Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1931, Page 4

With the assembly of Parliament tomorrow the United Government enters upon its special test, Through its Prime Minister and associate Ministers, it hrs “to face the music,” and in other words justify the policy put before the country. Parliament nor the country will be taken unawares. For a month now the Government policy, or proposals to set the finances in order, lias been known, and there has been time for ample thought and criticism. Of the latter there has been a great deal, and much of it of a rather thoughtless nature. There has been an outcry against the “wages cut,” on the part of the Government, though actually in many places the “cut” is a fact already. Tn fact in some cases, worse than the cut has occurred, for men have lost all their

wages and had to seek other (and in most eases) less-congenial work Wages which can he paid are a matter of pounds, shillings and pence. For a considerable period New Zealand enjoyed a wave of nrosperily. The good times were due to the high value received Ibr the country’s exports. Money flowed into the Dominion from outside steadily, and a good time was enjoyed. Labour was able to receive more and more for its service, not that more work was done, less in fact in many cases, because hours were lessened. It was while all was going ‘so merrily, that a business and trade slump overtook the world, and less money came this way. Alarkets for our leading commodities fell, hut full of hope, better days were expected to return quickly, and people went on living at the old rate. The disillusionment has arrived for most people. The producer of the country’s great wealth has ample demonstration of the stringency which has come to pass. The sometime rich shoepholder is now invariably poor. Wool is at low ebb. Of late there were cases where it did not pay to shear. Carcases dropped tremendously in value. Thousands of sheep hitherto valued at thousands of pounds had, to be written down to a few shillings nor head. But tliere are folk who- will not see this, nor interpret its eff’eet on the common weal. Air Forbes bad visualised the position for the country, and offered a remedy. Tt is for Parliament to decide as quickly as it can, what it will do about it. Mr Forbes’ proposals must be accepted or rejected. The Prime Minister is firm about that, and his firmness reveals a strength of diameter which should be proud for New Zealand at this juncture. While he has undertaken a most difficult task, there is the onus now on the members ns a whole to face the situation and do their duty no Jess boldly and courageously.