PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19891, 21 May 1936, Page 11

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but 101‘ Whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents sire requested to write in ink, It is essential that anonymous wruers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is com—plied with. their letters will not appear.

HAMILTON RADIO STATION. (To the Editor.) Sir, —The -suggestion that a B class wireless broadcasting station should be established in Hamilton, and conducted by a listeners’ club, on the lines of other successful B stations, is one which appeals to mo as a very sound idea. Besides providing an excellent medium for advertising the town, the proposed station would till a long-felt need in the district. Remembering the days of Station IZH, Hamilton, memories of excellent recorded request programmes are brought to mind- I feel sure that there is no serious obstacle in the way of forming a new station in Hamilton, and I am confident that there are many listeners in the town and district who would be willing to make a small subscription towards the maintenance of the station. I would suggest that a public meeting should be called to further the proposal. 1 am, etc., FIVE VALVE. Hamilton, May 19. QUOTATIONS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Mr Calshore objects strongly to quotations in part and I agree with him when such an extract suggests misrepresentation. In the case under criticism, such is not the point. The book is “The Intelligent Man’s Guide Through World Chaos,” by Mr G. D. H. Cole. The quotation is: “ Broadly, there are two alternatives before us. The one is a determined attempt to reconstruct the capitalist system—by removing the more obvious causes of mal-adjustment both in the internal affairs of each country and in the relationship between nation and nation, by liquidating as far as possible past mistakes, especially those which have been left behind as a legacy of war, and by endeavouring to correct with the aid of a more enlightened management of financial and industrial affairs the recurrent tendency of Capitalism to let purchasing power fall behind the expansion of productive forces.” I quoted the latter part of this paragraph to show that Major Douglas discovered this factor many years before, yet, Mr Cole has only found it out in 1932. In following up his line of argument Mr Cole deals with war legacies, war debts etc, and finalises his case by suggesting the adoption of the Russian plan. We can now see why Mr Cole and his other friends of the London School of Economics oppose the school represented by Arthur Kitson, Professor Soddy, and Major Douglas. They are Communists, and nothing more need be said. I am, etc., WATSON HOLMES. Hamilton, May 20. LIBERTY AND POLICY. (To the Editor.) Sir, —The meeting on Sunday last to consolidate industrial unionism in Hamilton is a sign of the tendency of the age to destroy the liberty of the subject, a fundamental factor in the British Constitution. The Labour Party have ever stressed the fact of principles. With the type of legislation which they are putting upon the Statute Book they are filching from the people the sacred right Of liberty. Further, this policy Is against the policy laid down by the Prime Minister in his election addresses. He stated definitely that nobody would suffer from any measures the Labour Party would put through Parliament. If I object to becoming a oompulsory trade unionist I am ostracised from industry. Again, I protest strongly against out-side interference from political and trade union officials in private enterprise. Does our local representative in the House represent Hamilton in Wellington, or does he represent the Labour Party of Hamilton in Wellington? From what the present Administration has given us to date, it appears that we are receiving class legislation based upon revenge, rather than measures for the benefit of the community as a whole. It savours too much of Russia.—l am, etc., BRADSHAW BROWNE. Hamilton, May 19. SMASHING INDUBTRY. (To the Editor.) Sir, —During my long course of socialistic reading I read of one plan lor superseding private by public ownership. This was to ruin private industry by legislative action, and then for the State to take it over at knockdown prices. This policy is sometimes followed by Rig Business, and when done by Big Business is regarded by the Socialists as an awful example of the depravity of private enterprise; but, apparently, when done by a socialistic Government it is perfectly right and properThe reason for this scheme, according to its supporters, is that the silly public conscience would not stand for tile straight-out confiscation of private property; to buy it out at normal valuation would be too expensive and would put the capitalist in the position of a perpetual pensioner of lhe Slate. But something must be done to allay the queasy conscience of tile public, so industry must ue smashed and bought out at scrap prices. Thus the queasy conscience Judging by the way our present Government is piling up industrial costs, and out to check rising prices, it seems as if they are following the I policy I have just sketched. The average profit from industry is about 'production and handling costs will be about 20 per cent. This Government apparently wants to force industry and commerce to carry the 15 per cent, loss until they are bankrupt, and then the State can pick up good bargains. Before the election Labour candidates said that if their party got, into power it would put business and industry on an improved footing. That policy lias been hurled into the limbo of forgotten things.—l am, etc-, A. WARBURTON. Ngnruawahia, May 20.

