PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20257, 28 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.

CONFLICTING IDEAS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I heard the problem of conflicting ideas put forward with respect to State housing, and have been forwarded a statement that seems to sum it up fairly well — “If yon construct houses a great deal cheaper than those already existing on anything like an adequate scale, you reduce the value of all existing houses, thus adversely affecting not only those who let houses but also private owners, besides reducing the securities held by financial. Institutions—even the Publio Trust Office. Further, a rating problem Is likely to eventuate. If you cannot construct houses at a price the poorer section can acquire or rent, your housing project must be a failure, because you cater only for a small section of the population, who are able to provide themselves with houses under the existing conditions In any case, and you tend actually to raise rents by this process on existing houses.” —I am, etc., R. BUNE. Hamilton, July 26.

HEREDITARY TRAITS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Eugenics Is a word coined by Sir Francis Galton, the first president of the Eugenics Society. It means the' study of certain laws and Inborn qualities pertaining to hereditary. Our most Important duty should be to “plant” high ideals in the minds of the young. This should be done in all things In general rather than with a special reference to marriage or sex. Young people should be given ample opportunities of meeting each other, and undesirable partners should be excluded. It Is a very difficult task to “plant” high Ideals In low minds. A low-minded person will naturally seek the companionship of another person of like inferiority. A criminal, a sage, a seer, or a clown is a reflex of heredity, good or ill. The law is absolute, and a harmful heredity Is by no means destroyed by marriage with good stock. It is only concealed and widely scattered, but ready to come out under a given set of circumstances. Defects and gifts, good qualities and bad, are the result of heredity. The law is simply this—persons transmit their traits, constructive or destructive, beneficial or otherwise, to their descendants. Conditions may or may not afford a field for the expression of certain hereditary traits or qualities; hence we must try to develop conditions which are conducive to morality, to justice (not altogether to law) and to freedom, and to weaken, to attack, and finally to end conditions which are unsocial and bard. A morality which has become instinctive is ihe ohly morality which will endure the test of time.—l am, etc., HARRY WOODRUFFE. Auckland, July 26.

BROADCASTING CONTROL,

(To the Editor.) Sir, —A joint statement was issued by members of the Crusade for Social Justice, Britlsh-Israel Movement, and by Mr J. E. H. Gates, as a result of their meeting in Auckland to-day.—l am, etc., F. C. JORDAN, Hon. Secretary, Crusade for Social Justice. Auckland, July Since the Government's purchase of Station IZM the Director of Broadcasting has suspended the following sessions: Crusade for Social Justice, Presbyterian Church, Britlsh-Israel, Mr Gates. At the time of the sale of this station the station director stated in the Press: “I have every assurance that the Government will provide tiio same facilities for Station IZM for so long as the listeners want it. I am not in a position to state a future policy, but I can assure listeners that the station will retain its individuality. The features that have become so popular io listeners, including the light musical programme, will continue.” The above sessions, which made Station IZM the most popular “B” station In New Zealand and largely provided Its individuality, have been suspended. The Presbyterian sessions, with their variety of speakers, have provided talks appreciated by many listeners. The Britlsh-Israel session, which has operated from IZM for over three years, has brought thousands of letters of appreciation from Stewart Island to ihe North Cape, and once, when it was suspended under the regime of the last Government, brought so many thousand letters of protest that it was immediately reinstated. It remains to .be seen whether this Government will treat the Britlsh-Israel section less favourably than the last. The Crusade for Social Justice has been I lie medium for allowing leading men of most doand some 40 clergymen and others, to express their views on social problems, and their sessions on IZM have proved no less popular Ilian those from other stations. Mr Gates’s talks over the last four or live years have also proved of- great Interest to listeners. The attitude of the Director of Broadcasting in suspending these sessions is surelv not done with the authority of the Government, and their immediate suspension pending Iho savours of the methods of dictatorship rattier than true democracy. Representations made to the Minister of Broadcasting by Auckland members of Parliament have been unsuccessful, [even for Hm reinstatement of 1 these ! sessions in their original character, ! pending Ihe Government’s discussion of broadcasting policy. it, is eonlli de.nllv anticipated, however, that tho representations of these members of I Parliament to tlie coming caucus, when the Government’s policy on broadcasting will be discussed, will bring about tbo reinstatement of these ■sessions in terms of the station dirce- [ tor’s assurance.

FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—We are not concerned with “Seeker's” quotations to prove that Professor Soddy has theories as to a scheme of monetary reform, but with the claim of the Douglas Credit school that the professor supports their proposals and theories, as alleged by Mr Masters. Professor Soddy does not support Douglasism and “Seeker’s” assertion that Soddy is a monetary reformer is absolutely Irrelevant. We did not deny that. “Seeker” reiterates the absurd accusation that we “habitually decry the efforts of those who are earnestly promoting knowledge concerning the deficiencies of the monetary system.” This Is quite wrong. We do, however, oppose and try to expose those who promise fallacious and misleading parodies on the facts and distort the present monetary system to suit their case. Monetary reform will no doubt come, but It must be based upon faots and realities—not on fiction and parodies.—We are, etc., N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE. Wellington, July 26.

THE NATIONAL PARTY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —It is somewhat disappointing to find Mr Kenah threatening to leave the field Just when his revelation of the Nationalist viewpoint was' becoming so Interesting. It has been said of the Bourbons that “they learned nothing and they forgot nothing.” The same thing can be said with no little truth of the National Party. I cite as an example the theory that “low wages create employment.” It will be remembered that when they lowered wages the unemployment figures rose to 70,000, yet we still find their supporters clinging to the old idea. Another Instance Is exemplified in Mr Kenah’s dictum that “wages should be tied to export prices.” He extolls this, as “a fact that contains In itself the prosperity of the country.” The Nationalists tried to put the theory into effect, and those who have longer memories than Mr Kenah will need no reminding of the appalling misery and suffering it caused.

A third example Is the strange fallaoy prevalent among Nationalists that lowering wages will bring down prices. The proof of the fallacy can be found by examining the retail price index over the past few years. Mr Kenah’s party Is peculiarly fortunate in that its theories have been tested out in actual practice. It is now the plain duty of its supporters to explain to us why these theories did not work.—l am, etc.. VENATOR. Hamilton. July 27.

ALLEGED LUXURY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —“Working Man” takes exception to remarks made by Mr Blsley regarding expensive luxury. He says: “We have a Labour Government in office that has increased the purchasing power of the workers which enables a working man to have a radio set or a motor car or anything else that costs a little more money.” Does “Working Man” consider It fair that a number of workers should be placed in such a good position whilst about 30,000 are on relief works and sustenance? It does not say much for his party that such a state of affairs exists. During the election campaign the Labour candidates accused the late Government' of being the cause of so many unemployed, and claimed that unemployment would vanish if their party were returned to power. They have been In office for close on two years and we are still paying the same unemployment tax, which shows that j the position is not inmproving. However, tills promise is only In keeping with other promises made, such as exchange, sales tax, taxation, rising costs, helping the farmer, etc. “Working Man” evidently thinks the , Labour Government responsible for | the prosperous year and the past Goj vernment responsible for the slump ! period. Is he aware that In 1931 only » £34,000,000 was paid in New Zealand to exporters as against £63,000,000 for the year ended May 31, 1937, close on £30,000,000 more money for which the Government can take no credit They have borrowed large sums and taken about £6,000,000 more by way of taxation from the people. Through their efforts we are now the heaviest taxed country. Australian | taxation is £ls 6s lid per head, | Britain £l6 .12s, New Zealand £l9 15s. ,It only requires a reduction on the ' price of our exports on the British market to cause disaster to both exporters and the working man.—l am, etc,, MUCH CONCERNED. Ngahlnapouri, July 26.

WAGES AND THE MACHINE.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Some very sweeping statements have been made by those who have discussed the question of wages and the machine, lmt no one, I take It., will deny that Ihe perfection of the automatic machine and its use in so lems. “Venator” argues that the machine does the work, and that there is not sufficient distribution of wages to enable the output to be purchased, j That may be so, but is it the only facj tor? The trend that should mark the introduction of the machine, and of more efficient management, is a gradual lowering of prices, and it cannot be said that Ibis is happening. There are the machines doing Ihe work, and ! the skilful management and all that. ! but there is also some power capable I mists 'whose' works 1 have come i across seem to slate, as basic, the ! necessity for lowered prices to accoin- | pany this improvement in manufacUulc, writing of pre-slump eondi-

tlons, says: "The general efficiency of production was increasing and the real costs of production were accordingly tending to fall. Was it not desirable that prices should fall correspondingly anti the benefit of increasing efficiency be taken out In the form of a greater purchasing power of money rather than of an increase in money incomes’?” “Venator” has already given his reply. lie prefers the inflation of the currency, though ho calls it monetary expansion; but there is the other way indicated by Cole, and it is worthy of examination. It, is clear that Brilnin ami Ihe. United Elates are immobilising the. new supplies of gold that are coming on to the market so as to prevent a rapid rise in prices. What is it that, is so successful in preventing a lowering of prices io counter ll.e introdudion of the machine? Could “Vcnalor” supply any information on that point? —1 am, etc., SIMPLIGITA3. Hamilton, July 27.