PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20254, 24 July 1937, 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.

ALLEGED LUXURY.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l was more than surprised at the statement made by Mr A. M. Bisley at the Borough Council’s laßt meeting that the people, having gone In for the most expensive luxury—a Labour Government. Mr Bisley is a business man, and I would like him to •state what things he calls expensive luxury. We have a Labour Government In office that has increased the purchasing power of the workers—or, In other words, the masses—which enables a working man to have a radio set or a motor car or anything else that costs a little more money. Mr Bisley thinks that should not be so. As regards costs and the rise in wages, Mr Bisley knows as well as I do that wages are higher than the cost of living. Never during the slump have the -business people in this country had such a volume of business turnover as since wages have been increased.

It appears to me, acoording to the Nationalist Party’s ideas, that a work- ! ing man should not own a radio set or j ■ a motor car or have an Increase in j; wages, and make him-self comfortable j, with the rest of the community. What 1 happened under the previous Govern- j' ment when it reduced the wages and j the pensions? Was not the country : stagnant and business at a standstill? I The people had no money to buy the I goods in the shops or warehouses. ; Which would Mr Bisley prefer to see, ! people having more money and spending it, and making the country prosperous, or people living in poverty amidst plenty? All goods In every shop are for any one who wishes to buy them, and the ' workers should be in a position to buy these goods. I think that Mr Bisley ' should be well satisfied for the good ' that has been brought about by the l present Government.—l am, etc., j A WORKING MAN. j Claudelands, July 22.

DECIMAL COINAGE.

(To the Editor.) Sir.—lt Is to be hoped that the recommendation by the Australian Banking Commission, that the Commonwealth should adopt decimal coinage, will be endorsed. It only required a start to be made by any part of the Empire and the system will spread rapidly. There was a time when practically all the British units had the same currency. Canada was an exception. The sovereign was accepted anywhere, and we did not have to ohange our silver when going from one country to another. All of It, I suppose, was minted at Home or at the branoh mints overseas. To-day each unit has its own coins —gold has gone out of use for monetary purposes—and so another link was broken. There is a growing movement at Home for an Empire coinage, basen on the florin, with is one-tenth of £l. The smaller coins would be of nickel, one cent being worth a farthing. The Australian plan Is slightly different, but there is no reason why Joint action should not be taken. It must be admitted that the present system Is cumbersome, and a decimal system would bring the whole of the English-speaking peoples under it. There would be no difficulty in teaching the young people the new system. It has been said that the larger money markets in Australia influence to some extent those in New Zealand, and if the Commonwealth adopts decimal coinage then New Zealand should promptly consider taking action. —I am, etc., POINT ONE. Hamilton, July 23.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln your sub-leader on the financial policy of the present Government you rightly say that when the question was asked of Labour candidates during the election campaign: “Where is the money to come from?" they treated it as a Joke and replied that this would not be a problem when they assumed oontrol of the financial oredit of the Dominion. It was for precisely that reason that thousands of supporters of Douglas Social Credit throughout the Dominion voted Labour at the polls, and when the Government’s first Act was to take over ‘the Reserve Bank many supporters of Social Credit still thought that the Government intended to implement something very close to a Soeinl Credit policy. But. as you correctly point out, most of the money is coming from taxation, which has increased by leaps and bounds in the. last few years. Now, Sir. many of the Labour candidates had read Marshall liattersley’s “This Age of Plenty," whioh is regarded as 1 lie besl single book on Social Credit, and they professed themselves as being in agreement with it. Hattersley says that Iho way to introduce the Social Credit Slate — after assuming control of the country’s

to pay a portion of ihc cost of social services out of costless credit and lighten the burden of taxation accordingly. In ilie case of Great. Britain, be suggests starling with the Army, Ihe Navy, and the Air Force, and he. points <Oll Dial by developing this method, in n few years time taxation will cense lo be Yet. so far. 1!,,' Labour Government lias pursued (he opposite policy, and when taxed wild their orthodox Budget lasi August by Social Credit supporlers they pleaded for lime and the necessity for securing our export markets by means or long-term trade agreements which Mr Nash was io negotiate. Since that date the Douglas Social Credit people have remained quiet, waiting for the next Budget., and if the next Budget does not show substantial decreases in taxation and further steps forward to the Social Credit objective, the Social Credit Movement may reawaken with Hie same disastrous results for Messrs experienced by Messrs Forbes and Coates.—l am. etc., DOUGLASITE. Hamilton, July 21,

