A VISITOR'S OPINION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 195, 19 December 1941, Page 4

A VISITOR'S OPINION

promise to pay on demand," but they never have paid, they never can pay. The assets cf the Banks have never exceeded more than 6d in the pound and never will.

This truth cannot be grasped because of the ignorance which persists among the people and will continue until they wake up. I know the powers that be will trot out that old story of inflation, and it is very strange inflation is only mentioned when the common people need money it is never thought of when- the heads of governments, heads: of radio control, heads of men who watch the watersiders do the work ask for it! We in New Zealand have a bank of our own and when this war is over, the Whakatane Council should ask the Reserve Bank to issue sufficient money to pay for a comprehensive seAverage scheme and should allow the people of Whakatane to repay the money needed back free of interest at about one per cent per year. The most valuable thing you or any other community possess are the human lives, especially the young lives amongst you the children. Under the present conditions there is a very grave danger of an epidemic here and if you ever have one because of the sanitary conditions you may have to face a cost greater than the cost of a sewerage system and besides many young lives, which are invaluable. Yours etc., J. WHITTLE.

Sir, —Your readers knowj what a 'beacon' stands for; it is to give light so that ships sailing in the night shall not go on the rocks. Well now as a visitor to your beautiful town of Whakatane I think the "Beacon" should poinf out to your people living here that there are rocks which your town should be aware of. One of those rocks, is the need of a sewerage system I have seen in the short time I have been here some

very filthy places—some •of which cater for the public—conveniences which are too filthy to use. I understand this question has been before the public for some years and also has been discussed by the authorities from time to time. But the of money is the trouble. lit.is estiy- --- mated that the cost of a complete system will cost £100,000 and the town could not carry such a cost along with its present indebtedness. X also know that the present time is difficult. You have the material but you have not the men. to; do the work. They are away at the front doing battle for Democracy; giving their lives, their health, their all, and when men give their all. there is no greater sacrifice. But this was not so a little time ago. Four short years ago you had the men, the material and you only lacked the money. Now this should be the least of all the difficulties. But under the present financial system, you have to go to the banks (private) for tnoney and they create a debt which ! you people .will have to pay. A debt which you can never pay. What have the banks given you? Simply nothing! They give bits of paper which have printed son them —"W& (Continued in previous column)