UNIT OF POVERTY FLAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1916, Page 2

UNIT OF POVERTY FLAT.

To the Editor. Sir, —I see we are going to have a sitting of the Coat of Living Commission in Xew Plymouth. I wonder what the object is in putting the country to this unnecessary and useless expense, considering that the Government has made up its mind. Reports that have come to •hand have already been shelved, with the following words by the Prime Minister: '•I'll look into it"; "people don't know what they are talking about"; "prices are higher in Australia"; ''l want specific cases," or "no power on God's earlh can alter things." In the face of this dense vision and. blind party methods, seems a mere farce to put the country (o the expense of a commission, when the Government have no intention whatever of dealing with or carrying out the recommendation of the commission when they get it. It will have the same result as the Wheat Commission had a short time ago. It will convince the exploiters once more that the Massey Government are their bosom friends, and that they are quite safe to continue fleecing the public, but it seems that the Liberal 'Party in Cabinet are no better than the Tories. It is sutlicient for Mr. Massey 'When any difference occurs to say, "We have to devote all our endeavors to the \var," but he takes good care that his supporters are on the box seat, and therefore that it is to their advantage to avoid all progressive legislation that would be likely to interfere witli their huge profits, whilst the liberal Ministers must follow the Prime Minister, or else they may be in danger of being put down as disloyal. 1 hope when the reckoning time comes that those people who are ignored now will know how to deal with the -.tresent Cabinet, both Conservative and liberal alike, and choose men that have some sympathy with the masses, which the present Cabinet have not. They are all wealthy moil who have no feeling for the struggling masses, only as far as it is necessary for their own convenience to enable them to acquire high-paid positions. Contrast our professional politicians—for they are simply nothing more -with the Australian politicians, composed of working men. They have gained the admiration not alone of Australia, but of the civilised world, as farseeing statesmen and progressive legislators/ They have State banks. State bakeries, State stcamshis, and, to a certain extent, liquor control. This is the class of man who is o much dreaded and despised in Xew Zealand. They don't say, like the honest Bill, "I will look into'it," or "no power on God's earth can ilc it." On tlie contrary, they prove that it can be done liv doing it.—l am, etc., JOIL\ T DIGGINS. JLepperton.