PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20692, 30 December 1938, Page 7

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondent*, whose letters are weloome, but fo* views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are reams!** to write In Ink. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is swpiled with, tnelr letters will not appear.

DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND fTo the Editor) Sir,—l regret that I should hare te trespass once again upon your columns in order to answer “Escaped Gun Meat ." but I feel that if he is allowed unchallenged to continue to the end of the chapter as the self-appointed apologist for the Defence League 'n Hamilton, then the league is in grave danger of forfeiting such general public confidence as it might merit. Might 1 suggest to "Escaped Gun Meat" that hr will do hotter service to his cause by replying to the criticisms I originally voiced and publicly answering the propositions I have put forward, if he cannot do that lie should withdraw from the controversy, since he has so far contributed nv thing of value to it. I have little patience with those who in a matter of such Importance as the defence of this country allow their own egotism to blind them to the value of sound criticism. "Largely forgotten by many” is how your correspondent describes the returned soldier to-day. That is Ihe very danger which we wish to guard against. He will continue to he conveniently forgotten as long as he and he only is conscripted.—l am. etc.. JUNIUS. Hamilton, December 27. PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA (To the Editor) Sir,—Your editorial in yesterday’s Times on "Planned Economy” does not accord altogether with the latest statistics as far as Russia is concerned. Russia’s wheat area has increased from 31.800.000 hectares in 1913 to 41.4 00,000 hectares in 1937—that is about 24,000,000 acres, an area almost as large as the North Island of New Zealand in wheat alone. The total area under all crops in 1913. when Russia was almost entirely an agricultural and pastoral country, was 105.000.000 hectares, and in 1937 the area had increased to 135,200.000 hectares (a hectare is 2$ acres . an increase of about 75,000,000 acres, more than the total area of New Zealand, which is 66,000,000 acres. Last year the total grain crop of Russia was 4.200,000.000 bushels, the greatest ever known. The use of 470.000 tractors takes the place of 9.000.000 horses. There were also 137.7 18 combine harvesters. 104.323 threshing machines and 1 iO.OOO motor vehicles. Last year the total agricultural output in Russia was more than double that of 1913. According to the Moscow News of November 7, 1938, the productivity of Socialist industry increased by 78 per cent., from 1932 to 1937. The following is taken from Whitaker's Almanack of 1938, at page 692: “Whilst building activity and motor production have played a leading part in recovery in recent years, as well as the more recent widespread rearmament, the phenomenal expansion in production by Russia (her total industrial production in 1936 was .almost four times as much as in 1929), her engineering output in 1936 was about ten times as great as in 1929, that of coal threp times, of pig iron and st.eel nearly four times as great while ‘investment’ goods increased bv five times, and ‘consumption’ goods by three times as much as in 1929.” The following table from the same source is instructive world production, industrial, taking 1929 equals 100 as a base

We see by this that Russia leads the world in increased production. Where she produced £1 in 1929 she produced £3 16s 5d in 1936. whereas Great Britain produced £1 3s 2Ad against her £1 France produced only 14s in 1936 against 20s in 1929. Japan, the best of the lot. with extensive rearmament, produced only £1 lOs 2Ad against her £1 in 1929. The United States of America, the wealthiest, produced only 17s 7d against her, £1 in 1920. These figures coni'* from a source that cannot he accused of having Russian sympathies. To quote again from the Moscow News of November 7: The U.S.S.H. has become a highly-cultured country. More than 500.000 students attend the j Soviet higher schools—five times as many as in Tsarist Russia and one and a half times as many as the combined enrolment of Germany, Italy, Britain, France and Japan. Also a further quotation from the same source: "We envy our grandchildren and great-grandchildren who are destined to see Russia in the year 19 in. standing at the head of Ihe enlightened world, a Russia which establishes the laws for science and art and accepts 1 lie reverent homage of respect from all of enlightened humanity." These prophetic words, written 196 years ago by Vissarion Belinsky, the great Russian revolutionary critic, are coming true. The increased productivity in agriculture is due more to the better working of the ground by hett *r machinery than t" the increased are c The railway freight car loadings are a i good indication of production, in 1913 27.000 cars were loaded daily, whereas in 1937 the daily loadings had increased to 89,833 cars.—l am. etc., w. b. McManus. Matamata, December 28.