HOME FOR CHILDREN.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —While visiting Raglan recently I strolled one afternoon In the direction of Karioi. Some influence lured me on till the mountain -stood towering above. It was then that a sudden deßire fired my brain to see at first hand the setting in which Bryant Home stands. Acting on Impulse, I followed the road to the right, crossed a stony-bottom brook, where, by the way, a band of merry children in charge of capable guardians, were playing to their hearts’ content. A circuitous road, bush-flanked, then led me on an up grade to the entrance gates, on the crown of a plateau. On arrival, one immediately became aware of the freshness and purity of the air, which, owing to its buoyancy, is Inhaled without effort. This forest air, fanned by the saline winds from the Tasman, forms a combination in atmo-spherlo conditions most refreshing and invigorating. Here stands the home, on the fringe of Karioi Forest Reserve, a most fitting and majestic background for a noble institution. This same reserve is the convenientlysituated area whence is drawn by gravitation the purest of sparkling water for the requirements of the home. From this commanding situation there is presented an extensive panorama, embracing the Tasman, the coast north to Port Waikato, Raglan Harbour, and a large portion of the county. Not the least Important of Its endowments is the amount of sunshine it enjoys, for the sun’s rays shine on this children’s paradise from the moment they enter the sky at dawn till the last beam of light dips into the Tasman on the horizon. What an enchanting environment! The altitude, forest air, native tree~, running water, the open sea and its breezes, nature’s playground, with a glorious outlook, and (as If to have curative properties on hand) a continuous stream of the sun’s ever-healing rays during the day. The man who chose this site had

certainly an inspiration. It Is not strange that it was so, having the noble thought to provide facilities for recouping the health of children, It was fitting that he should also toe endowed with the knowledge necessary to select a locality with desirable surroundings. Men with the incentive of the donor of this institution are surely benefaci tors. They surely are rewarded by i the gratitude of thousands of grateful parents whose children have benefited from a term at the home.—l am, etc., L.L.A. Kawhia, July 20. i | i j ! ! j ,

ABOUT THE WEATHER.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—There are a few things—my deepest thoughts—that I should like to set down about the weather. There are two kinds of weather—good, and the sort we have been getting of late. I prefer the former. The idea that we must have plenty of rain in order to soak the subsoil seems to me to be a fallacy. The subsoil has been, is, and will be soaked for months to come. Fortune Is said to he a fickle jade, but for real fickleness give me the weather. It lures one out without a coat In the morning and drives one home, wet through, in the evening. Take a coat beoause it looks threatening, and it has either to be carried about or left forgotten on a hook, so that it will not be available when next wanted. I have a coat that has been playing hide and seek with me that way all winter. When I want it at home it is at the office, and when I want it at the office it is at home. There is a deep psychological law working here, but I do not know how it works. If I ever find out 1 shall tell the world.

One would not mind so much if we had what might be called cross rains. By that I mean a rain that drifts across a street and not down it. One could then get under the lee of some building or hedge, on one side or the other, but no. The rains always seem to come right down the street, so that here is no lee-side. This may seem strange, in view of the lact that all streets do not run in the same direction, but it is a fact. The rain veers so that it can always go down the street and prevent one getting any shelter. Then there is the matter of timing. The ruler of the weather is poor at this, otherwise why the heavy showers Just as one sets out for home Just after work, with a break until the Journey out to keep an evening appointment Is made? Further, why so many wet week-ends? There is more than a touch of malice in that. It has soured many promising young careers. I know that Hie poets write about the warm spring rains, but it is hardly fair There are others, neither warm nor springing. The only place to listen to rain Is in bed. It does not sound so bad there, but in the morning, of course, we arc told that everything is “so fresh, as if the atmosphere had been washed.” 1 should not be surprised to hear of places where the atmosphere had been washed away. 1 am writing this on Friday, hoping that it will be fine on Saturday, as urgent business will call me, and many of my friends, to Auckland. Surprising the amount of business that is to lie done in Ihe northern city to-mor-row, and I dislike doing things in I lie rain. This protest—l will not mind if il is regarded ns a plea—is made in Ihe fond hope that it will be line tomorrow. and also on Wednesday. We do not want any spring rain. The Springboks will he quite sufficient.— I am, etc., A MACINTOSH. Hamilton, July 23.