THE WHOLE OR THE PART?

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 37, 14 February 1933, Page 6

THE WHOLE OR THE PART?

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In thanking you for the manner in which your paper has voiced the protests of the people of this city against the iniquitous legislation that has been forced through Parliament by the present Government, may I be permitted to add my word of protest? If the legislation had been the result of a very deep consideration of the welfare of the country as a whole and in the best interests of the people generally, and if our party leaders in the present Government had possessed the confidence of at least the majority of the people, then almost everyone would have bowed to the will of Parliament with the feeling that the legislation was for the best interests of the country and people as a whole. The legislation, crushing in its effect and passed by a majority that does the present Government no credit, makes one ask, could we have expected worse from a. Labour Government? Certainly, in fairness to them, they would have at least considered in a better manner those least able to. care and protect themselves against the adversities and tribulations that beset the population at the present time. I anr not an extremist, nor have I ever voted to place a Labour Government in office, but as a young New Zealander I see the workings of the powers that be and the unseen interests working behind the scenes, then surely must my judgment be that democracy as we have it exemplified today has truly been weighed in the balance and found wanting. In the Press the Hon. Mr. Masters furnishes a table showing the fall in the cost of living as compared with the rates of exchange over the last four years. The honourable gentleman has apparently made no allowance for the fact that after the war we had a boom period due to the great demand for goods and the great amount of borrowed moneys that were liberated until we reached a peak, and since then' values have fallen, due to development of industry generally the world over, and the fact that the nations have caught up with the demand, and have reached a high point of production efficiency, and with competition prices have been falling gradually. May I suggest to Mr. Masters that the next four years will reveal a different state of affairs. Prices of many preparations will be kept down by competition, and even fall a little lower, it is true, but to the sorrow of ourselves and our Empire manufacturers. Business men through competition will be forced to turn to other markets in foreign countries where production is so cheap that the British manufacturer, even with duty preferences, is unable to compete.- Have we not the last twelve months noticed the large amount of rubber footwear that has flooded this country, and coming from Japan, and which can be sold retail at formerly unheard-of prices. Yes, Mr. Editor, the Government in power has lost the confidence of the majority of the peqple, and in a country where democracy is the rule of government, the people should have as early as possible an opportunity of. stating which party shall form the governing power.— I am, etc., • ■ ' ■ M.V.R.