Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 6

Public Opinion

THE CAUSE OF WAR Sir, —You make the statement in your sub-leader, in to-day’s ‘‘Chronicle” entitled “Women’s Part in World Affairs” that if a mother’s true feelings were allowed the liberty they so often deserve there would be few wars. That no doubt is very true but, nevertheless, tnc responsibility for war rests, not with the Germans, Italians, Japanese or any other nations sub, sir, with the mothers and fathers of our own country. It rests with you and 1 and all of us who are voter.*, in this democracy of ours. This responsibility is ours because we. allow our selves to be fooled by politicians, ami others, who lead uh. into many various discussions on methods instead of exerting our right to demand results irrespective of what method these results are obtained. The caui-e of war is poverty and the fear uf poverty. It is this fear ot poverty that dogs and haunts practically all of us from the. cradle to the grave. We often lower ourselves to commit actions that are mean and underhanded so that we may, perhays, make our own position a little more secure. This c-anre urge drives us to produce goods and export them to other countries without obtaining anything tangible in return for them. This is parodoxically called a “favourable balance of trade.’’ We thus deplete the purchasing power of the other country >md expand that of our own. Of continuance of such methods results in desperate economic strife which ir easily fanned into armed conflict. Heme our present mad armament race. Poverty in a country such as this is a crime in the face ol' God who has bountifully supplied us with the means to provide an abundance of the real things ol liL'c for every man, woman aid child in this fair land of oun?. A me.ms of distributing this bounty caa and must be found. This is the job that, we must insist receives the immediate attention of our I’arliamvntaiy representatives before anything clrc. This is the job that every ■"union's organisation can and must do if th.} do not want their son’s blood upon their hands again. Tney must insist that poverty l> • abolished by any means that will not increase the national debt. That "ill not increase taxation and that "ill nut destroy or disturb pquitie>. In short, they must not allow them-.-■elves to be. side tracked intu any discussion of method, however rosy it may appear, but they must demand th' l immediate attention of their elected servants in Parliament tu obtaining these results. Women can get what they want if they will hut act. The time for action is right here and now. G. J. BI.Lr.INGHUR.ST. P.S. The R.S.A. and other men’s organisations ehould also sit up and take notice.