PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20501, 18 May 1938, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but for whose views >ve have no responsibility. Correpondents 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 compiled with, their letters will not appear.

LOANS

(To the Editor) Sir.—During my week-end reading I came across the following: “At the present moment a loan of £7.000.000 at 3i per cent., has been underwritten with the Reserve Bank, and is open for public subscription.” Would any of your correspondents kindly enlighten me to the exact meaning of the words “been underwritten with the Reserve Bank”? —I am. etc., IN DOUBT. Te Rapa, May 16.

POUND FOR DOGS

(To the Editor) Sir, —A few days ago a letter appeared in your columns from the secretary of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He called the attention of the public to the conditions under which stray dogs are kept. I made it. my business to see for myself what the conditions were, and I consider Mr Marfell could have painted a far darker picture. I went away very saddened by the sight. The look of helpless misery in the eyes of those poor captive dogs was such that only a very inhuman person could forget. To most, no doubt, captivity is quite new, but the manner in which they are imprisoned is horrible in the extreme. A rough chain round the neck, exposed to the coldest winds, and no opportunity for exercise. The old boxes, etc., in which the dogs are supposed to sleep are a disgrace.

I suggest that anyone who can spare half-an-hour should pay a visit to these dogs and then demand that the Borough Council should take steps to alter such a state of things. Hundreds of pounds are spent on beautifying the town, and we are justly proud of our beautiful centre. Let us now turn our thoughts to this humane question and see that funds are available at once to erect the necessary kennels and runs for stray animals, and so remove what is a blot on the record of our town.—l am, etc., A DOG-LOVER. Hamilton, May 16.

WAGE SLAVERY

(To the Editor)

Sir, —My socialistic friends often inveigh to me about the evils and the degradation of human life caused by

“wage slavery,” by which human beings are compelled to sell their brawn or their brains to other human beings in order to get a living. Personally I see no more degradation In selling brawn and brains than in selling butter and beer. All are just an exchange of goods and services. Yet these very people who are so indignant about “wage slavery” favour Socialism, whioh, instead of extinguishing the evil, would intensify it and make it universal and unescapable. At present large classes of the community are free from wage slavery, and those who are slaves have the opportunity of bettering their condition and of passing into the non-slave section of the community. Under present conditions a slave dissatisfied with his present employer may transfer his services to another. Under Socialism everyone is a wage-slave of the State; and as the State would be the only employer, with no opportunity of transference to another employer. If “wage-slavery” is an evil under the comparatively elastic conditions obtaining at present, it would be a much greater evil under the rigid and unescapable conditions obtaining under Socialism. What really matters is the state of slavery, not the identity of the master. —I am, etc., A. WARBURTON. Ngaruawahia, May 11.

THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN

iTo the Editor;

Sir, —I would like to bring under public notice some of the essentials 1 which the writer believes to be neces- ; sary to ensure that the fundamentals and underlying principles of this welli conceived five-year proposal are given effect to. Apart from actual roadconstruction, we know that the local authority has to accept full responsibility for maintenance, and If the former is carried out the other follows as a natural sequence. And this cost must not be under-estimated.

The foregoing suggests the work to be done, and the average ratepayer is equally concerned in the methods of doing it. This is where sound administration is put to the test. It is generally agreed that we are not doing all we should in the interests of economical working. What is wrong with i the suggestion that the transport ser- ! vice he standardised and provision made so that the maintenance-repair ! shop could be equipped with the tools I that suggest economical repair bills? j To-day the saving in fuel costs can I amount to a very high figure. Taking | a standard waggon, petrol-driven, with ja fuel cost of 3s per hour. Hie corni pression-ignilinn engine in the same ! chassis does Ihe same work for Od. ; even at the present high price for fuel ! oil. | To the engineer qualified to judge ion matters such as these the suggestion will not be discounted. Co-oper-ation in ttiis by the adjoining counties offers an avenue for economy. ' Then there is the question of road macadam, in the economical winning ■ of this product the engineer has the | greatest possible assistance with rocki breakers designed for continuous run- : ning, with jaws of alloy! steel that withstand the hardest abrasive for extensive period without adjustment. With the class of transport available, the obsolete storage bin. as a rule so costly, is wholly dispensed with, the i various grades of metal going direct to the two or three yard dumpers, thence to “situ." With a well placed shot, hard bluestone and andislte spawls are I made available at Hie breakers for i3d per cubic yard. “All in." these ! results have been obtained in New I Zealand, and we can expect lower ! figures to-dav with the aids at our disposal. Summed up. the five-year plan paves the way and makes possible efficiency with economy hitherto unobtainable, and suggests clearly what is of th? greatest importance, intelligent cooperation between local authorities with a common airn.—l am. etc.. ENGINEER. Cambridge, May •

