WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1931, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS

MIN ISTERIAL DETER MI NATION FACING THE PROBLEMS. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, February 9. With the tragedy of the earthquake added to the economic crisis New Zealand is faced with graver problems than it ever has confronted before. Needless to say the unparalleled upheaval in Hawkes Bay compelled the Prime Minister to postpone the publication of the important statement he had promised 'lor last week. It will be produced this week and is sure to announce an early session ol Parliament, a drastic readjustment of public finance and the application of the strictest national economy. These are developments which have been disc us see. for weeks past and which are accepted in most quarters as inevitable. Mr Forbes has faced the position with candour and courage, and it, seems, so far as public opinion can be guaged, that lie has a large measure of support behind him. He and his colleagues recognise the difficulties of the task lying before them, but they are facing it with cherry determinatoii. NATIONAL RE ADJ USTMEKT The “Dominion” this morning, after explaining the need for delay in the presentation of the Prime Minister s promised statement, emphasizes the need lor • early and comprehensive handling of the situation. “The healthier the financial condition of the rest of the Dominion,” it says, “tho more able will he the Government and private 1 persons to make the sacrifices that must he made to put ITawkes Bay on its feet again. Hence the Prime Minister has v nn additional motive xo pi ess on speedily with measures lor national rehabilitation. He must act, and quickly, not only to ensure the common weal hut to reinforce the Dominion’s resources against the drain that will he made on them on behalf of Hawkes Bay. His task wifi be made the easier because, following upon the national calamity, people are readier to think nationally.” This obviously is the spirit which should actuate the whole community at the present time. COUNTRY FIRST. The “Dominion’s” principal Opposition newspaper comes to the assistance of the Government with no less candour than does the supporter of the Reform Party, What is wanted now,” it says, “is it strong lead, and if the Prime Minister is prepared to givt? it to take the action that must be taken to solve our problems—lie need be in no doubt of the public response, But what he does he should do quickly. Every inch lost in the swamp of depression will make it harder to struggle out. The restoration of Hawke’s Bay presents a big enough task in itself and one likely to tax the State severely ■ but the times demand that the Government should simultaneously proceed with the wider measures of readjustment made by our difficult economic position.” If the country will accept this counsel it will the sooner return to normal conditions. “FUSION.” The need for a non-Party Government in the Dominion at the present time is scarcely less urgent than it was during the Great T\ ar. If the earlj session of Parliament, which now is inevitable, should be disturbed by constant discord and imputation it would be worse than useless, but for its necessitws.' Representatives of the Reformers and of the Liberals, thanks largely to the mediation of Lord Liv erpool, then Governor General of the Dominion, came together in Cabinet in 1915, and invited a Labour member, the late Mr A. IT. Hindmarsli, who declined the distinction at the will of his Labour colleagues, to join them. This war Cabinet took upon itself the responsibility of extending the life of Parliament from 1917 when inordinary circumstances it would have expired in December of that year, until December of 1919. The two additional years were marked by exceptionally slender Statute Books and a large amount o'f useful work harmoniously performed.