CORRESPONDENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18641, 19 December 1928, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR RATTRAY AND THE DOLE. To the Editor. Dear Sir,—ln an interview with the “Star,” Mr A. I. Rattray says: ‘‘The dole is a great curse in England.” I would advise Mr Rattray to look up Chambers’ Twentieth Centurv Dictionary, and he will see that a “ dole ” is “ something given in charity.” The English unemployment insurance, or the “ dole,” as our friend calls it, is benefit derived by contributions by employer, employees, and the State. If Mr Rattray honestly believes what he says, then every lodge member of any order should be given road work in return for sick benefit. Think before you talk, my friend, and save yourself being corrected.—l am, etc., WOODBINE. COMPARISONS ARE ODIOUS. To the Editor. Dear Sir, —Space permitting, I would like to rectify the numerous mistakes that Mr Rattray has made concerning many things in the Old Country. It appears to me that he says he has, in a matter of ten months, certainly glanced at these terrible conditions. Now a mere glance at anything is not enough to convince me that things are so much poorer than they are in New Zealand. A few months ago I read in one of the New Zealand papers an item of particular interest to me. It stated that England had more sheep on the land than this country. Now I would like* to know how it was that Mr Rattray looked at thousands of acres without seeing cattle of any description. In reference to the dole and his statement that all persons receiving such should be replacing roads, was Mr Rattray’s sight so bad that he did not notice that the roads were absolutely perfect, as another New Zealander, who has just arrived from England, says ? - Now we come to Mr Rattray’s opinion of France. Of course, we all can have opinions, but personally I never make a comparison unless I look before I leap. As I have dwelt in France for over four years, with at least six months’ opportunity of studying their civil conditions, I think I can safely say that France is one hundred years behind England. Therefore, according to Mr Rattray, they must be at least two hundred years behind New Zealand. In reference to the statement that England is behind the times, all I can say is “ Wake up, New Zealand,” for we are still following the Old Country and its ideas. I would like to know if Mr Rattray visited any other racecourses in England. I don’t think he could had done so, or he would probably have collapsed. I consider it not sporting of Mr Rattray to choose for his subject more of a public common than a racecourse. I have only one argument against that, which . is: It’s good enough for the King but not for Mr Rattray.—l am, etc., HOMIE AND COLONIAL.