OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1939, Page 3

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS (To the Editor.) Sir—Nave the importers forgotten What happened to them in the year qf grace 1920, when, through qver-impqr-tation, they found themselves with an excess of imports over exports of about £lsm.? Their credits in London were swept away almost overnight and they were left with millions worth of goods for which there was no sale, for the long-threatened slump had come at last. I remember 40u motor-cars being landed on the wharf at Auckland that no one wanted to take delivery of and they had to be sold by auction on the wharf. If there had been import restrictions then, would that have happened? And what guarantee is there that it will not happen again. The reason of the troubles in 1920 was that the Home exporters had held up orders until the last moment and then dumped them all at once. Is there any reason why the same trick should not be played again? The object of holding up the goods was of course to get the highest possible price for their goods. What was to happen to New Zealand was no business of theirs, It brought this country to the verge of bank* ruptcy. Can New Zealand Stand another turn like that? And if we dp not take time by the forelock, what is there more certain man that the same thing will happen when the present boom is nearing its end? It is strange but true that while this and the last Government were spending millions on political roads and railways we heard very little about it. But now, when almost for the first time for many years past the Government of the day gives signs of considering the best interests of the country, political hanging is hardly good enough for it. Can we ever expect to be well governed when we go on like that?—l am, etc., H. C. THOMSEN. Masterton, May 5, BEAUTY IN THE PARK (To the Editor.) Sir, --Believing. as I suppose we all do, in the well known motto “Better Late Than Never,” I would liße to pay a tribute qf praise to the Custodian of our beautiful Bark for his very praiseworthy and successful efforts to beautify the space around the War Mem-> oriai qn An?ac Hay- What a blaze qf petunia and exquisite taste was displayed in the arranging of the numerous flowers to bring God’s gifts into such prominence in the artistic harmonising of colour- Surely none but one who had a great love for hjs work and a desire to give joy in the midst of sorrow could haye accomplished such a work of art. May I take this opportunity tq say how greatly I admire the magnificent taste displayed all the year round in our lovely Park. We are indeed privileged tQ live in such an outstanding town as Masterton is in many respects, and to. all who strive tq make it, so let us give “honour to whom honour is due.”—l am, etc., A GRATEFUL MOTHER. Masterton, May 7.