ART BECTION

(To the Editor) Sir.—T notice that two of your correspondents seem to be in difficulties concerning Hie size of the drawing required to fulfil the specifications laid down by the Waikato Winter Show in Art Section, Class is, and in similar classes in previous years. As I have taken first prize in the particular class— both last year and the year before—l would like to add my opinion. “Homo,"in his letter of May 7, states that two years ago not one of the successful entrants fulfilled the only condition mentioned—regarding the size. Now “Homo” is very much mistaken, .although I will vouch for no other entry but my own, for I state positively that my entry of two years ago was exactly Iwice the size of the original in every particular. Should “Homo" care to verify this I will be more Ilian pleased to forward him my entry of lhat year for inspection by him or any other, entirely at “Figuro,” in his letter of May 10, is apparently unable to differentiate between “area” and “superficial size,” and I beg to point out to him that the. Winter Show Association, in their wisdom, when asking that a drawing he twice the size of the original do not require it to he twice Hie area, which would involve the entrant In ridiculous mathematical calculations. —I am, etc., CLIFFORD HILL. Otahuhu, May 16.

FOR THE WINTER MONTHS

(To the Editor) Sir. —Winter has come, and we find it difficult to express our need just when changes are taking place so rapidly, and so much Is being said about the Government’s social service. However efficient that may be, it cannot do all. The proposed scheme does not come into operation until next autumn. Whilst we can give the assurance that there is not the same need for relief as in the past, there is yet much to be done in the homes of the people. Temporary relief must he given to those who are overtaken by Illness, when the wage-earner is suddenly laid aside. We have with us ihose who are not able to work, or who are not eligible for any pension. There is no branch of our work which makes a stronger appeal to us than the anxious, tired and tearful mothers with their many tiny children; and'especially those who have unsympathetic husbands. These women a?*e brave, despite their tears. Little gives them pleasure, yet our supplies for them are always hopelessly inadequale. We commend them to the practical sympathy of readers. Owing to the increased cost of living, and also for those who are still in need, gifts of money will be gratefully received and acknowledged. Warm clothing, boots, shoes, and especially warm garments and blankets for wee babies and tiny tots, will be much appreciated. We express our heartfelt gratitude to those whose generosity has made it possible for us to continue up to this point, but the need is still with us.— I am, etc.,

SISTER ESTHER. 11 Picton Street, C2, Auckland.

SOCIAL CREDIT

(To the Editor) Sir, —Instead of meeting my argument that “credit notes” can be used as a medium of exchange, Mr Hunter invites me to conduct a few experiments with these notes. I have oflcn exchanged goods by this method, find I am satisfied lhat on these occasions I have received the equivalent of what I gave. Douglas claims to have proved that at least one-third of our total production is being destroyed owing to the lack of the means of exchange (money). He contends that it is possible to pay a discount of 25 per cent, on goods purchased for consumption. To those who accept this idea it must be apparent there is a great loss to those who exchange goods by the usual monetary method—a loss which could be avoided by the use of the credit note. In these circumstances, the credit note could not fall to become a very popular medium. Mr Hunter tells us that these notes are not as good as money. What are they worth? They must have a market"value. If a £1 credit note issued by the C.W.S. is not as good as money it proves the weakness of the Douglas case; if the loss really occurred when the exchange was effected with money we would expect the credit note to be worth more. There is no difference in principle between a “credit note" and a “bank note,” which, I believe, was the case in New Zealand until 1914. According to Herbert Spencer, in “Social Statics,” the laissez-faire principle was applied to banking in Scotland for two centuries. Although the notes issued by the banks were not legal tender, and could lie issued to any amount, in practice it was impossible for any unsound money to obtain currency. Jri England, during this period, hanking was controlled in various ways in order to satisfy the currency cranks whose views on the question happened In be in fashion at the particular time. The same authority Informs us that Scotland had Hie advantage over England both in economy and security. The natural guarantee in the former was more effective Hum the legislative one in the latter country. To those who understand the root principle of good government free trade) it is difficult to see why the banking business should he singled out for cither special favours or restrictions. I would allow the Douglas Social Credit Movement to issue their own notes; those accepting them would do so at their own risk. "When I ask: "How would Douglas Social Credit, solve the land question?” I mean: How would the law of rent operate? This law lias always operated in such a manner as to cause great inequality of fortune. The Douglas Social Credit supporters either do not understand or are unconcerned with the unequal distribution of wealth. —! am. etc., T. hinjle. Hamilton. May 16.