SOME FURTHER OBSERVANCES.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19272, 2 June 1934, Page 7

SOME FURTHER OBSERVANCES.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —We are told by Mr Abel, of Wellington, that Australia has thrown off the “depression,” and all that New Zealand requires to do the same is more “confidence’' and a loofeening of the purse-strings. In the cities the unemployed are to receive free milk during the winter months—from 7 to 23 pints per family per week —a disgraceful allowance! Is there a shortage of milk? Mr Coates is bent on a quota, as there is too much, when the unemployed allowance should be at least quadrupled. Then we have the Hon. J. A. Young advising people to eat more cheese, but not a word as to where they are to get the money to buy cheese. It is idle for the Minister to venture “a thought about the possibilities of the local market” under existing conditions. We all know there is room for a very large expansion of the internal market; all that is lacking is money ; —a costless, creation.- The Minister is "strangely silent on this aspect of the question.

The reported speech of the Hon. G. W. Forbes at the opening of the Show contains a reference to the wonderful progress of Waikato, etc. Truly, remarkable progress has been made, when .one reflects that 70 years ago Waikato was debt free. To-day it is hopelessly bankrupt; o.ur debts grow daily. Waikato is literally bursting with real wealth —food, ■nothing, etc. On the other hand, your Issue of the 29th contains a pitiful appeal to Prime Minister Forbes for the necessities of life by unemployed women. The reply of Mr Forbes to the ladies betrays ignorance of the problem confronting New Zealand. Our leaders cannot conceive anything but more taxation. They worship money, which is really only the shadow oL' real wealth—food, clothing, etc. Money in itself is valueless; if one were marooned on a desert island with a sackful of £1 notes or sovereigns one would soon leave this troubled world. A sackful of bully beef and biscuits —“real wealth" — would sustain life for a period under the same conditions.—l am, etc., R. G. YOUNG. Gordonton,-May 30, 1934.