROTHER WRITES

Sir, —I sympathise with your correspondent “Lest they Forget” in his indignant outcry against the “Squealers.” There are, however, a few points he has overlooked. I, too, have comrades and schoolmates who have fought and died in this war, others are prisoners fretting and starving in Germany and Italy. An accident some years ago robbed me of all chance of going overseas, so I left a £5 10s per week job to manage a farm and release another man. To-day his address in Stalag XIIIA, and I have joined the ranks of the “squalers.” That 15 per cent would mean only £5 to me, and while I could do a lot with it, the monetary loss does annoy me like the principle behind that loss. Both living and farming costs have risen more than 15 per cent. The farmer is the only class (pensioners, etc., excepted) who is living on a prewar income; all others have been able to increase their wages or charges as costs have risen. The British Government gave the woolgrower that 15 per cent to compensate him in some measure. Qur bright, <*x-conscientious objector Government jpromptly decided it would cause inflation to hand it on. They conveniently forgot all the rises and bonuses that the wage-earn-ers have had. “Lest they Forget” must have been away at the time, but he has surely noted the difference in wages since his departure and return. I do not disregard the threat of inflation. I know that it is very real, very dangerous and is with us now, but why pick on the woolgrower first? “Lest they Forget” should know that the purchasing of war bonds and the like, will not give us so much as one extra bullet to fight with, only the cutting out of luxuries and increased physical effort will do that. By all means give that 15 per cent to servicemen’s orphans for education. The wool grower started the Flock House after the'last tvar and would, I believe, do it again this time.—l am, etc., SOLDIER’S BROTHER.