REFORM IN CANADA

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 85, 4 January 1935, Page 9

REFORM IN CANADA

Government Proposals Outlined MR. BENNETT’S SPEECH “Time to Change Economic System” IMPARTIAL EXAMINATION By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 3, 5.5 p.m.) Ottawa , January -■ Ringing up the curtain on the general election campaign Mr. R. B- Bennett, Prime Minister, to-day announced I hat the Government would go to the people on a programme of reform which, he believed, would bring prosperity and security against future depressions. "The time has come to change the economic system,” he said. “In my mind reforms mean Government intervention control, and regulation to end laissez faire. Reform heralds certain recovery. There can be no permanent recovery without reform. I raise the issue squarely and nail the flag of progress to the masthead. I summon the power of the State to its support. "If we cannot abolish the dole we should abolish the system. Since taking office the Government’s policies haVe been determined'by the critical nature of circumstances. We had first to save the ship and guide it into less troubled waters. “The economic system will be examined without prejudice of any sort. We neither hate nor love it. If it has failed we nyist change it.” He said there was ample time for the electorate to study the proposals which would be outlined specifically in later addresses. Rumour places the probable election date at any time from April to October, with a late date probable.