LABOUR RULE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1939, Page 7

LABOUR RULE

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Our festive season is drawing to a close and then, “what?” It is no use shutting our eyes to the fact that we are in serious difficulties, due to the senseless and sinful waste of money by the Labour Government. My previous prognostication, pertaining to a coming calamity, will soon be found to be true, and then the worker will wake up about those soapbox orators whose hearts “bleed for them,” according to themselves. Does Mr Semple take matters in his own hands to do the senseless works and order machinery to carry the work out with, or is it authorised by Parliament? Unauthorised expenditure, I suppose. We have heard of him calling Hitler and Mussolini “mad dogs,” for which Mr Savage apologised on behalf of the Government. Well, I venture to say that if both of these distinguished persons visited New Zealand “today and saw some of the useless railway lines and roads constructed by the Public Works Department, they would undoubtedly say: “Well, Mr Semple, we thank you for your complimentary remarks concerning us, and after viewing some of your works we heartily reciprocate.” Messrs Semple and Webb, at the present moment, are deeply concerned about helping the farmer and men from public works are allowed to go and help shear, hay make, etc. It will certainly relieve their own departments which must be in a depleted state. Mr Webb says that at some farms the conditions are unsuitable, and it “is difficult to get men to work under the conditions. What does he expect, silk bedding and tennis courts , and hotel menu? What are young people of today putting up with compared with we old settlers who built up New Zealand. Many of us were content to live in slab huts, with clay chimneys, go out bushfelling, scrub-cutting and everything essential to getting a home for ourselves. Day after day, wet through, sit on a damp log to have lunch, and walk home to cook our own tea. But we were happy, and as fit as fiddles, as some of the old-time footballers and cricketers will vouch for. The Labour Government boasts of its great victory, a dearly bought one certainly, with thousands of extra civil servants appointed and Public Works camps filled with all sorts of men. All these persons naturally voted Labour, hence their great victory. Now we wait for the aftermath. Unless an internal loan eventuates, public works must be curtailed very considerably, then thousands will be out of work. To come into power on a rising tide and in three years practically ruin us, is almost unbelievable. TheyX have certainly given us a wonderful Christmas;‘the "cost of living having gone up beyond all expectations. Butter, tea, sugar and all neccessary articles are now much dearer, so what is the use of increased wages? Railway freights and fares have also been raised and when that idiotic social security comes into force it will be a nightmare for one and all, but hundreds more civil servants will be appointed to administer it. Thanking you for your valuable space. —I am, etc.,

M. W. WELCH. Mauriceville, January 2.