POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20283, 27 August 1937, Page 9

POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The letter appearing in your issue of August 24 signed "AntiSoviet,” interested and amused me. So much so that I hope you will grant me a little space to take up the cudgels in defence of our present Administration.

Your correspondent states that tho Auckland Town Hall was far from filled at the reception to our Prime Minister. Tills does not mean, to me, that the public as a whole are antagonistic to the Prime Minister, because, from my experience, it is only when there are prospects of a row that political meetings are well attended. I give the Instance of our previous Prime Minister, who was so well aware of this fact that in his most important (to him) meeting in Auckland he look the precaution of issuing Invitations to his supporters only. “Anti-Soviet” makes the sweeping assertion that almost every union has been concerned In strikes in recent months. To my knowledge there a:e 349 different unions, so I challenge “Anti-Soviet” to substantiate nis statement. He doubts the wakefulness of a previous correspondent. There are none so wakeful as those who are hungry, and the wakefulness of the ordinary citizen was overwhelmingly demonstrated at the last olection. Could It have been hunger that Induced that wakefulness?

Another extraordinary statement made by "Anti-Soviet” is that the effect of higher wages and shorter hours has been discounted by the extraordinary increases in the prices of every necessary commodity. Now the average worker’s wage has risen 50 per cent, or more since 1935, and can “Anti-Soviet - ” name any of our necessary commodifies that have risen even 25 per cent..? lie cannot. dent when lie slates Hint “every day a broken election pledge—too numerous to mention—is flaunted.”. Now failure to particularise has in the past be:jn proved beyond doubt fo emanate from inability to give specific, and proven II is always safe to gencnoiigh mud.” rlc. * * The only p.dnl „„ which l age.with "Anti-Soviet” is in 11.0 fad 11...1 a feeling of panic is growing, but I fear me Hud it is in tin* ndmts not of Ilie eloelors. hut in the min,ls ~f Ilie political administrators who hat the public by Ilie nose before Ihe This panic is caused hv Ihe sure'and certain knowledge llial the Trcasinv benches are gone from them for ever. I should like lo ask "Anti-Soviet" one more question. .lust what does lie mean by "our once free New Zealand”? This slalemenl intrigues me, and 1 shall he delighted l 0 read his effort to explain il. II may have been an idle thought on his pari, but Ihe bald slalemenl without explanation was certainly in line with Ilie whole (rend of his letter.— 1 am. etc.. A. R. McGOWAN. Hamilton, August 2i.