LIBRARY AT HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2712, 25 March 1924, Page 3

LIBRARY AT HOSPITAL.

(To .the Editor.) Sir,—May I supplement Mr. Nathan’s appeal for books to secure. a library for the Palmerston North hospital. As a recent inmate of the hospital I can assure your readers that books and magazines are very urgently needed. Books, of course, are supplied; but these are soon read, for the days are long, and the time drags when one is confined to bed. During this period new patients make very few acquaintances, and do not know from whom they could borrow books. When ajble to get about the need is not so great. Nearly every household has a few books lying about, which having been read are of little futher use, and 1 am sure most people would be only too pleased to give these to so laudable an object.

Might I suggest, Sir, that any such gifts of books be left at your oitice, for I am certain there would not be then any difficulty in getting same delivered to the hospital. —Yours etc.

it. McMURRAY. [WE shall be only too pleased to forward on any books, magazines, or illustrated papers left, at this, office, as suggested by our correspondent. —Ed. H.)

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The N.Z. Welfare League has cleverly evaded the plain question repeated in my letter of Tuesday last by shifting its grounds and “sitting on the rail.” In its article of Saturday it now advocates a “National Government,” and 1 want to say at once that if by “National Goveumeut” it means an executive that is elective and composed of the best brains and not merely the greatest wealth then 1 agree with it for this is exactly what the LiberalLabour is fighting for, a Government of merit, not of wealth —“a government of the people by the •people and for the people” not what we have now, —a government of the people by the few wealthy people and for the benefit of the few wealthy people whose big purse keeps its friends in office. 1 am not a “Bed-fed” nor a Bolshevik but a Liberal who believes that the true ideals of labour, to uplift humanity, iuuy be achieved by lawful and sensible methods that will not involve revolution, hardship, or injustice to anyone. Possibly the “Welfare League” considers i am a “Socialist.” Perhaps 1 am. If Socialism means that the poor shall have a chance to live in reasonable comfort, that decent housing and the cost of living be brought within the reach of the honest worker by euti.ing niiL.Lhc-tiVifs. of monopoly and profiteering, that strikes and lockouts may be averted, that the aged and infirm shall have in their decling year’s a pension on which they can live in reasonable comfort and have peace at eventide, that the workers' children shall have the same educational and other chances as the children of the rich, that the weight of taxation shall be borne by those best able to carry it, that men shall learn to bear each others burdens, if socialism means all these things and so much more that will make for peace on earth and goodwill towards men, then i am a “Socialist," and i am not ashamed of it, for it is the doctrine of Him who founded Christianity which teaches the brotherhood- of man, and this is what the Liberal-Labour party is fighting for and will ultimately achieve. —i am etc. P. L. HULUN GS.