The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY. AUGUST 31, 1022. SOMEBODY’S TASK.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY. AUGUST 31, 1022. SOMEBODY’S TASK.

J N the thought for the times published yesterday culled from a late issue of a critical financial journal, the Mercantile G-wsette, it was realised" very pointedly that Mr Massey in dealing with the financial issue besetting the Dominion, bad “a task greater than ho will over care to undertake.' And the paper added: “It has to be done, though, by someone.” At that point the issue is left to surmise. Who will bo the somebody brave and bold enough to undertake the task “now that it is being realised the Reform Government has not the ability to deal with the matter? The past polities 1 , history offers more than one pointer to the Liberals as the best equipped for the task. As was shown yesterday, tho Liberals are not for party, but for the people. The legislative record of deeds done for the public betterment are all in that direction. As regards finance we know that when Mi' Bnllanee succeeded Sir Harry Atkinson the Liberals had to resenc the Dominion’s credit from the plight the Government of tho day h#d landed it in. History lias tho knack of repeating itself, and Mr Massey like. Sir Harry Atkinson. is endeavouring to struggle through n ;'e-

rind of financial stringency. Now as then there is no policy stroke mooted to restore happier conditions. Then and now the political leaders waited for something to turn up. hut good fortune in that respect cannot always attend the prodigal spendthrift. And so there is the call for “someone” to step into the breach. In the lean years before the war, Sir Joseph Ward when Premier found the country’s finances in need of all overhaul. But he did not wait for the stringency to arrive, nor fail to practice wlmt he preached. He used the pruning knife without loss of time when the occasion demanded. and so the Liberals again lived up to the reputation they have for prudent finance. Sir Joseph Ward. too. grasped the occasion for increasing public business by important concessions in postal and telegraphic charges, in tin- revision of railway freights n nd in customs’ concessions. AH this led up to sounder finance to grottier utility of the public services and to their 1 letter financial returns. The Liberals have never shirked the task ahead of them when the credit of the country was at stake. There is the story of the Bank of New Zealand to recall what decisive action can Tie taken with proper safeguards when the occasion demands it. There is the Liberal record with finance generally—how the Government cheapened money for the people, giving the farmer, the worker nnd the town dweller equal facilities to raise money for their homes and industrial activities. That task so well and faithfully performed in the past, is a. guarantee for the future. Again with regard to fire insurance rates the Liberals took up the question nationally, and to this day the people as a whole are reaping the benefit of that forethought. In regard to finance, also, there was the wisdom of Sir Joseph Ward in providing for the extinction of the public debt hv the creation of a special sinking fund. Over two millions and a quarter of money are now accumulated for the purpose designed—a very useful nest-egg. The record of the Liberals at every turn is in the direction of safe and sound finance, combined with a due regard for the public rather than the party weal. Just now when even in the rank's of Reform there is the feeling Mr Massey is not equal to the financial task ahead of him, the country could not do lietter than again return the Liberals to power, capable as they are i>f setting the financial house in order.