WHAT IS HONESTY?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24406, 18 September 1940, Page 11

WHAT IS HONESTY?

10 THE EDITOR Sir,—Your paper is usually full of opinions expressed by all types of individuals. May I join in just now with your permission regarding the question, What is Honesty? My concern is due to the manner to-day in which. real honesty seems .to be misunderstood. An individual's own idea is his own standard, it seems, and accordingly honesty is flexible. The person who makes big noises about being loyal and patriotic, and yet goes slow, or strikes, or demands shorter hours and increased pay—is this honesty? The person, who demands excessive overtime rates, and yet demands in the interests of the country's war effort that all others must be controlled in their earnings or holdings—is this honesty? The persons who speak underhand against the country or. at T tempt to influence other minds against the war needs., and yet openly make a donation to the Patriotic Fund, as easy camouflage—is this honesty? A Government that sets out to raise £93.000.000 under the general covering of war "needs, and then seeks to apply £54.000,000 for other than war requirements, while at the same time flogging the country about an all-in policy for victory! A Government that reduces our petrol ration to a smaller figure than the ration allowed to private individuals in England; a government that corrects the waterfront troubles, by giving to the watersiders themseves full control; at the same time paying to the suoerintendent a higher salary than the officer commandthe echelon .on active service in England will receive—is this honesty? Departmental bustle, smothered in an avalanche of detail, which is too cumbersome to be considered, which retards the war effort and, creates costly staff appointments and places,, a premium on inefficiency, under numerous disguises—is this honesty? I personally am convinced that the people of New Zealand need to be dn the alert, at this time particularly, and to check up on the honesty of ©urpose. or lack of it. behind many moves. . If the country blindly accepts every measure put forward under cover of "war effort." "Government co-opera-tion." "needs for conserving overseas funds." etc.. etc.. we shall live tb regret our apathy While honesty is still what it must be, the modern interpretation is vastly different because of convenience.—l am etc., Whither Goest Thou.