MR CHAMBERLAIN AND PURCHASING POWER.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 901, 27 May 1903, Page 3

MR CHAMBERLAIN AND PURCHASING POWER.

(To the Editor Gisborne Times.) Sir,—l have thought it not unsuitable on Empire Day to devote a little time to consider an important pronouncement by Mr Chamberlain, as reported by cable. Apropos of The prosperity of the country, be writes ; “We have been apt in the past to consider too muon tho advantage of buying cheaply, and not paying sufficient attention to methods whereby, wc may have the means of enabling us to pay at all. Increased wages are even more important to the working class than ;educed cost of living.” To buy “.heap and

nasty ” is, of course, always a mistake, although that is what is universally done of necessity, ; but to lie able to buy cheaply, ill the genuine sense—that is to say, to be able to give and to receive good value in fair exchange—would tie an inestimable l)oun to all who use and consume. We could not have too much of that. And if our ace aim of Empire were based more upon the realisation of economic conditions enabling us to buy cheaply and more, than upon the glorification of the dag, by means of powder and shot, w» should siimv ourselves to be

crowing in wisdom and prudence. It is quite I rue, as Mr Chamberlain observes, that we pay too little att.ent'Oii to the subject, of increasing purchasing power in the hands of the I tuple. if we gave it proper attention, (here would he no teed to extend our Empire by violence ; there would lie no need for i.xtortionatc national tariffs, which constantly provoke wars ; and there would he some hope of relieving the people of every country of the huge incubus of national debts which now crush them into poverty and misery. And yet we, poor souls, dance wildly to the piping of those whose interests lie in continuing those bad economic conditions, and in exploiting the honest patriotism of our people by galvanizing them, through press and platform, into shouting aloud the elory of Empire, unthinkingly for the ulus', part. Do the British people really desire lo light lor lighting ,ake lo extend our borders into ■ heat lien " lands ? Do they really l,ivc to have everything they use ami uuiMime taxed in breaking point Do ihev really regard the increase of national dob: as a splendid asset t'ertainiy they do not. Would it not he wiser 1 hen if we followed cat Mr Chamberlain's suggestion

v very mildly expressed) and devoted iur "minds and energies m eslablis- , jug “methods" for increasing purchasing power in the hands of our people At present we are lending ourselves emphatically to establishing methods whereby we only increasO the accumulations of those who fatten on wars and tariffs and national debts. And if our people would rellect a little. I cannot think , uev would consider it any honor the memory of good Gueeti Victoria. who did much during her life to keep tlie peace of Ear >pe. to con- • e r l the anniversary ot hoi hit tilday into Empire Day. She eared nothing for shouting, but she. would have fought in defence of her kingiiom when accessary.—l am. etc., W. SIEYWBIGIIT.