The Budget Sheep Dogs

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31094, 24 June 1966, Page 10

The Budget

Sheep Dogs

Sir, —If “Disillusioned Nationalist" will come out from under the thick layers of socialist cotton wool he can perhaps be shown that we are no longer living in the past but in a very tough and competitive world of which we in New Zealand are an integral part. We have to sell our produce on world markets, not just to England. If we fail to hold firm with our spending now, and find even wider markets for the sale of our goods, we shall, not have social security or a 40-hour week,

but will be left with the socialist cotton wool only. Nearly all wage-earners in this country have good homes, television, radio, and a car, and are still able to save. What more is expected under present world conditions? Taxation, direct and indirect, could have been imposed, but was not. I say, complain less, save wisely, and pull together. —Yours, etc., F.W.P.F. June 22, 1966.

Sir, —“Disillusioned Nationalist” says this Budget is not as dynamic as those of Mr Nash and Mr Nordmeyer. In fact theirs were so dynamic that the people could not vote them out quickly enough! Mr Nash bolstered his Budgets with the farmers' pool accounts, and Mr Nordmeyer bolstered his with savage tax increases. Instead of clean political air coming to the House on the Hill if Labour gets in this year, we will get a lot of “hot air” and the same old mixture as before—more controls and more taxes! "Disillusioned Nationalist” complains that the workers do not get incentives. Surely he realises that incentives to employers and farmers are designed to give an increased standard of living in which everyone shares. Labour’s main worry is that the Budget gives them little to criticise. —Yours, etc., NATIONAL. June 21, 1966.

Sir, —“Disillusioned Labourite” is wrong, as financial chaos inherited from the Tories forced Labour to increase petrol, beer, and tobacco prices. The Tories have not repealed them, as promised in the House in the 1958 Budget debate. Would “Disillusioned Labourite” have preferred the 1958 prices increases to be on food and clothing? Labour brought in social security in 1938 against bitter Tory charges of extravagance, and introduced medical, hospital, sickness, invalid, and maternity benefits. Mr Lake is not helping the lower income group when he gives incentives only to the farmers and businessmen. — Yours, etc., DISILLUSIONED NATIONALIST. | June 23, 1966.

Sir, —In a recent Saturday issue was a picture of a great sheep dog, General Haig, belonging to H. H. Harris, of Taihape. My uncle, James McHardy, of Taihape, started this breed. Jed was the greatest little bitch of all time. She won many championships everywhere and a pup of hers was General Haig much earlier than the dog mentioned. But most of the champions came from Jed, owned by James McHardy, of Taihape. It is a strange thing that no-one who obtained pups of the famous Jed ever admit where they came from. James McHardy was offered £lOO for Jed but nothing on earth would make us part with her. She was the most brainy, exquisite creature ever born.—Yours, etc., R. DAVIS. June 21, 1966.

[The New Zealand Sheep Dog Stud Book shows that General Haig was born in January, 1942, but his pedigree, running back for five generations, makes no mention of Mr McHardy’s Jed. However, the well-known high country author and dog trialist. Mr Peter Newton, says that Jed could still be in General Haig's pedigree, though a long way back. Mr Newton said he could not recall Jed, and he presumed she I must have competed many years ago.]