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The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1931. THE NEED FOR PUBLIC ECONOMIES.

The week in Parliament lias given very full proof of the need of public economies, if the country is going to tome through the period of depression at all happily. The Labour party has maintained persistent opposition to the Government policy, notwithstanding that the Prime Minister amplified his earlier statement on the country’s finances with later details to the end of February, which indicated that the drift in finance was continuing, and that the deficit at the end of this month would be larger than was fust announced. Also, there was the cleat statement by Sir A- Ngatii. "ho is Chairman of the Government Economy Committee, dealing with internal 01 departmental expenditure. He had a very grave report to make as to the seriousness of the position, and apait from the economies the Government was desirous of making, the possible need for more taxation still to help to make good the deficiency_ On the

whole, with the exception of the Labour section in the House and the country, tlieie is every reason to believe the public realise and appreciate the position, and show a preparedness to provide a.s adequately as possible for the very difficult financial position. One ol the most influential of the speeches outside the Government benches, came from the Reform side.

Mr Dmvnie Stewart, speaking in the House, warned Labour against the possible depletion of currency if economies 'vcre not effected and wage cuts were not accepted. ‘‘The exchange is now against us,” lie said, “to the extent ul ten per cent., even when otir trade balance is good ; but if the* trade balance swings against us, the people to sufier most would be the wage earners.” He asked why Labour had not raised its voice in protest in 19.18 when the Arbitration Court, acting under special legislation, broke the agreements by raising Wages so as to meet the increase in the cost of living- it seemed Labour would not protest against broken Cohtracits when the tide "its rlillniilg against the employer, There :is Tiki c-il trutVi iu this, hut the special point is the realisation of tho true position of the national intercuts, and coming from one who carries great weight in the country so Inr as tho finances are concerned, his remarks must greatly hoi]) Mr Forbes with his proposals. The one exception on the Reform side, is Sir Francis Bell, who, in the Upper House, railed against tho salaries cut. A contemporary remarking on the position, points out how completely Sir Francis has lost touch with praefi-al politics, Sir Francis has an a.ptitude for the impracticable. We cannot, forget tho lasting harm lie did tho sawmilling industry of New Zealand when he vetoed timber export to Australia, and gave milling a blow from which it could never recover, for by the same veto he let in the foreign article, which once it had a footing appears to have come to stay. Tho opinion of Sir Francis on public matters will therotore he dismissed by this community at all events, with very little consideration. Sir A, Ngata hints at ultimate retrenchment in the Civil Service, because so many departments have grown top .heavy. There is also the loss of business for many of the departments to. handle, and many of them are overstaffed, and thereby far too costly, A percentage of retrenchment seems to bo inevitable, on top of the salary reduction, for there is 7101 tho work for the departments to dm Yet apart troiii aii. that there is the plain statement of fact as to the financial drift of the cotinttyj iuut ii growing deficit. It ir, expected the balance will be a million alid a half on the wrong side of the ledger, this year, and that means much leeway to make up. It certainly has to be made up, for to allow such a drift to continue means at no distant date a hopeless financial deadlock. Now is the time to seek to meet the position. It is unwise to defer doing the obvious. Delay in Vustralia under like serious conditions, is bringing about a state of affairs bordering on revolution. Now Zealand at all costs should set about avoiding such a contingency. There are folk here out of work and out of business who are in a had way. Many who invested their whole and gave all their time and energy to their work, have had to leave their holdings. These folk Ir’ve suffered a hundred per cent cut wuh no hope for the morrow. Others must he prepared to share some of the burden. It is not possible to have a mathematical adjustment of the equality of sacrifice, but it is possible for all to help in particular to do something for tho down and out. Financial reformation is necessary for the good health of the country. The Government has offered a practical policy to that end, and the people must be honest enough and bold enough to pursue a definite line of policy to recover the position.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HOG19310321.2.20

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1931, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
861

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MARCH 2l, 1931. THE NEED FOR PUBLIC ECONOMIES. Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MARCH 2l, 1931. THE NEED FOR PUBLIC ECONOMIES. Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1931, Page 4

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