The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1948. PROGRESS FROM POVERTY

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1948, Page 4

The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1948. PROGRESS FROM POVERTY

PACTS give place to fancy- in most of the National Party propaganda in Parliament and Press, especially as to State expenditure. Lump sums are quoted, as in the case of the Prime Minister’s Department, without acknowledging the reasonableness of the Department in making the public awar of the uses to which revenue -is put. The Opposition merely assert that' millions are spent, leaving it at that, whereas the people have a right to be told, whether in films or otherwise, that, for instance, £11,000,000 is this year being spent on schools. It is also right to have publicity as. to the record State housing feat last year; 27,000 new homes, as well as many others the finance for which came from the State. The Opposition ocers no real evidence that our State publicity’ has been otherwise than factual —the grievance is that it clears up misunderstandings due to Aationalist propaganda. The outcry on taxation ignores the fact that it is here no higher than in other countries, whereas there is more to show here for it than elsewhere. .For instance, our overseas debt is now no more than our overseas sterling reserves, although the Opposition points out that the reserves are not Stateowned and hence not available to pay off debt. The time was, say fifteen years ago, when such reserves as there were overseas had to be liquidated in debt payment, because each year used, to see 164 bankruptcies among farmers alone. They’ all are much more than solvent now. The Dominion is actually’ becoming a creditor country and is able to afford France- a loan of £5,000,000. Our National Debt doubled in First World War, but did not in the Second. New Zealand has not only a much increased birth-rate, but a cost of living figure lower than elsewhere. The Film Unit and Information. Department are well warranted to propagate this information far and wide. Blowing hot at one minute about inflation, the Opposition in the next demand greater concessions in taxation. When asked for a concrete case, they quote the laud tax, which doesn’t amount to a. million altogether; but they go even further miff say’ income from the land ought not be taxed like other income, and specifically from sales of eggs, but that deductions ought to be made for meals supplied to employees. The exemption of a much larger percentage of profits is sought, without regard for the fact that profits are what remain after all engaged in their production have been paid for their work. When the railways are in question, it is suggested that there should be profit, although coal has to be imported at a far higher price than is paid by’ others for New Zealand coal. The British Government fully publicises the objects of its outlay’ of £l4O millions, with details of family allowances, new industries, employment, coal and electric supply, housing, health and education, and other enterprises. The idea for which Labour stands is sufficiency for all, whereas the Opposition does not. bother much about the wage-earners, but upholds the idea that there ought to be no limit to the amount which the capitalist may’ accumulate. If there be a minority’ making much money, they’ say it is national prosperity, as the money’ must circulate. When, however, it does circulate so that all have a sufficiency, this condition is called one of inflation. To demonstrate the success of our modest degree of distributive justice is prudent. If it has not yet seen a wider sharing of productive property, it has at least lessened poverty. When that truth is persistently ignored by the press, the Government is morally bound to give it emphasis by’ every effective means.