LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 13 April 1916, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WILL NEITHER FIGHT NOR PAY,

Sir,—The parrot-like cry about conscripting wealth for war purposes has a catching sound, which appeals to many of .those kinked and rebellious individuals, to whom the Red Fed agitators specially appeal. Allow me to .point out soveral facts, in regard to this cry:— .

(a). The Government has, it seems, practically conscripted the wealth of the country. No matter how much wealth ail individual l may have, ' he is not allowed to take it out of the Dominion,'iio'r can gold b4 demanded from the banks. Thus,., the wealth is conscripted for'war purposes. If it were not so, the country, could not render that magnificent assistance, which it is giving at the present. The wealth of the people has certainly not been confiscated, as'the Red Feds would have it, but it has been practically conscripted for war purposes.

(b) If the war lasts to the end of this year, it- will probably have cost this country £35,000,000. Under legislation passed last session the Government lias confiscated, not conscripted,. £2,000,000 of money by extra taxation. The £2,000,000 provides the interest, eto., on the £35,000,000. The extra taxation is nearly all paid (rightly so) by persons who have an income of over £300 per annum; by the land-owners, and by those who use the railways for carrying butter, wool, cheese, etc., for export'. Do the agitators not see this?

(c) Some £20)000,000 is deposited in the Post Office Savings Banks of the Dominion. This tremendous sum is mostly owned by. the workers, of New Zealand. The Post Office Savings Banks are not 'generally used by land-owners, merchants, and tlie more wealthy classes. They do their business with the ordinary banks. In addition to this, wealth deposited in the savings banks by the workers, a large part of the wealth deposited in the banks of issue is owned by workers, small business people'and widows, who often earn, less than, say, coalminers, and Labour union secretaries. /Do the Red Feds want this, wealth confiscated? Surely not I

The fact is that the cry about the conscription of wealth is raised to stir up discontent, and to hide the disloyalty of that section of the community, whiqh will neither fight .nor pay anything to help in the present struggle. . Assuredly, if the war lasts much longer, they will be compelled to do both. No section of the community can be allowed to escape its responsibilities. The same workers are not attempting to do so, and they will not be led by the ltinl;e<l, rebellious, and disloyal minority.—l am, etc., \ H.L.M. April 10, 1910.