PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20264, 5 August 1937, Page 11

PUBLIC OPINION

Ag 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 naas a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied wi#i, their letters will not appear.

TIME FOR CRITICISM. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Regarding the statement In the Times of August 2: Mr Hamilton -stated that It was time for criticism. If it Is time for his party I thlnK 11 time for the Labour Party to criticise al-so. Did Mr Hamilton think it was to his party’s credit to have the olothes drives, soup kitchens, the dole, and malnutrition among the people when his party were in power? Doubtless he has forgotten that there are 24 calendar months In two years, aooordlng to my oountlng, and the Labour Party have been In power but 20 months. "Seeing he is so prim ana proper, will he tell us why he blocked Mr Sorimgeour's station? Tit for tat. —I am, eto., (MRS) H. S. FILER. Hamilton, August 3. PROMIBE AND PERFORMANCE. (To the Editor.) Sir, —At the last election the Labour Party made a great deal of play with the ancient principle of freedom of speech and castigated the Nationalist Government for impeding it by the Jamming of Station IZB on the eve of the election because views expressed by a speaker at that station were unpalatable to the Government at that time. Incidentally the Hon. Adam Hamilton, the present Leader of the Opposition, ha-s assumed full responsibility for the Jamming. But it might interest your readers to know that for some weeks recently the Farmers’ Union has been doing a regular broadcast on Friday evening's frfim Station IZM. On Friday, July 16, when a Farmers’ Union speaker visited the station, he was officially Informed on behalf of the Director of Broadcasting •—the station having just been bought by the Government —that the Farmers’ Union talks might be continued for the time being if they dealt only with general farming matters such as cropping and haymaking; and that talks on guaranteed or compensated prices or talks dealing with the organisation of the union would not be permitted! —I am, etc., INDEPENDENT. Hamilton, August 3. FACTORY PRODUCTION. (To the Editor.) Sir, —The industrialists are making a great stir because, during the last few weeks, business has not been as active as during the past year. They admit that they were working at top speed for twelve months, but when a 6lack period comes they at once shout for more protection, higher tariffs, and almost a monopoly of the local market. Anyone would think that this was the first slack period they had ever experienced, and that New Zealand was the only country to be affeoted in this way. I- have been shown a copy of the oiroular-letter prepared by one of the leading economists in Canada, and this statement oaught my eye: “While data for May and June are still incomplete, the usual seasonal slackening in business is reported to be slightly more pronounced this year. Production in some Industries exceeded demand, and s.s stocks were increased the rate of operations was reduced. Even with this curtailment preliminary returns indicate that the relative position of industry this year continues substantially above the level attained In 1936.” Apparently they have had exactly the same halt in Canada as they have had here, and with the same results, Increased stocks making it necessary to slow down production for the time being. What we have not got, and it would be interesting to have, is the information that would allow us to compare the position now with that of last year. There always are periods when orders are light, and the fact that this Is one of them no more spells disaster to industry than did the previous period. No one yet has put forward a policy that would ensure that all factories would be fully occupied all the time. —I am, etc., P. PRODUCER. Cambridge, August 4.

TAXATION. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Regarding - “Wager’s” inquiry in Saturday’s Times, I have a pamphlet headed: “The Case for Labour,” by M. J. Savage, M.P., Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. Price, One Penny. On page 9, under the heading of “Taxation,” the paragraph reads—“lncreased and inequitable forms of taxation have reached breaking point. The Unemployment Act, with its inequitable taxes upon the poor, in particular, is an oustanding example. Heavy taxes have been levied for the purpose of providing a large number of men with employment at relief rates of pay—on work of very questionable value, Instead of ÜBlng the publio credit for the purpose of employing men at standard rates on works of publio importance. The sales tax, which is also a levy upon the poor, without any consideration for income received, cannot be defended on any grounds. “These and other forms of indirect taxation are levied solely because the revenue can be collected without the knowledge of the great majority of taxpayers. During 1933 and 1934 over £50,000,000 was collected from the people by means of sales, Customs and unemployment taxes, and the high rate of exchange.” The pamphlet is a gem for next eleotlon, which I should not like to lose; but should “Wages” want any more information from it you are at liberty to give him my name and address. —I am, etc., NOT AGAIN. Raglan, August 4. PRICE MOVEMENTS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —“Slmplioitus” asks me what it is that so successfully prevents prices from falling as increased efficiency is achieved in production. I should say that the main reason is the elimination of free competition by trusts, monopolies and price rings. The cartel, or price ring, is perhaps the worst, since it permits the evils, the waste, and overlapping of competition to continue without, any compensating benefit in price reduction. Several remedies are available—one is to nationalise industry, introducing a less efficient form of bureaucratic control. Another remedy, which has proved very suooessful in England, Is provided by the growth of the co-operative movements. An Important factor which has kept the price level in this oountry steadily moving upward is the protection afforded to inefficient industries. This in turn raises costs to other industries, which demand protection for themselves. So it goes on, until the only person svho is not protected is the exporter. The point I have tried to make clear and whioh is overlooked by Cole, Is that even if the benefits of increased efficiency were passed on to the consumer in lower prices, there would still remain the problem of those who are rendered compulsorily idle. Sustenance payments and the dole are in no sense a solution, since the funds must be raised from other workers — a shrewd move whioh has made every struggle of the unemployed a move against the ppor subsistence of their friends still in work.—l am, etc., VENATOR. Hamilton, August 2.

AMALGAMATING LOCAL BODIES.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I see in the Press that the Government demand that the oounties of Waikato, Waipa and Raglan should merge into ono county, including town boards and other local bodies. Now, SLr, this is a very serious matter, as it means that a ratepayer who pays £IOO per year would have only the same vote as one who pays 10s per year.

Some years ago one Waikato County ratepayer told me his Waikato County rate was only 2s Gd per year. At the same time I knew another ratepayer who paid £IOO per year. The South Auckland bodies are all running smoothly. There is very littls ill-feeling between them . and their ratepayers. The South Auckland settlers, past and present, have done feats of endurance and skill, both on their holdings and by their representatives on roads and bridges, that no other part of the British Empire has come near doing. Almost all the early ones have gone under in thp work, but they have left a monument that will stand for all time, both In draining deep tlmbery swamps and bringing very poor scrub land into fertile soil. It took thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, and up to seventy years to do it. They, also evolved a class of local body management second to none in the world. Now, having carried my swag to jobs when times were bad, across the counties of Waipa, Raglan and Waikato, I Hi ink it would be a great mistake to force these iliree counties into ono. There Is no community nf inI crest among them, being divided by the rivers Waipa and Waikato. 1 told liic Bonding Commission, when it sat in Hamilton, about twenty years ago, that once I got to the railway line that was all I cared. I did not care if Ihe ocean were on Ihc oUio.r side of the station and that Auckland was my port, and that is Ihc feeling °f D 5 per cent, or county ratepayers It mere is any interference it will mean Hint ratepayers will bp bought ami sold as were some cream suppliers last April. On account of-Go-, vcrnmrnt interference ( have sent no n-eam oft my farm for the last three and a halt months, although two cream carts had, been passing my gate over since that I would be willing- to supply. if men go away hack into the wilds ami buy idle land, and pay 20s in ihe it. or try to. and road, drain and grass Ihe land, besides paying for bridges no Government has a .rigid to upset the working of their local bodies. A Government should -go (o these men i for advice before starling any experimental scheme: men will] fifiy and xiy years’ experience of local bodies and who arc not life’s failures.—l am, etc., .1. P. GOODWIN. I IRupuku, August 1.