The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1931. MR LANG’S DEFENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1931. MR LANG’S DEFENCE.

Thu defence of Mr Lang for the refusal of Hie New South Wales Government to pay accruing interest, is the excuse oi the- spendthrifts. Tim desire of the Government of which he is the head, sees o.dv o»e alternative to maintain social services send dole payments iii reference to paying interest for money borrowed which had kept tile country going in earlier a.r.d more prospering times. There is i.o thought or -uggestion of economy to meet the position, su ! that each and all may have lie benefit of the reduced income without the suggestion of repudiation. Air Lang docs not even propose to live within his hunniin Even along the present lilies, how long call the Gov-■mmi-mt, continue in its extravagance, and survive financially? It, is cllhir that the situation of the Mother .State proposing to default is felt most keen, ly, and with such a policy declared, the end can not he yet. The Manchester Guardian becomes prophetic and suggests that in a few weeks’ time Mr Lang will he unable to pay •■he civil servants! This seems to suggest something of a moral for New Zealand heart. The Forbes’ Government in order to enable the counirv to carry on financially has iceronomy proposals hefoiv Parliament The end and aim of these proposals are to place the country’s credit above doubt so that ali may lie paid, even if to do so it is necessary to lower wages. Here as in New South Wales, the Labour party in Parliament are seeking to frustrate any effort to balance the budget by legitimate means. The Labour party in Parliament is doing all it can to force the Government from its economy methods, and if that were achieved the country would be drifting on to the financial rocks where New South Wales is already shoaltcl so badly. Probably (here are many in New Zealand who will not he prepared to believe our plight can become as bad as that of New South Wales, hut we must remember that the Alothor .State is a greater and richer country than tin’s Dominion. It is more than three limes the area of New Zealand, and in Sydney alone there is a population almost equal to that of the whole of the country. Its recuperative powers have been wonderful in the. past., yet with all those advantages of area, resource's and population, we witness New South Wales to-clay ns the most discredited country in the British Empire in the eyes of the world. Such an unenviable achievement has boon given the' finishing touches by the methods and manners of tile Labour party. A\ hen we hear in mind that the New Zealand political Labour party is shaping in regard to the attitude for legitimate economy along similar lines, it is time for the electors to take serious note of the possibilities in this country were Labour by any inischaa.ee or neglect on the part of the people to lie- given political power. It is well to studv this aspect now at a time when the situation, can he considered dispassionately. In the throes of a general election folk often do not stop to think, but there was never a time in the past like the present when more was at stake involving the financial security of the country—which means the comfort and convenience of the people as a whole. Folk would he well advised, therefore, to study the situation from all points, and make up their minds politically in the milder and clearer atmosphere of the present. As for Mr Lang, Ire is rushing to his political doom, but at enormous cosu to tbe prestige of his country and the honour of the people. The outlook for New (South Wales is most complex, and difficult, hampered as it is by the temporary political power held by Labour, and the sooner the situation can dissolve by securing the exit- of Air Lang from power, the better it will be for the reputation of all Australia and its misled electors,