WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1931, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE DOMINION’S BURDEN. TEST OF ITS PEOPLE. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, February 16. The Prime Minister has not minced matters in unveiling to the people of the Dominion the gravity of the economic difficulties besetting them at the present time. H.e has told them frank■ly that the current financial year—.to end at the conclusion of next month—there has been a shrinkage of £3,600,COO in the public revenue, and an’increase of £900,000 in the expenditure, thus showing a total decline of ' >£4,500,000. “That is the position as far as it can be estimated at thin stage/’ Mr Forbes said in the statement he handed to the Press on Saturday, “ami it have taken the earliest opportunity of laying the facts before the country, being confident it' will accord the Government the measure of co-operation and support that i« necessary to facilitate the general economic recovery of the country.” Mr Forbes has been .perfectly frank, ip disclosing the position neither magnifying nor belittling the facts, and his Wpeol is the people m a whole apart altogether from pa*ty politics and individual prejudices. . WAGES AND SALARIES. The-ten per cent, reduction in wages and salaries in the Civil Service: reminiscent of the proceedings of some ' fifty odd years ago—is sure to ‘ arouse a good deal of criticism, and some denunciation. A cut of £2O or £2o from a salary of £2OO on £250 a year is. a considerable raid upon the income of a married man_wth three or four, or more children. The solace offered to Civil Servants likely to he deprived of the few pounds that enable them and their families to enjoy a modest holiday, is that with the cut will come a corresponding decrease in the cost of commodities and services which in a very short time will more than cover the lost pay. Probably this will be so, but the Civil Servant, with £SOO or £IOOO a year still will have an advantage over his less fortunate colleague. Difficulties of this nature, however, are not easily overcome, and perhaps the new income tax may go some way towards adjusting matters. g THE RAILWAYS. ¥;'• It has been common knowledge for | some months past that a majority of k the members of the Cabinet are favour* ~ able to the adoption of the proposal of the Commission of Inquiry that the ; State railway/? should be placed under tho control of a non-political board of directors. Since his return-, from the Imperial Conference the Prime Minister, who had opportunities .during ; his visit to England to acquaint bim= ;r self with the system of transport there: never has hesitated; in his leaning /•" towards non-po’ibical control, He has not yet matured hie scheme for ■ / the change over, but his preparations ' ar e so far advanced that they are likely to be discussed during the approaching special session of Parliament. Mr ' H. E. Holland, the leader of the Labour Party, is of course, strongly opposed to the removal of political management, which he may have hoped one day to exercise himself; but the railways have been in. an unsatisfactory condition for ‘so long that a large majority of the present members of Parliament may be trusted to-faci-litate this much needed reform. NEWSPAPER APPROVAL. Both of the Wellington 'daily papers neither of which in the past have inclined towards his party politics pay high tributes to the perception, candour and courage of the Prime Minister. “Public opinion will applaud Mr Forbes for doing the , right thing,” the “Dominion” Bays. “He has not chosen the easy or the popular way, nor has he side-stepped or coverered’ himself with reservations or qualifications. A man with more nerves and more imagination might have shrunk from launching a shell with fio shattering a detonation, but Mr Forbes prefers to face the facts and invites New Zealand to face them with him.” The “Evening Post” is more discursive, but equally appreciate tiv? of the Prime Minister’s daring. “Mr Forbes,” it declare, “has displayed remarkable courage. Appreciation of his courage in facing unpleasant duties may best be shown by steadfast support of his proposals.” Come what will the man who has waited so long for his opportunity may be trusted to meet it with Hearty goodwill and unshaken courage.