DANGEROUS TACTICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 4

DANGEROUS TACTICS.

It is,' of course, part of the game of politics to score off an opponent at every available opportunity, and no one will be inclined to blame the Opposition for seizing suoh legitimate openings as may present themselves. There has, however, been a distinct tendency on the part of a section of the Opposition to take advantage of the elt'ect on New Zealand of the world-wide financial stringency which has prevailed during the past twelve months, to attempt to prejudice the Government in a very mean and contemptible fashion. It is generally recogniscd that in the Dominion, as elsewhere, money has become dearer as the result of the demands arising out of the war in the Balkans, the enormous borrowings of China, and the special financial requirements of Germany or other nations; and the attempt is being made to foster the idea that somehow or other the Massey Government could alleviate the stringency so far as it affects New Zealand had the sympathies of Ministers been with the settlers requiring loans. Some of those who have made this suggestion may be unaware of what the Government has actually done in tho way of circulating loan money available, or they may be too ignorant to realise what it would mean to the financial credit of the country were the Government to rush to the London' money market for an emergency loan supplementary of the loan recently raised. But the plea of ignorance cannot be advanced in excuce of those members of the Opposition who in an attempt to pose as the friends of those requiring loans, and with the object of showing the Government in an unfavourable light, aro making similarly rash and dangerous suggestions. There aro times when members should strive to rise superior to party issues and place tho interests of the country above party ends; and the present is an occasion of that nature so far as the question of borrowing is concerned. Within the next eighteen months the Government, in addition to the loans it will need to raise for immediate requirements, will have to go on to the London market to renew over eight millions of short-dated loans left them as a legacy by their predecessors. Taking these loans in conjunction with the loans that will be necessary to meet current needs, a total of something like 12 millions will require to be raised, and while the greater part of this is for the renewal of existing loans, the situation is not one to he trifled with. To talk now of rushing to raise an emergency loan is so palpably reckless and 'so obviously calculated to dangerously prejudice the position of the Dominion that it is amazing to find men in responsible offices descending to such tactics. Though posing as the friends of the settler, these petty party politicians are by their actions proving themselves enemies of their country. The injustice they are doing the Government is a small matter compared with the injury they may do the Dominion. *