OTTAWA PLEDGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 133, 7 June 1934, Page 4

OTTAWA PLEDGES

Sir, —There ia danger of a mistake being made which may cost the British Empire its solidarity. No publicist knows the British public better than Lord Beaverbrook, whose cabled message you were good enough to print and his emphatic statements have to be weighed accordingly. AVhatever the British defects of character, lack of loyalty is not a distinguishing trait, and New Zealand will do well to insist on Government giving full measure to the Ottawa pledges, which were little enough in compa-rison with what Britain did not wait two years to do for her. Lord Beaverbrook writes: — “Thank you very much for your letter of March 8. “It is quite true that it is impossible to get a continuous guarantee of unrestricted entry because Governments come and go. “But you aro entitled to expect that this present administration in Britain should give New Zealand all she asks“In any case, tho offer by New Zealand has been rejected, not because a continuous guarantee was asked, but because of the British Government’s desire to establish quotas. “Stand up for what you want and you will get it- The British people are with you. They will abide by you, aud 'W not desert you. “The people do not wish to admit the enemy within their gates, especially the enemies who attacked the gates. AVe will find a place for those who help us to defend tho gates.”— I am, etc., A. E. ROBINSON, Auckland Provincial Secretary. New Zealand Farmers’ Union. THE DOUGLAS PLAN, N.Z. Sir, —Your contributor, Mr. J. Ford, who undertakes to criticise the plan submitted by Major Douglas before the Monetary Commission in Wellington, should try to bo a little more accurate in his statements. If Mr. Ford would obtain the verbatim report of this evidence, n°w available at almost any booksellers, he will find that the answers given to Mr. Massey and his colleagues by Major Douglas, answer most of his criticism and shows why it was necessary to feed this commission on milk, as it was unable to stand meat. Most farmers, I think, would agree with Major Douglas that a reduction in the amount of their overdraft and. a reduction in the rate of interest on tho remainder would be of some assist- M ance to them. Tho Major further sug- \ gests that the enforcement of this plan would disclose the need to go further and deal with prices. The money obtained in this way would not, and could not, be deflation, as Mj. Ford suggests, as it is not in. existence at thc present time and would need to be created for the purpose.— Yours faithfully, G. J. BILLINGHURST. 1 Springvale Road, AVanganui, June 6.