“STATE OF PANIC”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 248, 31 July 1937, Page 3

“STATE OF PANIC”

POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT. NATIONAL LEADER’S ATTACK. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 30. “Statements made by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and the Hon. P. Eraser at the Labour Party’s reception to Mr Savage show that the Government is in a state of panic over great and widespread opposition to its policy being voiced all over the country,” stated tho Leader of the National Party (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) to-night. Mr Savage and Mr Eraser are indulging. in the unprofitable pastime of whistling to keep their courage up in order to hearten their supporters. They endeavour to show that opposition to them is negligible, hut tlie hollowness of their hope is shown by the anxiety they are displaying. They knew quite well that all the bluffing in the world will not stave off the retribution that will he handed out to them by the electors whom they misled so greatly. “Apart altogether from opposition being voiced by every organisation and every section outside the ranks of the militant trades’ unionists, the tremendous and gratifying growth of the National Party organisation and membership si lows very clearly that the people are concerned with the situation and will demand very much more than a series of high-sounding platitudes,” said Mr Hamilton. “The National Party could a9k for nothing better than that the Prime Minister should carry out his intention of visiting various centres of New Zealand. That is, of course, as long as Mr Savage will explain the vast difference between his party’s promise and performance, when Mr Savage visits those main centres, he will no doubt ho enthusiastically received by members of well-drilled militant labour followers, hut that will not satisfy the thousands who a.re suffering under conditions brought about by his party s administration, conditions which experienced travellers say have made our cost of living the highest in the world. Although .they have travelled extensively, this factor has probably escaped the notice of Mr Savage, Mr Nash and Mr Armstrong, who, with their staffs, have travelled far and wide at the public expense. Discrepancy Between Statements. “Mr Savage might also explain the discrepancy between the . statements made from time to time by himself and members of his Cabinet,” . said Mr Hamilton. “If he will do this, he will have material for discussion on not one, hut many tours of the Dominion. It is a noticeable fact that although the Government claims to welcome criticism, never once has any criticism been effectively answered. On every occasion critical statements have been met with dissertations in which quantity is mistaken for quality, and the point at issue has always,been evaded. It has usually been accompanied by an attack on the press, which, according to Mr Fraser,' would not put .doublecolumns headings upon anything unfavourable to the Government. “An instance of this is continued in the so-called ‘crushing’ reply to the manufacturers, which contains a great deal of criticism of those making the statement, but nothing about the disabilities under which manufacturers are suffering because of high costs, directly due to the Government’s actions, and nothing about the workers being thrown out of employment as a result. Men Put Off. “Even since the crushing reply was issued, we find 13 men put out of work in one Christchurch factory,” said Mr Hamilton. “Further than this, Ave find from one end of New Zealand to the other that dairy farmers are complaining of the ruinous position in Avhicli they are finding themselves. Mr Fraser says that a vast majority of dairy farmers support the policy of the Government. Has he not read the reports of Farmers’ Union meetings all over the country, at which it has been clearly pointed out that to meet increasing costs an extra a pound for butter-fat is necessary? I suggest that something more, is demanded in ans Aver to these points than statements indicating that opponents Avill have to take their medicine and attacks on the neAvspapers.’ ’