WOMEN ON FARMS. (To the Editor.) ‘ Sin—ln reply to the letter of “OneL \Vho Has Met 'Them," from Okoroil‘e, ' May 12. I think the writer must be ‘lsufi’ering from a little jealousy. Her ”next door neighbour may he a little ghetter. off than herself. The \\'omen‘s itDivision consists mosuy of farmers' ' twives, and there is no home that I Hlinow of that has treated the farm Ihands in the manner mentioned. The ‘lfarm hand that one hears so much , labout in these days, in my opinion has , tweainered things fairly well. He inmanaSES a picture show weekly, and ‘lin winter perhaps a dance or two in r the week; football in winter and tennis "in summer. He is treated as one ot’ ‘!the family and if things are a bit _ hard he often comes in for more titbits than the farmer himselfIt is the farmer and his family, in ]my opinion, who deserve the greatest 'sympathy. Some or them have grown old before their time. Men who, in many cases. have given years of their lives in the Great \V’ar, have fought a brave tight tln'ough the depression, and have won through with grit and determination. And 1 know of lots of wives who have this season helped their husbands in the haytlelds, as well as doing the cooking, etc. i I think a little education on economy tiwouid not s'o amiss on the growing wboys and girls of today. Many of our lpioneers were men and women who ‘. saved from wages—with much more !trying conditions than to—day—enough t=to get a start on.—l am. efi., t . SADIE ALLEN, t President, . Women‘s Division. [ Tirau, May 19. l i it '! MR NASH'S MISSION. i ii (To the Editor.) ! Sir,-—ln your issue of May 18 “‘Equity" draws several unwarranted :conciiusion‘s on the above subject from Umy letter 01‘ May it}. I merely pointed gout the inevitable result of Mr Walter iElliot‘s policy it carried to a success—ifui conclusion. The British farmer is icertainly entitled to an economic price ,tfor his produce, and if he had an iintelligent Government that issued its fown money he could be subsidised up ito a payable price, with consequent . benefit to the whole community. t It is true that, provided New Zea—;land farmers were receiving a profitfabie price in New Zealand money for :gtheir produce, they could “dump" their produce on the English market. ‘However; this is not likely to eventu;ate. We must accept what the Enslish market offers for our produce, and the monetary result is, in return. the measure of our buying power on the British market, “Mr Young wants all and every~ thing for New Zealand, even to putting the English farmer out. of existence,” I'says “Equity." This accusation is un— Ifair, as I have never advocated anyI thing in the direction indicated. There tis ample room for all; wise and separiate monetary policy within the various tcountries of the world will lead to jreciprooai trade. It is the present iimbecile attempt to impose one rigid Imonetary policy over the whole world tthst is largely responsible for our ltroubles. t in conclusion, Sir, I must disclaim iany desire to injure anyone, here or abroad, but under no circumstances “should New Zealand accept dictation ‘from the British Government. the Ipuppet of “sound flnance."~l am, i ate. t R. G. YOUNG. t Gordonton, May 19. t

i cuss-non or DEFENCE.

i (To the Editor.) . } Sin—Your paper has given space to ‘considerable discussion on war and defence. I am most, inclined to agree Avith the views expressed by Mr :Uollins. Let us consider the situation pre—vailing in the world to-day. The economic crisis has for seven years Ibeen throttling the Imperialist Powers, :compelling them to search for new [markets to sell their surplus goods—‘goods which are in the hands or .capitallsta and financiers who cannot iconsume them. goods which should he owned by those who produced them Etor the purpose or consumption and not as a means 42! acquiring profit. é Vt’henever a nation begins to realise ithe necessity of destroying the evil powers of capital and finance, Fascism ‘_rears its ugly head, and unless met iwith sumcient organised resistance is able, with brutal suppression, to main—gtain for a while. the rule of the few ‘nt the expense of the many. Fascism l‘tllr'l)’ best be defined as the open. licrrorist dictatorship of the most rcactionary, most chauvinist. and most ,iniperialistlc element-s of finance and irnpilnl. i s'ince. as “Peter" has admitted, :t‘manre is the main cause of war, then it is only reasonable to conclude that. ‘liiose nations in which Fascism is the ,supl‘cme power must essentially be .‘HIC most aggressive. llenoc the first {Static in the world to become Fascist. lituly, has been waging a frightful war tngninst Aliyssininn people. utilising the 'sume brutality and terror as it does in its own internal rule. The Fascist. .‘lim'ornmeut of Germany has taxed the I||Cnplr lieuvily, cut their wages, and ii-nlllictl ”win of insurance :lnd other itmnrtli funds. in order to equip a huge guriny. ’l’huusunds or Licrniun people ‘tll'U in prisons and concentration Mumps l‘ui‘ prolesting ng‘ninst this {\\'lislci'nl lilitl warlike policy The lot't'tllliltiuil ut' the ithinoinnti is merely to prelude to further nggrrssivo arts jni’ Ilillrr Fusrism, and has resulted tiruin the failure ol‘ the League Of leilinns to imposo sutilcir‘nily strin~ i‘uvnt. suncliuns against itliiy. 5W.“Isinilt is pining n .\‘llilillll' mil) in that int ,\ll|l'i||‘|‘|l Hli liii‘ t‘\'l- HF 1111‘ 1:151 \\’urhl \\‘tu'. 'i'hr militnrisl thtsrisl rlitlur of Japan :u'v t'nninnlull) driving" lh.lt runnlry inln \\'.irs against tiliinn, (mil lirv t'rt-illlt‘nll)‘ mulling." ln'mm'utiw throats :Lflninsl Hm .\‘m‘irl l'ninn. \\ilii‘li. n\\in:.: in) its m-nnmniv, ilil'i Lorin] .\ii’llt‘llil't“ mnnut tu'issilll} Imm Inn) :iuurrssivo, lmrmrialist dosiflnsl \\'t must snrnl) rr‘niiw thmt tint in [m‘tlvr to t‘rmrni \\al‘s \\r |nn~t romihrii t‘sisrisn't .int’i thr‘ sislmn \\hirli FrlfiL‘lSlH is rolled mum lu F‘i'U'CVi. Ulii)‘ under \\orld socialism \ull wars

