Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 505, 7 November 1928, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

A FLAT DENIAL Sir,— My attention is called to two statements made by Mr. Lundon at his Monday’s meeting, having reference to myself. Both statements are absolutely false. On no occasion have I “approached any Reform organiser to secure an invitation to contest a seat for the Government,” nor did I ever say “I would never serve under Sir Joseph Ward.” Mr. Lundon’s unblushing untruthfulness in this regard is deplorable. Particularly so, since I actually declined invitations from Reform supporters to contest more than one seat for the Government. A. J. ST ALL WORTHY. ELECTION PERPLEXITIES (ANY ELECTORATE) Sir, — 1 went to hear a Labour man Expound each new-born theory j I left him feeling rather wise , Although a trifle weary. Utopia he'd have, or bust — I felt that vote for him we must. 1 went to hear another man Supporting Mr. Coates. He said the Man Who Gets Things Hone Must surely have our votes. 1 saw ’twas pretty plain that we Must vote for Coates, and let things be. I ■went to hear another man, Who promised us some millions. He’d heaps of money lying loose (Perhaps ’twas even billions). / said “Let’s take him by tyie hand 'Tis plain, United we must stand.” Their honesty wc cannot test — It seems the last man’s always best. So ’tis a trifle hard, you see. For plain and simple folk like me! SUSAN E. DASSLER. MR. POTTER AND FINANCE Sir. — Mr. Potter is reported in one newspaper as stating at his meeting in the Methodist Hall, Dominion Road, that New Zealand has tire lowest taxation of any country in the world. The Chancellor ot' the Exchequer Mr. Winston Churchill, stated in the House of Commons that England was tho heaviest taxed country, and that New Zealand was the second highest taxed, in the world. This statement has been published in all the leading papers in England and on the Continent, and in the White Book now before me, as published in the "Belfast Telegraph.” It shows that our taxation is £ 1 19s lOd higher than Australia, the third highest-taxed country. I have been a supporter of Mr. Potter in the past, and think that the less he talks about finance, brains, and the world, tho better, us such talk surely displays lack of knowledge, unless he thinks the Eden electors are ns ignorant as he would like them to be. Statements such as Mr. Coates has made, that tho questioners do nu r know what they are talking about, should not be allowed to go unchallenged. The wealth of natural rssources, which are admittedly great, should not be confused in this issue.

With the brains and business ability in the United Party, we should be proud to vote for the candidates selected. as they seem to realise the seriousness of the situation and are determined to develop our natural resources to the fullest extent. EX-REFORMER. THE COST OF LIVING Sir. While “Old Liberal” is demanding the abolition of the Arbitration Court and the reduction of the wage-earners’ standard of living, candidates are letting the cat out of the bag regarding employers’ earnings. We are told they are giving up £SOO-a-year positions and that really capable politicians can make £3,000 a year in business! But £2OO a year is more than the wageearner should get! It is plain enough to a schoolgirl that unemployment in New Zealand is really due to there being only two kinds of work, speaking broadly, for the unskilled—farm labour and oick and shovel developmental work, the last-named occupation being in reduced demand over the past few years. The really Liberal sob I ons are to push land settlement fur all we are worth, or encourage the establishment of secondary industries. To one not selfishly biased the high cost of living seems to be due to overhead charges, enormous shop rents ami middlemen ot all descriptions. Ai;other thing, there are too many of us working excruciatingly hard doing nothing! PLAIN ENGLISH Swanson. LIARS IN POLITICS Sir,— May I refer to your leading article in Tuesday’s Sun under the above heading? Passing over its cynicism, we come to the last assertion: "The plainest truth in New Zealand politics today is clear enough. It is this: the country cannot afford to start a carnival of borrowing and profligate expenditure.” The people of New Zealand are reputed to be above the average in intelligence, and therefore will doubtless observe the great difference in the following: The plainest truth is that the country can, and must? afford to indulge in a carnival of borrowing to bring into productivity and people her idle lands: that is if the country is to get away from the disgraceful position in which she is to-day. UNITED. DALMATIAN CITIZENS Sir. — Mr. Coates stated at his meeting at the Town Hall, Auckland, that there were not 300 Dalmatians in New Zealand. This was in reply to a question that Dalmatians were employed on the public works in his electorate, and that British workmen with families dependent upon them were denied the right to work there. I notice that the Reform candidate in Parnell has made a similar statement. He is, of course, but the echo of his chief, but it is an insult to the intelligence of the general public of New Zealand to have so unsatisfactory an answer in reply to such a question. I feel that the Prime Minister has not been frank in his answer: In the Tear Book for 1927, on page 99, the

figures given of foreigners arriving to take up permanent residence are: Jugoslavia, 350; Italy, 262; Greece, 22; and, for the next year, 447, 52, and 19 respectively—a total from Jugoslavia of 897 immigrants. I have personal knowledge of 300 Dalmations living in Dargaville alone, and from a cursory glance at the names on the Kaipara electoral roll I should certainly say there were at least 1,000. You will have noticed the omission In the 1928 Year Book of the private mortgage debt of New Zealand, and it is just posarfM p that the question of the number of Dalmatians in New Zealand will be omitted from the next Year Book. The reason that I support the United Party is that it is composed of many successful business men, and is in effect the greatest combine of intelligence and brains that has been before tna public of New Zealand in the last decade. Under such administration, I believe that government by the people, for toe people, will be reinstated in our fair land. , _ DARGAVILLE.