The Press Tuesday, MARCH 8, 1932. Drift or Act?

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20490, 8 March 1932, Page 8

The Press Tuesday, MARCH 8, 1932. Drift or Act?

The Government evidently adheres to its resolution not to set up a Select Committee on the Arbitration Bill, whifl it is willing to give employers and workers some opportunity of submitting their views before the passage of the Bill is advanced; and though it is ilot very clear in what form and with what limitations this opportunity will be presented, nobody will object to such a concession. Nobody will object, that is, provided the Government does not seize the chance of making a concession to its own weak inclination to postpone action or to act half-heartedly. There can be no objection to the Government's hearing, and paying proper regard to, whatever arguments either side may have to offer, though it does not seem very likely that either will be able to say more than has already been said or could be anticipated. There may even be a real advantage in having the Labour case stated by other advocates than, the Labour members of Parliament, who have made it very easy and very necessary to better their efforts. But there is a very real objection to the Government's indulging itself in the habit of delaying and reconsidering aild swinging to and fro, because this habit expresses no taste or aptitude for deliberation but the truth that the Government is unstable and uncertain of itself; and the truth and the danger of it are becoming increasingly evident. Months have gone by since the General Election ; yet the public knows very little more about the Government's intentions than it knew then. The disturbing question is, whether the Government itself knows much more than the public. If it does, it gives very few and slight signs of it, while it has given many and unmistakable ones of indecision and of bad judgment. There is no need to make up a catalogue; but if the Government has a mind, rather than six or a dozen, minds, on unemployment, on the exchange question, on fiscal policy, on rural rating, and so on, the country will -welcome early and firm proof in the form of decision and action. While the Government talks bravely and interminably about facing the £a<ks, the facts are driving the Dominion into disaster.