cease. and mankind be able to march forward to a brighter and noblcr world, where the brotherhood of man will be fully realised—a world freed from chaos and destruction, a world of peace. progress and prosperity.— I am, ctu.. J. A. SMITH, JUN. Clnudelands, May 19.

__,__.__ THE DIFFICULTY-

(To the Editor.) Sim—Many of us will [my more aileniinn (n linnsui‘zl this session lhnn \\'n dill formerly, if only homuse lr'gislutinn is living rushed through at, such :1 ml!‘ llml ii is iliflii'uli in follow what is living dmw. Hw‘r the \\‘ool9 nlnl I lnmlv n slui'i on NIL 1. and an ]u.lj.!'n I‘-'_’ n-nnn' mum.“ u l‘i-Ili:ll'i.:iiill' sinicnn'ni by HH‘ l’i'inw .\lininiui'. It swnnnl 5n lulu-h ill. \:ll'i.inm- \\'illl III" vim-Hun sinivnn'nis nl' .\h' s.i\'n‘.rl' ulnl Hw Lninuui- (':vnxliiluiw 111;)! l I|:in in Haul il, nml‘v llmn uln'v. [.:wl .\‘mmnimr \\‘u \\m'n [uh] naain mnl again that ii \\:i,» iliim- In «'nllh‘lili that “14' ln-ualu'i'ify «if N‘\\' [Milan-l tivlmnllt‘ll mmn wrnllilinma m-nx‘m-u‘. \\'i- prmlln'mi .nnlvitx nnnl m) Hm .\lnniiFli‘il uf min: hoi‘!‘ rmml nul 111- IH\\l‘l‘l‘|l h-‘vausl- .ri‘ wannhtium I'l~n"\\hl‘:‘y'_ This K" “In! Mr .‘ITIL-itl‘, \\hr‘n nixI‘iJ~.\il‘|: lIH‘ Prfihif‘ilfi In i'.)i'l:-inic‘ni. said: “it (JUL: uui. mailer how \w‘

‘turn it over. or try to get round it. we come back to the same place. L'nlcss people are prepared to pay an ccono< mic price to purchase the production of the people of New chland we shall never get, out of the rlifiiculty \\'c arc, in to-tlay. Curiously enough, peoplu who call themselves statesmen in other countries of the earth will dis—cuss any subject but that, and that ia' the only subject \\‘orth discussing to-night." If this means anything it is that our prosperity is linked up with conditionfi owrscns, unit that pcrinnncnt rrcovcl'y cannot be illilll“ until people übi‘un-‘l will pay an economic, price for lht' hull; at our produce, for \\‘o export llic hull: 01‘ iii \\'c Cannot control lliui (H'l‘l'n't’tl pl‘lrc, illlll the only cnui'w upon to us ls to int-kin Posts of proilut‘liou in ortlvr to luring production in nu vi'onomic low-l. \t-i lhni is l'Vn llt'l|}' \\'lmi llin I‘mwu'nincnl is 11-tl doing". lnilt-ml ii i» Illl'l'o'.t.~ill_‘: I'U.\l\' ol' prmlm'lioll. us [llt' l'i'iinn- .\linisli‘rk 11111 l iti' l'ttlllill: nmurul liii'ill' .‘uljuai ‘ Illt‘lll~‘ ~!m\\i-t|i \\ iln- ‘u‘lllllt' ri-i‘rrrt‘l ‘(H In} Mr .\Unnw \\ill my only u ("out ]N':l[l\l' lllit'l‘ lor our gmnls in llulinul‘lwl» ot' lhn- \\urlil. 11111 lil I|:i< HUI Elna-n t't'ullttlllli‘ lnl‘ HII‘ ['l‘lllltll') lII‘ID' allure-rs lli‘i'l'. ”It‘ll. :im-nrilin]: lo Illi‘ jintlvultr llnnlvr'~o\\ll \\ltl'llxl \\‘. «'nimnl gr-i out of tho tlit‘lii'iilly \\p .trt- In t.” Iti‘iy. llm'x Hlt' Lulu-hr l’ill'l} i'ittlnt‘~v' iiii‘w“ \ii‘\\~ ul' Il> li'tltlr‘l ~ | Mitt with. l R. UL.\L‘. Hamilton. New 13,