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Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1927, Page 2

The thought for the times to-day is an utterance by the Hon A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, made at Christchurch last week when addressing an unemployment deputation. He said plainly that we were living beyond our means, hut having got to that point, left the issue without stating definitely what remedy he was going to apply. His remark that “somebody has scot to economise’’ was obvious to those fid lowing the situation, and that the eeonnmv has “to start right from the top,” is obvious also, hut is Mr McLeod, as a responsible Minister going to set an example? He has opportunities enough in his own Department to make a beginning, hut there is not any indication of that—only the eternal lecture in terms of platitudes. At the interview in question, he railed at the workers for Their thriftlessness and failure to provide for a day, let alone a week out of work. But is not lb® Povprnrnent equally

thriftless in its methods of allowing a drift to go on indefinitely mid no attempt to cheek the state of affairs which hankers, commercial men, newspapers and what not are always predicting? Ministers from Mr Massey’s time have hcen preaching economy and urging it on the people, hut not practising it to any serious degree. The Ministerial policy of late lias been too much of opportunism. The regulation and restriction on trading introduced in war time under the stress of extraordinary times, is being continued and oven expanded in these very ordinary times. Supply and demand are operating automatically nowadays, hut the Government way is to try and tilt the balance of trade to meet conditions ■brought about hv an iniqui lions set of regulations. So it is that trade in various ways is disorganised, and with markets upset employment is affected. There is a real dislocation of trade brought about by artificial means, in which restrictive legislation is a main factor. And while this is so, departments are hong, created one upon another to try and secure the success of restriction. A general clearance) would he good for the well-being of the country. Mr Mel .rod could do a great deal in that -direction in the single name of thrift if lie cared, and that at least would Im> some help towards a situation growing more and more difficult through the continued neglect to ho thrifty.