The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1931. AFTER THE BATTLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1931. AFTER THE BATTLE.

The Home Elections are over and nave resulted m the decisive defeat o. Labour. The wLiulertul victory of the Government is substantial enough iu give satisfaction and confidence ito tne well-wishers of the country’s fortunes under safe and stable administration. The late Labour Government found that its policy came to a dead end, because of the lack of funds to go on with its extravagances in social ex-

cesses. One of the gravest reflections at the failure of the Government, was

, the workLss army which had grown up, and was content to settle down and ’ live on tile dole. The number of those assisted in this aimless way 'totalled 1 over a million and a half—<a tremendous waste of human energy and favour, But Labour., had its shibboleths to live up to, and the lenders refused to face the facts of their policy. It has been a deplorable drift, and w;U not be stemmed'‘readily. But. the demands of humanity will be the urge, and it is to be hoped the manhood of this drifting army will be restored in due course by a re-organisation of the system of relief. The fact that victory has gone to the National Government marks only the beginning of the great task before it. It is one thing to formulate a safe policy to. balance the budget, and it is another thing to carry through that policy so> as to realise the proposals which have been made. The Dominions will watch the working out of the fiscal task. There have been many references to the possibility of a tariff, and the final departure of Great Britain, from free trade, but necessarily the process will he gradual only. Prior to the National Ministry coming into being, Mr Baldwin, who was one of converts to a tariff for the good of the country’s industrial welfare, was very circumspect. His pronouncement on behalf of the Conservatives way to the effect that the tariff eventually to be adopted, would be a scientific one and not a political one. It would be a tariff designed by experts on the merits of the country’s needs, and not a hastily conceived tariff bv a passing political emergency. This is' extremely sound, but if money requires to hie raised now by such a tariff, it will he a slow process, and some expediency must be resorted to for temporary measures at. least. The safeguarding of Dominion products entering the British market, will be Poked for as of the Empire trading scheme. This j could he done by placing a tariff bn | foreign imports, or giving a- special preference to Dominion produce. This probably -will be the most contentions issue the National Government will be required to face. Its first task will be to carry out it, s economies and savings, and to do something practical to help unemployment by creating work and industry and so reducing dole expenditure for which no return has been given. The way will be clear for working out a settled policy with an assured majority and a full term of office ahead. The Government will have, as it will need, the best advice possible on economic policy to be pursued, and that way lies the greatest safety. AVitli secure finance Britain will continue to maintain the outstanding position always held in the world of finance, and so the full prestige of the country will be retained securely.