VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1935, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS SCHEME FOR GUARANTEED PRICES, THE POSITION SUMMARISED. (To the Editor.) Sir,—The various (and they are various) explanations of the Labour Socialist schemes' for guaranteeing the export prices of wool, meat and butter are; ih-j teresting even though conflicting. (They all agree on one point—that the guarani teed price will be above the market price, but the different speakers disagree as to how this loss is to be made UP«/ So far there are three different methods put forward: — ’ ' ‘~ ' (1) The loss Will be recouped -by “creating currency," or “manufacturing the money.” This is clearly inflation, and owing to the basis on ■ which this currency is to be issued it would quickly depreciate in purchasing -power? (2) Another solution, Mr. Langstone’s, is to load the imports with the loss. By this means the farmer eventually repays whatever help he has. had from the ■ guarantee “which,” said Mr. Langstone, “is surely a fair deal.”' It may be fair, but it leaves the farmer “as you were.” .. (3) Some candidates are candid enough to admit the truth and say the loss must be paid by the people of the Dominion out of taxation. Bv ’ to make this appear reasonable they argue that the farmers’ prosperity is essential to everyone, therefore we must all contribute in order to give the fanner the high prices upon .which our own prosperity depends. In other words, we must pay ourselves with our own money to become richer. We should be trying to lift ourselves dub of a hole by our own bootlaces.—We are, etc., N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE. Wellington, August 16. ADDRESS ON POPULATION. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l trust that I may be allowed the opportunity of correcting certain statements appearing in the report of my address on population given ( at the Round Table Club. (1) The chart I prepared showed that the world population had increased from 600 millions in 1800 to 2000 millions in 1929, and not that’tire increase had been 4000 millions in that period. (2) The population of the [United Spates increased from 5,308,000 in 1810 to 105,711,000 ih 1920 and not to 105,711. (3) As far as the normal child is concerned I think it is necessary to show the following: That if the rate of growth In a child’s first five months of life continued, then by the time it was six years’ old it would weigh over 50 tons and not 50 pounds, as shown in your report. Onequarter of the children in India certainly do not die every 12 months, but onequarter .of all children bom die withixi 12 months of birth.—l am, etc., W. G. WATTS? New. Plymouth, August 16.