OPPOSITION’S DUTY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 150, 21 March 1939, Page 5

OPPOSITION’S DUTY

Constructive Criticism Of Government

COMBATING “HALFTRUTHS” Statement By Mr. Hamilton By Telegraph—Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Mar. 20. “I do not have to apologize to Mr. Savage, his Government or anyone else in placing the facts of the political situation before the country,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton, this evening. Mr. Hamilton will leave, tomorrow for Gisborne and the Waikato to meet supporters of the National Party to discuss current political problems.

“Part of the duty of the Opposition under the British democratic system of which we are proud is that it expounds the views of the large minority of the people,” said Mr. Hamilton. “Even though the Government may not always admit the part the Opposition plays in constructive criticizm, a truly democratic Government with the interests of the nation as a whole at heart notes that criticizm and frequently amends its policy accordingly.” Half-truths repeated over and over again as propaganda aimed to discredit any legitimate opposition had reached such alarming proportions in recent times under the cloak of "I can do no wrong” hypocrisy, be added, that it was his duty to speak plainly of them. Over-sensitiveness to criticizm on simple and matter-of-fact issues and a tendency to personal abuse rather than to logic were rightly condemned in a government apparently so self-satisfied with itself. It was an amazing and significant feature of the present political situation. In a dictatorial manner the Labour Government was taking a leaf from the books of totalitarian States which had used methods of intolerance and skilled propaganda of half-truths. “As leader of the National Party I will never shirk my duty in laying bare the facts as I see them for the calm judgment of our people,” said Mr. Hamilton. “Whether the change of heart of Mr. Savage and his colleagues in their present talk of the national welfare rather than the class struggle is prompted by expediency or genuine desire remains to be seen, but for it National Party members can take much of the credit, since their representations seem to have had some weight. That the Labour Government’s talk is not exactly to the pattern .of that heard when its members were wooing popular opinion in their campaign to reach the treasury benches may surprise most of its supporters. Again the National Party can rightly claim credit for constructive criticism aimed at? drawing the attention of the Government to many of its shortcomings, from financial policy to defence.