PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19890, 20 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 ‘.his rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

LECTURES ON ECONOMICS. 1 (To the Editor.) ! Sir, —With the arrival of winter I I certain organisations become active in j order to improve the minds and intel--1 lects of our people. j Among these organisations, one — 1 Ito wit, the W.E A. —resumes its j activities for the uplift of the younger ; generation. This season they are inI strutting us upon economics. 1 bejlieve three lectures have already been i given. In perusing these lectures one is struck by the standard and type of j information given. __ | The question arises, Is the W.E.A. ; imposing certain propaganda, based on the Russian type of economy as advo- , cated by Karl Marx, Lenfn and Co., thereby" causing a foundation for the spread" of Bolshevism rather than giving a true perspective of economics, ! free from all bias and based on his- j 1 torical facts?. —I am, etc., { A WORKER. j Kaipaki, May 16-

THE DEFENCE QUESTION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The question of defence was recently discussed in the House of Commons, and it was interesting to find that the Labour members were, as one paper put it, “prepared to sup- ! port any proposals of the Govern- : ment which aim at the real defence | of the country.” One Labour member, Mr McLean Watson, said: “A | Labour Government has as. much re- ■ sponsibility, and recognises its responsibility, for the defence of the country as any other Government. Peace is our llrst consideration, but when we have given that consideration we have to bear in mind that the country requires to be defended if there are any countries that want to attack us.” That appears to me to put the issue very fairly.—l am, etc-, J. CALSHORE. Hamilton, May 18. EXTERNAL TRADE. (To Jhe Editor.) Sir, —Would Mr R. G. Young please provide a little evidence of the stateI ment that the £200.000,000 spent by Great Britain on imported foodstuffs is then used by the exporting countries to purchase British manufactures? London is the centre of the world’s banking, and I think he will And that the funds accumulated there by foreign countries are used to finance business with all other States. One of the reasons why, some years ago, Britain suspended trading relations with Russia was that the Russians were exporting heavily to Great Britain and using the funds thus obtained to purchase machinery from America, thus putting an extra strain on the dollar-sterling exchange. As another correspondent has pointed out, if our trade with Great Britain is onesided then surely she has the right to buy from quarters that themselves are prepared to take more ? Then there was that strange statement that “the gross injustice that has been perpetrated against farmers for so many years has caused the accumulation of London funds-” As a matter of fact, these funds were bought from the producers at the rate of £125 New Zealand for £IOO sterling. What injustice is there in that? The funds accumulated because there was little demand for imports. They were accumulating rapidly before the extra 15 per cent, was added to the exchange.—l am, etc., it R - bune. Hamilton, May 19.

THE LAND PROBLEM.

(To the Editor.) —“Lucre” asks how the land problem would be solved under Social Credit. Social Credit is not put forward as a solution to the land problem, but as a means of ensuring the efficient distribution of goods and services on a scientific and equitable basis. Much ink has been spilled on the question of private ownership of land and property, but this is a problem quite separate and distinct from the problem of purchasing power. The mortgage system has been cited frequently as the prime cause of the farmers’ difficulties. This is not correct. Their troubles have not been due to the mortgage or the mortgagee, but to the fact that mortgages and other contracts must be expressed in terms of money, and money is a variable measure of value. Its value is raised, by deflation and lowered by inflation, lienee the hardships suffered by mortgagors during the depression and the frequent breaches of contract. Social Credit aims to maintain money as a stable measure, as invariable as a yardstick, so that such breaches will no longer be necessary. 'Sufficient purchasing power and a stable price level will abolish many of the injustices and abuses which are liable to occur under the present mortgage system. It is true, however, that vested interests are the great obstacle in the way of a much-needed reduction in land prices, and since the whole economic structure of this country depends upon the maintenance and growth of the primary industries the way shonld be made easy for those who are land-minded to obtain holding's. In my opinion the simplest and most effective method of achieving this end is to restore all land to the * Crown by a gradual process of pur- ; chase. Unijnproved land should be 1 broken In by paid labour, and when , ready for settlement a land tenure j system such as the lease-in-perpetuily i would eliminate many of the present difficulties confronting would-be settlers. I have failed, as yet, to discover any advantages in the principles put forward by Ihe single-laxers. All l taxation comes ultimately from ihe j land —always has dune and always will do, under any system that 1 can j envisage. But. perhaps your corre- I spondent Mr McMillan can assist in elucidating this poinl for us.— I am etc., G. MINT Ell. Horsham Downs, May 10.

