DAG MUM AND BILL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22510, 19 September 1938, Page 14

DAG MUM AND BILL

Scene; A Worker’s Home in New Zealand, Time: Now.

“Say, Dad, what did you think of the Budget?”

“Great, my boy, great.”

“But, Dad, did you see that bit where Wally Nash is going to borrow 14 million to keep down unemployment? ”

“Yes, son, it’s going into Public Works.”

“But, Dad, none of those works will keep anybody in a job after-, wards. Take all the roads we have been making—”

“Well, what about them, son?” “Well, they’ve got to be pHid for some day. No one’s going to give us the 14 million.”

“Never mind, son, you won’t have to pay for it.”

“That’s just it. I’m not so sure, Dad. What will they do about unemployment next Budget?”

“Well, some day somebody’s got to pay it back. That’s where I come in. We are borrowing 14 millions a year—that’s about £2O a head for every male in New Zealand from 1 to 90. Twenty quid a year is being borrowed against me, and next year I’ll be owing forty quid if they borrow only 14 million again.’'

“Yes, son, but Mr Nash doesn’t look at it that way.”

“Of course he doesn’t, Dad. Hes an old man and he’ll be dead when I’ve got to pay it.” “Well, son, what else can he do?”

“Well, Dad, there’s a chap at the works from New South Wales, and he says that since they turned down their Labour Government 260,000 men and women that were unemployed under Lang have nearly all been absorbed into private industry;

“Borrow another 14 million, I suppose.” “And that’s when times are good. Dad. That doesn’t seem right. If they’ve got to borrow 14 million when times are good, we can count on them always borrowing at least 14 million.” “Well, what about it?” —Published b; Watcb for the next interesting epi on Mond

“Ho, ho, is that what he says? Well, why doesn’t he go back to New South Wales?”

. t “That’s exactly what he’s going to do, and a few of the boys from the works are going with him. They don’t see why they should be taxed for the next 40 years to pay for fancy politics.

ijr arrangement. isode of this feature in this paper ay next.