Farmers’ Arithmetic.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19258, 20 December 1930, Page 8

Farmers ’ Arithmetic.

To th« Editor. Dear Sir, —Your correspondent, Mr H. H. Holland, M.P., seems disturbed over a trifle; probably he will reform in the future, leastwise he should try to be more'liberal in his labours. I simply requested the source of his information in reference to the computation of £16,000,000 allegedly estimated by him to represent the fall in values on exported commodities: no more and no less. At the same time, I wish to draw his attention to the economic term “ value,” meaning power in _ exchange, a term often delusive to the uninitiated, and a trap for the unwary. . . I do not claim to be either a statistician or a politician, simply an economist. Furthermore, I do not guess. I like my facts cold and unfrilled ad infinitum. Statements meant to be authoratative should be accompanied by either cold facts or, on the other hand, their equivalent in figures. Mr Holland has not complied, and the public are still waiting for them. My opponent deludes himself in asserting that I am untruthful, probably habit. However, I wish to draw his attention paragraph appearing in the “ Star of November 17 and contained in the context accredited to him. “ Farmers and local bodies had been making reductions in wages, and the hospital boar<U would have to come into line.” Sir, unlike two rightangled triangles, Mr Holland’s statement and mine neither coincide with each sther, nor bear equality in all respects/—l^an^etc.,