PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21206, 31 August 1940, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents • whose letters are welcome, but for J whose views we have no respon- | sibility. Correspondents are re- j quested to write i*i ink. It is : essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a j guarantee of good faith. Unless j this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

“ WE SWEEP THE SEAS ” (To the Editor) Sir, —In view of the important and efficient part the British Navy is playing in defending the Empire and the world generally against German world dominance, perhaps the enclosed extract from Marie Corelli’s poem would be of interest to many of your readers:— We sweep the seas! Our glorious flag unfurl’d From north to south, from east to west Shines o’er the world ! Our cannon’s bellowing thunder Roars with the roaring waves— For Britain’s foes wild ocean holds Nothing but graves ! We sweep the seas ! On waters far and near Our signals flash, and write in fire Our meanings clear! No other land, no other race Can match our British men— They’ve won a thousand fights before, They’ll win again! We sweep the seas— We rule the restless foam! We struggle not for place or pelf, We fight for Home! Loud let the shout of “ Victory! ” Ring on the fav’ring breeze. Down with the foe ten fathoms deep! We sweep the seas! —I am, etc.,

J. W. MADILL. Hamilton, August 30.

“NEW DEMOCRACY” (To the Editor) Sir, —Mr 'A. V. Fabling’s “ New Democracy ” at first sight seems picturesque enough, but is it practical? It seems that he either ignores the fact that the whole New Zealand system is founded on the world’s greatest export trade per capita, or else that he would alter all that and make the Dominion self-contained. If we are to be self-contained, how are we to repay our overseas national debt of over £300,000,000 and pay interest on that sum in the meantime? How increased purchasing power is to overcome that objection is a puzzle. Mr Fabling writes of “ increasing our purchasing power to the level of our capacity to produce.” To realise that dream he has a long way to go. He must revolutionise the whole economic system of the country. He must not. forget that our capacity to produce includes fifty or sixty million pounds worth of primary produce per annum which is shipped overseas, and which at present provides us with the means of meeting overseas commitments and importing some of our needs. We cannot consume that produce no matter what our puchasing power may be. “ Economic security ” is an attractive thing but it is not produced merely by enthusiasm for a vision that has never been reduced to anything tangible. The “ new democracy ” must start with New Zealand as it is—not with what it was 100 years ago. Still I suppose it is as well to have dreamers, seers and experimenters, for only thus can we make progress in the science of governing ourselves.—l am, etc., HOPEFUL. Hamilton, August 30.