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Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1931, Page 4

The address of Mr O’Brien last evening was of the destructive order not constructive. This is typical of the Labour orator' who seems to be well dulled in thu act of pulling down. Just now New Zealand needs building up, but there was little to hope from in that respect from the remarks of Mr O’Brien. He had a jibe against Mr Forbes who had been bolcl enougn to take New Zealand affairs in hand wjth the determination to succeed. Mr Forbes has been praised on ail -sides for his sincerity, honesty and courage, and as an opponent said in UiLris'tcllurch the other evening, i\ew Zealand owes a debt of gratitude to Mr Forbes for his good work in the time of need. Mr O’Brien had nothing good to say of the Coalition —yet we know that organisation contains the best brains in Parliament. We printed the other day some weighty words from Mr Downie Stewart. Im-t the electors study Mr Stewart’s plain criticisms of Luboiir and Mr w’Brien’s vapouring* against the necessary economii. s enforced in the Dominion for its safety, and the logic of the situation will be apparent at once. Yet Mr O’Brien while he- condemned, offered nothing in exchange, except it- was the veiled references to the fixed deposits in the banks, from which it might be inferred lie contemplates a raid, forgetful of the fact that the | money is let out in credit already for I the business of the- country. But -Mr O’Brien can be reckless in- his utterances—as witness the unfounded statement that pensions- are to he reduced by half-a-crown! Then there were the wild statements about the graduated land tax. Mr Forbes has said: “I have no scruples whatever in regard to it. It is a wise thing done,, and a right thing done.” Similar statements have been made by Mr Downie Stewart and Mr Ransom, and we prefer their criticism to the irresponsible remarks of Mr O’Brien. Then with regard to unemployment, Air Forbes 'liais said: “No country in the world is doing as much, as New Zealand is doing to aid the unemployed.” Like all the criticisms of Air O’Brien, more than the banks' possessions are nefcessary to restore tile “cuts” and the reduction of wages, lie refers to. He offered no legitimate source whereby they could be restored. But it i s no t sufficient to condemn without producing a remedy, and Labour has no legitimate replacement for the shortage of money for public ucrrices .unles-s they raid the savings of the public And after that, what? Their source of high finance would be exhausted