Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 942, 8 April 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

NOT A CANDIDATE

Sir,— Some good friends are asking- me if 1 am taking part in the Parnell byelection, and while I greatly thank them for their confidence and assurance of support, I beg to inform them I am quite unable to take part in such a contest. Besides the fact that there is already a large number in the field, it requires a lot of money during and after the election —and this I have not got. Furthermore, I have not at the present time the necessary high spirits for an election contest. I am pursuing my studies at the Auckland University College, and as Mr. Lincoln said: “I will study and make ready and perhaps my day will come.” P. STOREY. WOMEN ON SCHOOL COMMITTEES Sir. — As the organiser of the Labour Party official ticket of nine nominees to the Newton schools’ committee this year, it will be my pleasure on Monday night, April 7, to hand to the chairman of the above committee the nomination papers to two women, together with the nomination papers of seven men candidates, all of whom strongly support the argument in favour of women on school committees. It has been the practice for some years for the Labour

Party to nominate women, as well as men, to the above-mentioned school i committee, foi- the* very reasons out- | lined by “Nemo” in your paper on ! Saturday night. As far as I know Labour is the only organiser of a ticket of nominees ever to have nominated women for school committees . in the Newton district. Last year, ns : organiser for the Labour ticket. I had the pleasure of nominating one woman who, unfortunately, was not elected, but was beaten only by a very few votes. Speaking as one knowing something of the duties of school committee members, I can assure readers that the arguments in favour of women committee members used by "Nemo” are not only good, but excellent. There are times when the viewpoint of a woman concerning certain discussions which take place in committee would be a tremendous help and would undoubtedly result in better decisions being arrived at. However, “Nemo” advises householders to nominate women, and we of the Labour ticket have very great pleasure in submitting to the householders of the Newton district the names of two women—mothers—who are prepared to give the householders their services free. It means much sacrifice on their part. I am satisfied that the district will be the richer if the parents will support the candidature of these two women and elect them, together with their colleagues who are standing on the same ticket, to the committee for the ensuing year. It behoves parents and ail householders (Continued in next column.)

to attend the election on April 14 — next Monday—and do their dpty by their schools and to their children and to elect persons who have the welfare of the children closest to their hearts —and who are prepared to give their time to benefiting the cause of frea education for all. A. GORDON HULTQUIST.

UNEMPLOYMENT . . . WHY?

Sir, — New Zealand is one of the richest countries under the sun, and yet there is a large percentage of men out of work. I ask again: Why? Money does not go so far as it used to. I remember the time when a man could rear a family on a wage of 5s a day. It cannot be done now. Modern life is so complex that if one trade suffers all feel it. The biggest cause of unemployment appears to be overspending. Consider the conditions before th© war. New Zealand owed something like one hundred million pounds. After the war that had grown to, say, two hundred million; all carrying an interest charge—nine to ten million pounds to be paid every year, and the interest charge increasing every year. Can we afford it? Then take the debts of the growing cities. The rates have to be raised continually to pay for muncipal trading, which should be left to private enterprise. Consider all the spending that could reasonably be curtailed. Then consider the business conditions arising. Say a man has saved a few thousand pounds and • builds a number of houses or offices. Perhaps the first year, while they au new, both ends about m«;et. But later, by tenants leaving or not paying their rent, there is a loss, so that when the rates and various overhead charges are paid, the returns to th*.owner are nil. His capital becoming fixed, he has to look for some work in order to live—perhaps he borrows on his living-house or joins the unemployed. This is the age of spending more than our incomes on the part of the individual, the cities and the country. The result is that money not put into manufactures for many reasons. Perhaps the import charges are too high, or there is much imported that could be done without or made in New Zealand. Wc import much from America and have to pay part of it in gold because America puts on a prohibitive tariff. Why not put on a sufficient tariff that the two will balance one another? On the lines were are going on now, every year will see more unemployment ana hardship. The dole is not the remedy except as a temporary expedient. Extravagance brings all sorts of evils in its train; hospital charges increasing through more sickness, crimes of violence increasing and street accidents getting worse. It looks now as if the whole country ia riding for a t 3.11. 1 believe there is time to pull up. but will the people do so? I feel to say with old Shakespeare: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be, for borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry’.” 1 " _ not stress the point any more now. I have followed the course of events in New Zealand for 66 years. CHARLES SPENCER* Ponsonby, Auckland.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENT Wager.” —Yes. Landrum won b. is first three games against Smith J n England, and lost the next two. their last match, however, which finished on March 22, Landrum oea.* Smith by the unprecedented ag? re " gate of 36,256 to 14.371. All these matches were played from a level start.—Ed., The Sun.