MOTOR-CAMP GROUNDS (To the Editor! Sir,—Might I through your eolumna draw attention to the congested condition of the Hamilton motor camp at the end of Hillsboro" Terrace? Id spite of inclement weather, the camp has been pretty well crowded for the past fortnight, and if better weather j comes conditions are likely to be ; worse. The camp site, too, is not all that it might be in appearance. I had. understood that a new camping ground was to be available for visitors by I Christmas time at the PaJrfleld Bridge. 1 hut apparently l was mistaken. Surely I the Hamilton Borough Council could do something to allow camping visitors to take away with them somewhat better impressions of Ihe borough than they can at present. Could not temporary amenities he installed at the new camp to improve conditions during j the summer months?—l am, etc., GIVIS. Hamilton, December 29. 80CIAL BERVICEB 'To the Editor) I Sir,—Although it is claimed that New Zealand leads the world in social services, and that only under Labour will such services be other than starved and neglected, the following figures from Whitaker’s Almanac show that under a Government loudly denounced as reactionary and Tory, Britain is doing a lot for the underdog. The following are social services figures for 1934 in £IOOOV sterling: Hospital treatment, £13,831 ;j maternity welfare, £3419; housing. I £46.086; health insurance, £36,393;' unemployment relief, £54,913; pensions, £126.287.7. Since the British Government started its policy of slum clearance and housing, the houses built number 1.321,155. and exchequer grants In aid total £178.921.510. Thete figures show that Socialists and Labourites have no monopoly jn the field of social service. It is worthy of note that a British worker is not called upon to p®y more than 10s a week for housing for himself and family, and an agricultural worker gets a cottage for 2s or 3s a week; also that bread costs tn Britain 25 per cent. less than In New Zealand, —I am. etc., A. WAR BURTON. Ngaruawahia, December 28. OUTLOOK FOR COMING YEAR 'To the Editor) Sir,—ln commercial circles we take stock once a year and strike a balance sheet. It is fitting to reflect over the past year and gauge If possible what 1939 will produce for New Zealand. We have noticed that our seeming prosperity js a passing phase, and we note a fall in productivity and a stringency In finance. Our workers are elated with more cash and less work. So much so that the Labour Government came back into power, with much jubilation among the irresponslbleg, the unthinking herd who follow a leader like sheep. Our butterfat prices in London are well below par and our sterling credits are ominously low. How many of the 21 - 25-year-old voters look at the financial columns of our Press, which are a true index of the trend of industry which affects the workers? Cur Ministers talk of liberty and co-operation, but these are empty words, in truth, our liberties are filched from us by Slate control, wi;h its army of Inspectors, and the cooperation is a class one. More than one Minister lias told us that the Government is out to smash the capitalist. When will responsible politicians realise that capital and labour must harmonise? When will they look in another quarter tor the enemy of the people—hiuli Jewish finance. So at the end of 1938 we find the men who matter—the farmer, the business man. etc.—very worried and concerned. The others are being burdened. with those already quoted, with heavy taxes and a prospect of morn taxes. Due sees no prospect of relief j* 1939. We are still under the bane of an orthodox economic system, a party system in politics, with a Government at its wits' end regarding its commitments to finance abroad, a falling market, restricted imports and a lavish expenditure, it is suggested that the Labour house is divided, in spite of official denials. Internal disruption •« fatal. The commoner just carries on with his sports, in's pint or two, thinking just for the day and not of the morrow. Young folk, flushed with a false prosperity wed without thought We j) , glimmer of hope for 1939 unless the people acsert their power and demand a just social reform . Internationally the puppets are working to plan from the usual centre of high finance, in England much will depend .*n the genera! election whether Eden or Chamberlain succeeds. M. Blum is agitating in France, and Herr Hitler may lake additional territory. II I nice may also cause a stir in the Italian waters, china, Spain and Palestine are still in Hie vortex of war. The one hope is the common will for peace, but will that factor !*e impotent at the crucial moment?— 1 am, etf., MARCUS ST. B. JAMES. Hamilton, December 29.

1 0 3 2 1035 103 0 Russia 18 3 2 0 3 3 82 Grpat Britain 84 if»o 110 Uniterl States .... i TO 88 Canada 0 5 01 102 Japan OH 142 15 1 Germany V.. 53 04 106 France 69 0 7 TO \orwav 03 105 115 Denmark 01 125 131 Hunjrary 77 1 11 120 Austria V.... on 77 81 Czechoslovakia .. 04 70 80