Help From Opposition

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 143, 13 March 1939, Page 11

Help From Opposition

Sir,—Mr. Savage in his reply to Mr. Hamilton says, inter alia, "I feel sorry for Mr. Hamilton because be seems to be annoyed. He seems almost like a spoilt child that got a good thrashing at school.” This sneering reply lacks dignity in one holding such an exalted position, and yet Mr. Savage declares that the mantle of Seddon has fallen to his lot.

Mr. Savage then goes on to deplore the lack of support from Mr. Hamilton and his party. Mr. Savage has apparently a very short memory. What support did the Nationalist Government receive from Mr. Savage and party when they occupied the Opposition benches? Let him recall the 1914 crisis, when the British Empire was in the gravest danger. What support did the Labour Party offer? Once more he compares the years of record prosperity, as far as exports are concerned, with the depression years. Surely it must be apparent to all that the country must be iu a sorry plight when he is compelled to compare conditions of the country at the present time with those existing in the worst years in New Zealand’s history. Even his most ardent supporters must see this. Finally, Mr. Savage asks what would have happened had Mr. Hamilton and his party been returned to power at last election. The answer is so apparent that everyone in the class immediately holds up his hand and the answer given is: “The Nationalists would have found the coffers empty, and that between 30 and 40 millions in addition to extra taxes collected had been expended in making New Zealand appear prosperous.” However, they did not have this worrying experience, and I think it is the general opinion that the National Party was indeed lucky to be defeated at the elections. For had it been successful and used methods, similar to those adopted by the Labour Party to clear up the mess, it would have been denounced from one end of the Dominion to the other by the supporters of Labour, and the cry would have gone up, “See what an unholy mess the Nationalists have got the country into.” I think the Nationalists should be very thankful that Mr. Savage and party will have to clean up their own mess.—l am, etc., SQUARE DEAL. New Plymouth, March 11.