Palmerston Bankrupts

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 307, 29 December 1939, Page 6

Palmerston Bankrupts

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In view of the statements made in their “sermons” each Sunday night by Santa Claus Savage and Uncle Scrim, more especially in connection with what the great Labohr Government has done, is doing and will continue to do for the “working” man, it is interesting to note that of the 15 persons who last year in Palmerston North ran for protection to the Supreme Court in bankruptcy, seven were labourers, one a butcher, one an engineer, one a motor mechanic, and one a carpenter —that is, sir, eleven out of fifteen were what tho Labour Party call “working men,” the remaniing four being included in tho capitalistic class, 1 suppose.

The Sunday night sermons indicate that tho Labour Government has so arranged matters that there is no depression, no poverty, no lack of cash; that the “working man” was never so well off as hi is at present, what with short working hours, high wages and a standard of living which is approached by no other country on earth. And now “Santa Claus” and “Uncle” arc faced with the fair city of Palmerston North recording last year that IJ 44 workers’’ were compelled to seek the protection of the Court and file the schedule of debts which they cannot pay.

It is no use asking the Prime Minister or Uncle Scrim to explain this matter next Sunday night, their time limit not permitting such excursions, but possibly our own Mr. Hodgens will find time to tell us how it comes about that after his Government has been in power for the past few years no fewer than 11 “workers” whose lot has been made so comfortable (according to Mr. Hodgens and his party) cannot pay their just debts. ‘‘Now, then,” Mr. Hodgens! 1 am, etc., “ENQUIRER.”