Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1920, Page 2

| f iii'i vision of the Minister of Finance | when he turps Ip's attention from his I own immediate ourrpupdipgs epablesi him to see, at leapt, fhp g/pgt ip ,the I other fellow’s eye, even if there bp ,a j beam in his own eye. For jnstancp, i speaking in the House on Tuesday, Mr I Massey said: “It might not bp a djsj advantage to local bodies jf the|r horj rowing operations were checked for ;i j little time. They were asking at the i present time for many millions and die was quite certain that if they got the ; money they could not spend it to adj vantage just now.” If we reverse the search-light, and throw its rays upon the Government borrowing proposals, it could *be said with all fervour that "it might, not be to the disadvantage of the people if the borrowing operations of the Government were checked for a little while.” Mr Massey seems to forget that Parliament has put various obligations upon local bodies, and to discharge tki«i money must be found for constructive works- which invariably are to he reproductive works. The Government has expressed its inability to grapple with the hydro-electric proposals so urgently required over the Dominion, and has encouraged local bodies to deal with housing schemes. It expects the local bodies to carry on their trading p.ppeerus, such as tramways, v harbors, etc., and these cap Opt be performed without funds. Just now there is the need for expansion to meet the increased trade offering, and money

must be found for the purpose. The restriction Mr Massey would impose on the local bodies is not being imposed by himself in his Treasury operations He will be borrowing this financial year about twenty-five millions, and so adding to the burdens of the people in interest and repayments, apparently with a very light heart. He feelp, probably ,that occupying the august position he does he can do no wrong, but actually all over the Dominion ho is being urged to reduce Government borrowing as a direct means to relieve the economic position which is pressing so seriously on the taxpayers and the people as a whole. Duiiingi the visit of the Premier of Queensland to Great Britain, a good deal was chronicled about his movements and sayings. Mr Theodore’s financial mission was not a success, and in that respect he returned a sadder man. But he returned also with added wisdom, for his experiences taught him a good deal of world conditions. Speaking to an interviewer at Perth •when en route for Brisbane in the early days of this month, Mr Theodore went on to say that if the Labour polity was endorsed at the forthcoming elections, he thought there would be better prospects of getting a loan, because the financial institutions took their action because they were assured by his political opponents that a boycott would

Jead to the defeat of the Labour Government and a National Government would come into power whose policy ( would he to withdraw some of the legis- ] lation objected to. A visit to America and Europe impressed and astounded f him with the fact that profiteering was 1 keener now than probably it ever was, and that Governments would have to 1 exert a great deal more vigorous restriction of profits, and would be compelled to engage in enterprises for the control of public utilities, and for the ' proper distribution of foodstuffs and the elimination of undue profits in order to • protect the people. Foodstuffs were i cheaper in Australia, than in any part | of the world. Our industrial problems, great as they were in Australia, were * by no means as difficult as some of the problems in America and England. Ihe high cost of living in England and the general industry chaos that existed there presented a very big problem for the leaders of English thought in politics: He was convinced that in England, and also in America, an industrial smssh was pending unless the leaders of of the Government, of industries and of labour were able to find some solution for the increasing cost of production. He thought that in most countries of Europe the worker was more enlightened in regard to his potential pov er as a factor °in the community; but lie was faced with greater difficulties than ever before as a worker. Holding these clarified views it must-be confessed Mr , Theodore’s jaunt abroad has not been j in vain.