LABOUR’S POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1932, Page 2

LABOUR’S POLICY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Re your leading article in today’s issue, you state therein that the Labour members know quite well that no one need starve in this country. Well, my opinion is that if no one. is starving there are many thousands on very short rations at the present time, and there are many people who are of that opinion, and anyone who takes the trouble to read the various papers in the public library will soon find out tha-t public opinion and feeling is not all on one side, like your article. Right here, at your door in New Plymouth I can introduce you to foremen of unemployment works who maintain that a number of men on the relief works are unable to stand a full day’s hard' work because they are not properly fed, and I can also introduce you to many workers who will tell you that some of the men on the various jobs are unable to provide themselves with sufficient food, therefore unable to keep pace with their better-fed fellowworkmen. When the workmen out on the jobs are on short rations .1 am wondering how the family cupboards are getting along. These are facts vvhich few men wish to advertise, therefore they remain silent and bear the pain and worry of short rations for themselves and families. If no one is starving thousands are on the verge of it, despite the fact that we have had a series of most bountiful seasons as regards foodstuffs. Food in plenty everywhere, even the ocean is overstocked with fish, yet 1 people must go hungry -because they have not the money to purchase the goods, I venture to state that if it were not for the generosity of the majority of shopkeepers, butchers, bakers, etc., a great number of people would be starving, if some are not already doing

You also state that if the Labour Party would, be content to have everyone merely housed, clothed and fed there would be little difficulty in overcoming the present troubles, T feel confident, that, if everyone -was properly housed,

clothed and fed little complaint would be forthcoming from the Laboui laity or anyone else at the present time. However, a tremendous number of people are not properly housed, clothed and fed, which fact reveals that such people aie not able to procure for themselves a plain animal-like existence. I say am-mal-like existence because a cat, dog, horse or cow is generally housed, clothed and fed; also allowed some play in its own respective manner. If t,ie denial of all things in life over and above housing, clothing and food is going to enable the country to overcome its present troubles, X feel sure that the whole population would willingly responc o an appeal from the Government to lead an animal-like life for a period sufficlent to mend matters; that is, piovi • « housing, clothing and food are made available to all. . You state that the man who calls a spade a spade regards anything in lite over and l above housing, clothing and food as extravagant living. (Such a man should be given a spade, then pu. island by himself.) My answer to that is that it is unfortunate for all that we were born human bein.gr> instead of animals. What a sad message to put to the rising generation, i.e., on P in life is to sleep, work, and e you can get it, but anything m the foini of luxuries are strictly forbidden, because such item is extravagant living. Tn colonial terms, "lead the i e o a working bullock, or a plough horse. Active members of the Labour laity are not the only folk who consider that many people are on the border-line o absolute starvation. For instance, Mr. Furniss, president of the Waikato I aimers’ Union, at the annual conference of the union, in referring to the Auckland riot, stated that “the latest outcome of the economic situation has been foreseen for many months, and while there is starvation and unemployment everywhere on the one hand and food in abundance on the other in the , same country, that country cannot claim to be civilised.” Then the Rev. Gosnel. of New Plymouth, stated recently that some unemployed, men had to work on bread and dripping. That is surely very close to starvation considering the fact that w.e live in a land of plenty and beef has not been as cheap as it is nt present for 40 years at least. I also note that the Salvation Army in New Plymouth have a number of girls who are out of employment, and some of them are desatute. Just fancy, destitute gjrls ln a country like this! I um afra.id to let loose my pen to write any further comments' on such subject. Abundance is a natural l aw of the universe. The evidence of this law is conclusive; we see it on every hand. Everywhere Nature is lavish, wasteful, extravagant; nowhere is economy observed in any created thing. Profusion is manifested in everything. The millions and millions of trees, flowers, plants, animals, etc., and the vast scheme of reproduction, where the process of creating and recreating is for ever going on, all indicates the lavishness with which Nature has made provision for man. That there is abundance for everyone is evident, but that many fail to participate in this abundance is also evident. Now, why do many fail to participate in this abundance? I suppose some can blame their own stupidity, but it appears to me as though in New Zealand’s position at the present time the fault lies chiefly at the doorstep of our administrators, who appear to be absolutely incapable of handling the affairs of the country whereby all inhabitants will have opportunity of participating in Nature’s lavish provision for man.—l am, etc.

SPEED THE PLOUGH. April 19, 1932.