MR SEMPLE’S MACHINERY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 October 1938, Page 4

MR SEMPLE’S MACHINERY

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The Hon. R. Semple has travelled throughout the country with picture entertainments showing his wonderful machinery as compared with wheelbarrows which he describes as Irishmen’s motor-cars. Well, there are as good Irishmen in New Zealand as Mr Semple,' who is an Australian, but perhaps they have not had the same opportunity as Mr Semple to be able to get a motor-car. They were not all secretaries of unions. Was he not one? I well remember when the Harbour Board, of which I was a member, purchased electric motors to convey produce to the ships, the great protest from workers and Labour supporters, who said we . were endeavouring to crush the worker by importing machinery to take their place. Just as many men were employed, but the work was done more efficiently. We all agree with Mr Semple that machinery is required for certain work, but when most of that work is money thrown away and will never pay for grease or oil s it is time to protest. Take our Opaki ramp. Thousands of pounds wasted on the safest crossing in New Zealand, and it is now a dangerous road, besides putting several settlers to the inconvenience of going up the road to get on the ramp instead of going straight over. Even now the work on it is not finished. On Saturday three, cars were stuck on it while spoil was 1 being dumped over the side. So what will be the ultimate cost of the colossal blunder when completed? One accident ever since the trains have been running is all that has happened there and that was when a car-load of men returning from up country races ran straight on instead of turning the corner. I knew one of them, who lived at the Hutt, and he told me all about it. Now will they give us the cost of this structure, land taken, etc., money spent which could have been spent on productive works. Wake up ratepayers and electors. Where will the money come from to pay for sinful waste such as this? Children 16 years of age, domestic servants and all are to be taxed, whatever Mr Savage may say, to help pay for the wonderful work of the most wasteful crowd ever seen on the Treasury Benches. —I am, etc., M. W. WELCH Mauriceville, October 13.