PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

“RINGING IN.” (To the Editor.) Sir, —A prominent official of the police force retired ■some time ago, and when giving his reminiscences to a Pressman, told of how, on one occasion, he and a companion were placed in charge of a party of Celestials for escort to a centre- On the way in one prisoner escaped, and in order to avert a reprimand the escort made up the number by kidnapping a Chinaman who was working at his claim, and although completely innocent he was penalised with the guilty. The affair was narrated as a ‘‘humorous” episode, but was it such? I think that the officer should have been heartily ashamed of participation therein, and boasting of it -upon his retirement from a force which the public likes to regard as beyond suspicion. It may have been “only a Chinaman” who was the victim, but it j dealt a blow at his and his country- , men’s conception of British justice which would take years to eradicate, and to openly boast of the episode at this late stage accentuates the force of that blow.—l am, etc., BRITON. Hamilton, May 13,. FINANCIAL BYBTEMS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Mr John Thomas is puzzled over a question as to why three countries—ltaly, Germany and Russia — have not adopted the Douglas proposals. If Mr Thomas searches into history he will find the answerIt is the selfish ambition of men . greedy for power. In olden days they grabbed the land to “laud it over their brethren.” To-day it is currency that is the key to world power. For many centuries they have been grabbing power and kept the people in ignorance regarding finance. Today they, the financiers, hold the world in their grasp and every means is taken to keep that power. Hence \ the leaders of nations are still ignorant of the facts, and the people, like sheep, follow the leaders. Only a minority understand money, and this education has only existed during the past few years. Mr Thomas is wrong regarding Russia. Russian leaders met Major Douglas, but he pointed out to them that their problem was still one of scarcity, hence social credit did not apply. The other countries are all in the grip of finance; so is Canada; so is New Zealand to-day, in spite of appearances. The election of last November has sent many of us to sleep again. We must still be alert. —I am, WATSON HOLMES. Hamilton, May 14. WOMEN ON FARMS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I read with interest a paragraph headed “Women on Farms,” j dealing with’ the conditions of women I and children. It is surprising to*me that the division has done nothing in ; the past. I understand the Women’s j Division of the Farmers’ Union is aware of the conditions on farms. I j do not say all. I have met some very ; charming farmers’ wives, and one would expect them to take an interest , in their husbands’ farms and see that decent conditions prevail and so make life for the worker as hygienic as possible, if nothing else; but I am sorry to say that I know of several who take no interest in the workers whatsoever, and consider themselves above them. As long as these women can get away from the work, such as cooking and washing for the men and i baking for the homestead, that is all j that worries them. They even go j away for a holiday in the harvest and , get out of the extra work. Many ; girls get married to farmers nowadays, expecting a life of idleness, and run away when they should help their men. No wonder farmers do not make headway. But again I have friends married to farmers who help them all they can, and take their , babies to ,the shed with them, and ; these are the women New Zealand ■should be proud of. The old style of 1 helpmeet is gradually disappearing, instead many women waste their time smoking and driving themselves about, : instead of being a help they hinder, . and think they are doing wonders. — I am, etc., ONE WHO HAS MET THEM. Okoroire, May 12. ALBERTA. (To the Editor.) j Sir, —To impress a gullible public ! publicists have erected numerous idols for the “living dead” to worship. These idols are “a big business man,” j an “expert,” persons with academic ! degrees, etc. j Through certain avenues of infor- j mation we have the “correspondent from Riga,” or, as in this case, from Alberta; and to impress the ignorant l these writers are always associated with a “leading London, or European, paper.” So one writer, to wit, “Cantab,” who really ought to know bet- j ter, takes up five inches of space to inform us about Abcrhart in Alberta. J Does this correspondent go to tlie right source of information about Alberta? No; he takes his evidence from the enemy’s camp and expects the public to believe it. Cardinal Manning many years ago exploded tills “correspondent from Riga” busi- j ness by proving that he sat in an office in Vienha as representing the London Times. The truth regarding Alberta is found ' in the facts of the case. In spite of ; tlie appointment of Major Douglas, the : Premier accepted I lie Bank of Eng- '■ to act as financial adviser; the Premier ; further issued a policy utterly opposed to Major Douglas, whereby the people . of Alberta are to he heavily taxed. ' This action is in accord wilh a pre-| I conceived plan by high finance to ; i discredit social credit throughout, tin* ; ! world. I would remind “Cantab” of | the words of Mr John Strickland, onI of the world’s greatest editors, of IfiI New York Times: “1 am paid 2oi> i I dollars to pervert, to lie direct, to sell J myself, my country to the God of Mammon.” Such is the verdict upon news via Alberta, Rome, London, or New York. But the common people i accept anything that is issued through j I the Press.—l am, etc.. MARCUS JAMES. 1

