PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20125, 22 February 1937, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guaranlee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

DAIRY PRODUCTION

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I agree with you that the latest trade returns show how well the productive capacity of the country has been maintained, but on examining the figures in detail there are one or two aspects of the dairy industry that I think should have close attention. The outstanding thing, to my mind, was the drop of nearly 70.000 cwt. in exports of cheese. This is an item not likely to be affected to any serious extent by weather conditions, yet there has been a serious drop in production. Incidentally I notice that some cheese factories in the Wellington province have closed. And clearly the drop has not been due to any big change-over to butter, for the exports of butter last year increased by only 6800 cwt.

Now, as no one could assume that the drop was due to increased consumption of cheese in the Dominion, does the movement really represent reduced production? If it does, then the Government must not ignore it, for Mr Nash, when he was here before the election, and in the House since he took office, has said that his policy is based on expanding production. The only explanation that seems practicable to me is that many farmers have changed over from dairying to running stock, owing to labour troubles and high costs. If it is not that, then things are not as bright as the figures at first seem to prove. The improved position is due more to better prices overseas than to greater production, and if prices eased to any extent, then, with lower production, our position Would be very difficult. The thing is seen plainly in the cheese returns. We got £745,000 more for t'he produce, but the quantity declined. That decline, without an advance in pries, would have been a serious thing for New Zealand, and we cannot always count on even present prices. That is one thing we do not control. —I am, etc..

EX-DIRECTOR. Hamilton, February 20.

THE REAL ISSUE.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—After quite a long recess the New Zealand Welfare League has reappeared to draw attention to the policy of the Government. It really does not matter much what the conference of tlie Labour Party does. It may be the supreme authority, but remits are not necessarily adopted. That is what matters more, so why cry out about the remits before they have been dealt, with? As for whether the majority of the electors desire socialisation, that, will be a matter for them at the election. That is an authority that can veto any party decision, and do it rather effectively on occasion.

The League must have forgotten Mr Savage’s plain statement a year ago that policy was a Government charge. He stated that there was no suggestion that future lines of policy ■would be dictated by the delegates. The only policy that can be put into force for the next year or two is, as the Prime Minister has said, that placed before the electors in 1935. And Mr Savage left no doubt about it that the Government alone was responsible for the implementing of that policy. There would be, he said, no interference in matters of policy or administration from outside. Why should the League commence to worry again? The inference that the party could, at a conference, change the policy and have Hint change put into operation is imaginary. The only policy that this or any other Government can put into operation is the one endorsed by the electors, hut the party surely lias the right to consider and re-consider the policy it will adopt in the future. “We placed 'that policy before the electors,” Mr Savage said a year ago, when criticism of this sort was raised, “and it received endorsement.” Surely that is plain enough?—l am, etc.,

PRACTICAL Hamilton, February 20.

GERMAN PREPARATIONS.

(To the Editor.) Sir. —The British rearmament plan can be understood if one realises to what an extent Germany is preparing. The nation is being mobilised on a purely war footing. Evidence of this is shown by the following order, recently published in an English paper of good standing:— MOBILISATION ORDERS. Koeln. Herr On declaration of general mobilisation, without awaiting any further order, you will report lo (street address, etc.) on Hie first day of mobilisation before 8 a.m. You are to bring your military papers, etc., etc. This mobilisation order is to be considered invalidated by any subsequent one, on receipt of which this order must be destroyed Area District Command X.—Koeln. Seal. This order will be accepted by railway as fare. (On the reverse side are the instructions.) This order must be kept in a safe place. The loss of order must be reported. Failure to comply with this order will be punishable by martial law. The conscript is under martial law from Hie day of mobilisation. NOTICE. The following articles are to he in your possession upon arrival at the reporting centre: Two shirts and two pairs underpants, three socks, marching boots, woollen blanket: in addition in winter vest, cap comforter, gloves, woollen wrist bands; furthermore, pack, tent section, belt, haversack, water bottle, mess tin, cutlery. Sueli of these articles as may be suitable for use will be paid for in cash. You are lo notify your peace-lime employer or your immediate superior of the receipt of this order. If a powerful nation is preparing like that then other nations simply cannot he idle.-*—l am. etc.. D HANS GATE. Hamilton, February 2U-

TESTING THE DEFINITION.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have read the letter by “Crystal Clear" in your Thursday’s issue several times, and failed to extract any concrete meaning out of it. The letter appears to me to be but a mere concatenation of words. The presumption that “Social Credit” (whatever it may be) would enable society to give each individual all he wanted Is untenable, for these is no limit to the desires of man, and these desires can only be satisfied by the work of man applied, directly or indirectly, to natural objects, so that the gratification of illimitable desires would entail illimitable toil. Would “Crystal Clear" please tell me how 1 could buy a pound of. sausages or •• tin of tobacco wUh his social - credit? That will bring him down to bra; tacks. —l am, etc., A. WARRURTON. Ngaruawahia, February 19.

