OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1943, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

f INSULT TO EARLY SETTLERS (To the Editor; Sir, —Mr Robertson at his meeting on Monday confessed (almost boasted) that after the Early Settlers’ Dinner a year or two ago he actually took the menu card with all our names on it round to the Social Security Office and found out which of us were drawing some benefit. The chairman, his Worship the Mayor, will be able to prove that the card was actually marked to show it. If we take that paltry ten or twelve pounds a year universal superannuation (which most of us accepted if only to offset the extra taxation) do we lose our right to privacy and lay our affairs open to prying Ms.P. who might want to use us for political propaganda? And it was distorted propaganda at that, as nearly all the audience took it that we were living on Social Security, whereas in most cases it is merely that we are entitled to the small universal superannuation. —I am, etc., EARLY SETTLER. Masterton, September 21. THAT ELECTION PLEDGE (To the Editor) Sir,—After thinking it over for a week and a half the Chairman of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee has at long last given his explanation of his pledge to resign, and with a much larger and better organised “rescue party” this time. To the original excuse that the pledge was about “another matter altogether” he adds the new one that anyway his figures about the Broadcasting Funds were right. “Yer pays .yer money and yer takes yer choice.” Actually the question, as Mr Robertson truthfully indicated, arose out of a comparison by Mr Heckler with the policy of the National Party. This, ,as everyone knows, includes reducing the radio licence fee from 25s to 15s, because at the present fee the profiteering is so enormous that already an accumulated fund of nearly one and a half millions has been piled up—over a million of it in short term investments and over £50,000 of it in cash. The only red herring our friend could produce after a week’s thought was the suggestion that the question asked was not whether these huge profits had been built up, but whether they were all lying idle. Would that have anything to do with the question of whether this profiteering is going on and whether the fee could be reduced? No logical mind can see any possible connection, but Mr Robertson no doubt does not worry unduly about that but believes firmly in the principle of “simple stories for simple people.” The same applies to the other leg of his double, which, again after a long wait, turns out to be a claim that the “other matter altogether” to which the admitted pledge related, was the Banks. Well, well, well. We courteously invite Mr Robertson to give any one of us a ring next Sunday morning and tell us his views then as to whether the people are really so simple after all. —We are, etc., J. H. Macdonald, farmer, Ihuraua; W. Horne, farmer, Ihuraua; H. R. | Burch, farmer, Alfredton; C. D. Smith, farm manager, Alfredton. ANOTHER ATTEMPT (To the Editor.) Sir, —Re the letter of “Stick to Facts” of September 20, once again it seems attempts are being made to retire Mr Robertson. It must be very gratifying to Labour voters to know that the Opposition realise their only hope is by Mr Robertson’s withdrawal. Thanking you for space.—l am, etc.. LABOURER. Masterton, September 21.