ECONOMY MOVE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1931, Page 5

ECONOMY MOVE

SIR F. BELL’S VIEWS. STRONG SOUTHERN CRITICISM. DUNEDIN', March 9. “It is somewhat disconcerting,'’ writes Air .Tames Begg, president of thb A. and P. Society, in a letter to the Press, “to find Sir Francis Bell and other members of the Rfe.orni Party opposing the Government s attempt to balance the Budget. Sir Francis Bell is and has been lor many years an honoured member of tlm Deform Party and Ins name and opinions hitherto carried weight and influence, but his opposition to the economy proposals of the Government, involving a 10 per cent, reduction in the salaries of Civil Servants,, and Ins suggestion that the Budget should be made to balance not by economy in expenditure but entirely by increases in taxation show he is entirely out of touch with the present march of events. "Sir Francis does not say that he is opposed to the Arbitration Court, being given power to make a percentage reduction in award wages, but his statement would lead readers to infer that this is so,” Air Begg continues. "So far the losses caused by the disastrous fall in prices have been borne bv landowners, farmers, business men, traders, investors and the unfortunate unemployed. The incomes of these classes have already been reduced not b v 10 per cent, but in many cases by •50 or even 100 per cent, in many thousands of instances incomes have disappeared altogether and have been replaced by accumulating deficits.

“In view of these facts economy in public expenditure is essentia], and Mr Forbes is to be congratulated on tlie firm stand lie is taking in carrying out a very unpleasant hut necessary duty. The country and the Reform Party in the country is in no mood to tolerate Reform members offering opposition to or obstructing the Prime Minister in following the course lie has laid down. Any attempt to make party capital out of the present difficulties will be bitterly resented by the electors, and if the lead given by Sir Francis Pell is followed by other members the Reform Party will disappear, and will deserve to do so.”