GUARANTEED—COMPENSATING

(To the Editor.) Sir,—“Old Liberal" asks what, grounds there were for accepting Mr Barren’s version of guaranteed prices in preference to the version given by Mr Nash. The answer is that both Mr Nash’s version and Mr Savage’s were vague on the more important details. But they indicated plainly the intention of the Labour Party.

If “Old Liberal” can demonstrate to us any method other than the compensating price by which “the payment to the farmer can be measured by the same tape as is used to measure the payment to others" he should do so. If Mr Nash did not mean what he said, why did he say it? We have it on the authority of Mr Barrell that Mr Nash has no more standing in the party than any other member. If so, why does your correspondent expect us to prefer Mr Nash’s version to Mr Barren’s? —I am, etc.,

G. lIUNTER. Horsham Downs, February 19.

NON-TOTALISATOR CLUBS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Since the lion. W. E. Parry intimated that he was strongly desirous of assisting the non-tot.alisator clubs to carry on their annual fixtures, which are practically “picnic" gatherings, there has been quite a simmer of interest and speculation as to how the Minister.will meet the situation. There are non-totalisator clubs such as Alexandra (Pirongia), Ngaruawahia, Te Pukc-Paengaroa and Whakatane Clubs that hold annual meetings—and in the case of Alexandra it has conducted race meetings uninterruptedly for a period of seventy-two years. Everybody with any sporting instincts would regret to see such a club “go out,” but it is, I believe, essential to continue meetings that help be forthcoming. Some people profess to believe that the Minister was just forecasting the re-licensing of bookmakers, and that if he did so the non-totalisator clubs would be able to provide betting facilities. Maybe so, but there will be objections to bookmakers, and a suggestion along other lines has some merit. The Government for some years has been drawing a considerable revenue from racing clubs by way of amusement tax, totalisator tax, and stakes tax. True, the Government gives back to the clubs some of the money taken, for the Minister has power to grant a refund of up to 2% per cent, of the totalisator investments (with a maximum of £20,000), so that apy deserving club can receive back up to £SOO in any one year. But it is stipulated that the refund must be used for improvements to the racing appointments. That sounds all right, but the clubs with increased totalisator turnovers are also required to increase their stakes, based on the previous year’s figures. The suggestion for assisting the non-totalisator clubs is that the Government should subsidise, out of its racing taxation, those clubs to the extent of, say, £IOO each annually. This would enable the non-totalisator'clubs to offer a little better stake money and not be constantly appealing to the generosity of some sportsman to assist them to avoid extinction.—l am, etc..

INTERESTED Te Awamutu, February 20.

CHANGING POLICIEB,

(To the Editor.) Sir, —“Lone Wolf" has asked me how political changes can be made, and goes on to contend that the present Government, by making wonderful promises and dangling attractive “carrots” before the electors, will lead them into the killing pen. Well, how have changes been made in the past? The first Premier of this country that I ever met personally was Sir George Grey, and since then there have been many Governments, with many policies. And “Lone Wolf" should study how those changes came about. Has he forgotten the Seddon regime? Many people thought that it would last forever. The fact was that it created the conditions that destroyed it. The destructive process seems to he. an integral part, of every political organisation, and 1 cannot see why even a Socialist Government or party should hope to avoid the danger. They certainly do not. in Australia, so why should they here? The outstanding success of the Seddon policy was the land settlement plan, based on I lie cheap money that Sir Joseph Ward secured. The principal factor in defeating the Liberals ! years later was the block vole of (he very men they had placed on the land. “Lone Wolf" should have a run over some other political range for a while. People were saying in New South Wales when Mr Lang held power that nothing would shift him. They said exactly what- “Lone Wolf’ is saving now, hut Mr Lang has been out of office for some years. The electors pul him out. The same process will operate here. As for the attractive “carrots.” let me Change the simile. In \ain 'lie net spread In tue sight of the turd

Why LFSumc that people of aver:.go intelligence can always be duped? True, the farmers were hyooMi.-:ed by guaranteed prices in .1935, but they seem to be coming out of the tr*..in e fairly quickly. How would “Lone Wolf" suggest that Ihcv should be ‘•carrotted” next time? My own idea is that they will be somewhat suspicious of any and all political promises. In Hi is sphere, as in others, we learn by experience. Closely examined, Hie attitude of “Lone Wolf" is one of defeatism, but lie will lie able In re-join the pack when Ihe next run is made in 1838 and find good hunting. Lasl election Mr Savage kept on saying: “We are not on trial." hut next year lie and Ids policy will he on trial, and on the defensive. Last lime il was all promises, hut the nex I appeal must bo based on performance, in exactly the same wav as his predecessors were judged. I will admil that Ihe present Government is doipg all il can In build an election machine that will he powerful, but even Ihe strongest cannot last. Experience in Ihe United Stales shows that. Let “Lone Wolf" refrain from worrving unduly. People refuse In follow political carrots as soon as 11,,.v discover Iha I Ihe lasl bundle were cilher overgrown radishes or strange things with the taste of a lemon.—l am, etc., OLD LIBERAL. Hamilton, February 2U.