COURTING CALAMITY. (To the Editor.) Sir,—There Is a general proneness to blame motorists for all street accidents, but if a practice of which I saw a sample in Victoria Street this morning is at all common, cyclists can rightly be held, responsible for a proportion. During a busy period a cyclist pedalled down the busy street with both hands in his pockets, his head in the air, his eyes fixed on the roofs of the highest buildings. He may be a budding trick cyclist—apparently he was striving to impress passers-by as such—but had he been brought violently to Mother Earth he could have blamed no one but himself. I believe there is a by-law prohibiting cyclists riding without hand or hands on the handle-bars- Why is it not enforced?—l am, etc., j SAFETY FIRST. > Hamilton, May 13. WHO WILL WORK? (To the Editor.) Sir,—According to the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, the Government will raise the New Zealand worker’s standard of living to that of the American millionaire. Cost about £IOO a day, trips to New York, Miami, Monte Carlo, the Lido and a host of servitors and no work. It stands to reason that work will have to be done by someone, especially as attendants on the millionaire workers. I can only see one way of doing this—namely, by importing, under contract and at low wages, enough Asiatic coolies to do the work of the country, thus putting the New Zealand workers in the position of the free citizen of the ancient world, where all necessary work was done by slaves. We have heard nothing of this proposal yet, but it is probably a future gift out of the lucky bag.—l am, etc., INQUIRER. Ngaruawahia, May 14. TOWN HALL. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l have read with interest “Hopeful’s” letter on the need of a Town Hall in Hamilton. I have many times heard the Mayor extol the beauties of Hamilton. I have on numerous occasions heard prophesy that Hamilton is going to be the largest inland town in the Dominion. Will he support his statements by providing what any town worthy of the name should possess—a town hall, where public meetings, art exhibition, flower shows, etc., can be held, and a hall that those interested in the drama may hold performances 'in comfort, with moderate charges? j It is a reflection on a former council ! that they should have disposed of the town hall, b,ut it is no use raking up the past. Will the Mayor lead a movej ment in the interests of those who ; see something more in life than seeking after material things? If he cares to show leadership support is forthcoming.—l am, etc., THESPIAN. Hamilton, May 15,

MR NASH’S MISSION. (To the Editor.) Sir,—ln your issue of May 11 there is an effusion over the signature of Mr F. W. Doidge, of Rotorua, who was one of the rejected candidates at the recent election. It is a matter for astonishment that Mr Doidge, after going through an election campaign, should exhibit such appalling ignorance on the economic questions of the day. Your correspondent obviously has a lively admiration for Mr Walter Elliot, Britain’s Minister of Agriculture. That is a matter of opinion; the writer is of the opinion that the mass poverty in Britain is not creditable, individually or collectively, to the British Cabinet. “Britain spends £200,000,000 per year in the purchase of foreign foodstuffs,” says Mr Doidge; also, “Mr Elliot’s purpose is to end that-” Suppose Mr Elliot achieves his object, what will the inevitable result be? The £200,000,000 sterling spent in foreign foodstuffs at present is spent in Britain in buying manufactured goods for export. If Britain grows all her own foodstuffs, then British manufacturers will lose £200,000,000 of foreign trade. Therefore it appears that Mr Elliot cannot “cat his cake and have it.” Some o'f us may be pardoned for not being enamoured of the mental equipment of the British Cabinet under such circumstances. Again, as one aspiring to enter the political arena, Mr Doidge displays unpardonable lack of knowledge on the primary produce marketing question. The farmers of New Zealand have io meet their costs here in New Zealand, in our own money. Let me quole a concrete example used in the recent election campaign, by a gentleman not a thousand miles from Hamilton: “A £IOO sterling worth of goods bought in London collected costs until at retail point in New Zealand the cost in New Zealand money was £208.” This argument was being used against high exchange, but it proved a lot more than was intended. When the writer asked how it was possible for the New Zealand farmer paid it sterling level, plus 25 per cent., lo meet cosls of £208,’ Ihe Candida I e ■sat with his mouth open. I invi!e Mr Doidge to tell your readers how it. is possible for New Zealand farmers, being paid at Ihe 800 level, to meet their costs at Die J3OO level. The gross injustice that has been perpetrated against Ihe farmers for so many years has caused Ihe accumulation of London funds. Mr Nash lias no need lo go cap in hand to anyone in London. Wo are within our rights and fully competent to make our own internal arrangements. It’ Britain restricts our market siie injures her own people (equally and the inevitable result would he Ihe internal expansion of secondary Industry to meet the demand previously met by imports.— 1 am. etc., R. G. YOUNG. Gordon ton, Mu' 13.