The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is in corporated the West Coast Times, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1931. HOME METHODS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is in corporated the West Coast Times, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1931. HOME METHODS.

The methods adopted at Home to balance the Budget leave no doubt as to the thoroughness of the Ministry to tackle the task. It is recorded that Mr Snowden’,s historical statement was received in a remarkable way bv the House, the press a:.d the public. The statement left no doubt as to the necessity for th e steps proposed. Indeed, the Macmillan Report on the British finances issued only a few weeks before disclosed the necessity for the overhaul of the national finances. In a moasure the need for a special effort was.’ manifest, evidence by the close cooperation of‘ leading Conservatives and Liberals with the remnant of the Labour Ministry who had realised where the path of duty led. The Budget in brief made cuts almost to the total of seventy millions and added new taxation estimated to produce eighty millions. The announcement of tlnse remarkable figures was received with cheers by the Government supporters, and in silence by the official Opposition, the members of which were a few days before behind Mr Snowden. The pre s accepted the Budget in the best manner possible—all but the Labour papei, which re-echoing the complaint of the Opposition railed at the cut in the unemplopment dole! ' But as the Daily Mail put it, the nation accepts the Budget as something which hurts, but which is .for the Nation’s good and must be borne. And the paper adds philosophically: “It is the price of our prodigal existence. It is r.o good grumbling.” There were certainly no half measures in respect to putting the country on an even keel. The expenditure of the Labour Government had beeiv prodigal, and the country would have had to face a deficit of. nearly seventy five millions. It would mean financial disaster to a 11 on the diift to go on. Yet at the moment of decision on such a moot matter as the national credit, the Labour party almost in, hulk runs away, and refuses to do the

right thing. As usual Labour blames the banks and the financiers. After conducting a period of “prodigal existence” as the Daily Mail termed it, Labour accepts n.o responsibility, but turns and blames the banks which had found the money for the “prodigal existence.” Those who complain of the string.-ncy by the tenders of. money must bear in mind that as in the case of finances and bankers*, the money available is in trust from depositors and the banks are responsible' for the safe return of the money. Where prodigal extravagance' goes on the leaders are within their rights to call a halt. The same thing had to he done with the Labour administrators cf Australia, and for the self-same reason. It now remains to he seen wliat the New Zealand Parliament will do in a somewhat similar financial stringency, and how far Labour will go in following Home methods to save the ship of State.