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Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1931, Page 4

Mr Ramsay MacDonald will hardly enhance his reputation as a statesman, either at home or abroad, says the Auckland Star, by such utterances as Ins recent comments on the report of the Economy Committee. Apparently the Prime Minister is not so much concerned about the facts of the case as lie is about the effect that the report is likely to produce on the political fortunes of his party. He has gone to some trouble to explain that “the report was not the Government’s responsibility alone.” as the Conservatives and the Liberals had insisted on setting up the Committee. As if it mattered in the least who was responsible for the Committee! The question is whether the statements made in the report can be proved or disproved, and whether, supposing they are substantiated' the Government can find any way out of its difficulties but the rigid pruning down of public expenditure which the report recommends. But Mr MacDonald does not seem to be exercised about this. He is “most unhappy at the barm that the report has doite Britain abroad*’ blithe has not yet indicated that he Is seriously alarmed about the charges of extravagance formulated in the report or the. methods of balancing the public accounts. Mr MacDonald might do bet : ter for his personal and political repulation than try to “play politics” and “safe face” for himself a.nd his cabinet in such an emergenscy as this. New Zealand la Dour leaders have also set their face' against the economy which the Government is preaching and practising. Labour assumes an irresponsible attitude where finance is concerned, and there is evidence of recklessness in the specious promises made from the platform. Mr Lang in New South Wales is another example of extravagance of labour in the desire to catch votes and to gain power. The . experience has been costly to the nation as a whole, and will be in Great Britain also unless the Labour Government ends its extravagance.