IN ALBERTA. (To the Editor.) Sir,—lf Mr M. James or others would like the details of ttie cable message I recently forwarded regard ing Alberta, it came from the Daily Telegraph, and would be accepted by most people as authentic. Since Alberta decided to apply Social Credit methods to provincial finance It has, ndAurally, come into the limelight, and the leading papers have appointed correspondents. From another reliable source, the Christian Science Monitor, I have since learned that “Social Credit members of the Legislature are unanimous in condemning Major Douglas's action and there is a strong sentiment among them that some of the 6000 dollars he has received should be returned to the province if he wishes to abandon the position of adviser.” Mr Aberhart is reported to have stated that Cabinet had under consideration the question of releasing Major Douglas from his contract and that an official statement would be made later. People interested in Social Credit were looking forward to it being introduced in Alberta, and I forwarded the information about tlie collapse of the arrangements with Major Douglas because several of my friends had shown such interest in the brief report. Would Mr James please give me some information as to where I could secure particulars about the alleged unmasking of the London Times with regard to its Riga correspondent? 1 knew several Times men years ago, and cannot imagine the old Thunderer doing that sort of thing. For some years the only source of information regarding Soviet Russia was via Riga, and it was well-informed news, 100. —1 am, etc M CANTAB. Cambridge, May 19. ALSATIAN DOGS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —It is indeed a pity that your correspondent “Aztec” did not have the courage to sign his name, especially as he claims to be “in a particularly good position to know how widespread the Alsatian dog menace is.” Possibly over his true name “Aztec’s” letter would come into the category of the “inspired” letter, as to the best of my knowledge the details presented to Parliament during the past two years have been one-sided and biassed by prejudice. Obviously from the lone of his letter “Aztec” himself is prejudiced as well as biassed. Perhaps “Aztec" will stato from his personal knowledge ’ what is the proportion of “other dogs” roaming the streets in comparison with Alsatians, and how much damage and filthiness can be blamed on these “other dogs." I would very much like to meet

“Aztec” and to take him to my home and introduce him to my flve-year-old Alsatian. In this animal he would find a true friend, a loving pal, and a highly-trained animal. I would at the same time like to show “Aztec” i the collection of foxies, ” Airedales, Poms, indeterminates, and the rest of the plain mongrels that are at present making havoc of garden and shrubs, : and which have no respect for either I house or surroundings in acts that | are even committed inside my home j when opportunity occurs for any of ! the above to get inside, j I could write at length on the deprei dations of dogs in general without | bias towards the Alsatian. I say withj out bias, because, though an Alsatian owner, I realise that there are dogs of the breed thjjt could well be done without, not through any fault of the breed, but through lack of control on the part of the owners. The same lack of control that exists on the part of owners of every breed of dog, large or small. In conclusion, perhaps when “Aztec” has realised his dream of the exclusion of the Alsatian he will turn his attention to the exclusion of hundreds in other breeds that are far more numerous and just as vicious in their acts of depredation. This would indicate that “Aztec” is not “Alsatian mad,” as many are, but ihat lie genuinely desires to see a distressing ! condition rectified in an impartial manner.—l am, etc., L. S. ANDERSEN. Hamilton, May 19. WAGES AND PRICES. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I have been expecting Captain Colbeck’s comments on my last letter regarding shorter working hours and wages. However, my letter was delayed by my Easter holidays, and he may not have seen ‘lt. He touches the point in his letter headed “Guaranteed Prices-” He may he right that it is better to scale prices dowm than up. Rut It is more difficult, if not almost impossible. My opinion is that the disequilibrium is not between the prices of primary and secondary products, but between Hie values placed on interest, etc., and wages. If you reduce wages s_nd interest and rents, the wages are reduced first, and this causes immediate depression; whereas if wages are raised the purchasing power is immediately increased (diverted from interest, etc.), and a general stimulus is given to business. Prices, of course, go up a little, which I have estimated by 2 to 3 per cent, if wages are raised 10 per cent. Every other item of expense would then bo considered, and I do not think interest or rents generally coiuld prove a case for a 10 per cent, increase along with wages. If all things arc to he reduced they necessarily are reduced Individually by Government action, and a good many items would escape the, scaling down. The best way the Government can assist the farmer is to base his interest payments on prices—i.e-, if he raised a mortgage when butter was 2s Gil and I he Government lives prices at Is 3d. the farmer should pay half his original interest. And this should be Ihe oilier way if ho raised a mortgage when ihe price was 9d. The difficult v Ilia I remains now is that as poods have increased, money | has increased in \alue. so tli.it the £IOO that original!' paid Hie interest ' biil onls meant 8001 b of butter-fal, ; whereas Hie. same, fiou no\y means^

over 20001 b. Wages have been reduced generally, hut interest has practically held its gronnd, being treated as sacred and unassailable by the past Governments. I am hoping that the new Government will lift this rather ugly monster from its throne, down to a more equitable level, so that instead of being all-important it will hold a place below wages and be a second or third charge instead of first. Captain Colbeck is wrong when he suggests that the Government in going to make an “increase of payments all round.” I have seen no suggestion of an Increase In interest or rents, and that makes all the difference..—l am, etc., EQUITY. Te Kulti, May 19.