THE CHEAPNESS OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1916, Page 3

THE CHEAPNESS OF THE WAR.

«»» TARANAKI SHOWS UP BADLY.

A clergyman at Picton, who writes over the signature of "A.A.A.," has a letter in a Marlborough paper about "the cheapness of the war," in which he says: "A great deal of talk goes on about the terrific cost of this war, and the awful strain it is making upon us personally. But what is it all costing tlie people of this Dominion individually'! If the Government returns show anything it is costing us practically little. The returns just published show that £2,000,000 has been raised by voluntary contributions in New Zealand towards various patriotic causes. This comes out approximately on the basis of population, and what has been raised in each nrovince per head, as follows: '.& i. d. Auckland ~. IID 0 „ Hawke's- Bay ~f 1 s 0 Taranaki , 13 fl Wellington 1 12 0 Marlborough 14 0 Nelson 1 11 0 Westland 10 0 Canterbury ■ 1 10 I) Otago 1 13 0 Southland 12 0 These figures reveal the fact that Marlborough, on the whole, in comparison with the general contributions of other provinces, is not only u credit to herself, but a cause for reflection by other more wealthy districts. Yet what does our generosity amount to? Just this—that it has taken us just two years to give 24s per head by voluntary contribution to this great war—l2s per year, less than 3d per week! But, it will he said, what about the £12,000,000 the Government has spent, for which wc are responsible? This even k less than £l2 per head for two years, £(i per year, 10s per months, or 2s lid per week —for the mighty protection of our Empire forces. Never did so small an investment yield such stupendous and beneficial .returns to the individual. A mighty cheap war indeed, for those who are called on to give only money!" A FALLACIOUS STATEMENT. With reference to the above per capita figures a. News representative interviewed Mr. J. E. Wilson, clii'.irir.;;n of the Taranaki Patriotic Executive. They were, he said, evidently taken from a Government return that was recently published, but which only included totals up to the end of last December. "On the face of it," said Mr. Wilson, '''the statement that Taranaki has only contributed 13s fid per head is fallacious. We have contributed nearly £40,000 to the various funds for wounded soldiers, and this, taking our population at, roughly, one-twentieth of that of the Dominion, shows that we have contributed nearly 10s per head." Mr. Wilson could not say, off-hand, how much had been contributed to other funds by the people of Taranaki, but he was confident that another £40,000 had been devoted to other relief funds, thus bringing Taranaki's contribution to between 30s to 32s per head. Our representative next waited on Mr. W. J. Chaney, who, in his position as honorary treasurer for a number of patriotic funds, has a considerable.grasp of the position. 'He. >vas rather dumbfounded to sec such a comparison as that above in print, and also considered it erroneous. The Government return to Deceniuer 31 shows that Taranaki had collected £38,42<i, at a percentage of collection expense 1.3, Auckland, Marlborough and Otago being the only provinces lower in the scale in that respect. Tn addition to the amounts collected by patriotic societies large sums have been Irinded to the Government by private donors and by organisers of special collections. Comparisons are odious, and for a statement to go 'broadcast that Taranaki bus onlj been contributing 13s fld per head towards the cost of tlie war refutation is needed.