The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1932. WHOSE THE BLAME?

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1932. WHOSE THE BLAME?

I Thk period of the slump has been a ngrvat trial for all, and it is difficult to place the whom blame for those turns of stringency. In New Zealand where successive governments have been doing so much for the amelioration of the people as a whole,' there is complaint heard on all sides about the withdrawal of former help. But in the good times of the late past, the people did not complain that the Government of the day was doing too much for the people. On the contrary, there ;was an ’Oliver Twist attitude, - and the people continually asked for more, without a thought of the day of reckoning. This attitude is brought home by the recent remarks by :Mr G-; Shirteliffe, chairman of the Beortorrfy Commission, the report of which Will be released (shortly. Mr Shirtc’.iffe considered that the worst was over and the slump was passing—a comforting conclusion in itself. But he had something to say about the lesson to be learned. He went on to remark: “If governments and peoplej learned from their present experiences that it was in times of .prospeiity that provision should be made for a rainy day by the leixercise .of prudence in borrowing and wise economy'in spending,. the general sacrifices and hardships at present being endured woulld, not have been in vain. That this is true, most will agrele readily, but will the governments and people take the lesson to heart 1 No doubt th-tre are many an individual who experienced ups and downs in fortune often brought about by reckless, spending in times of affluence, and human nature being what .it is the mass is Very muoli like the individual, and when political parties pjjjad for votes they usually .have some policy to offer; and that policy invariably means expenditure. When Labour was last on the hustings those who attended, the addi esses will remember the giib promised made to restore' “cuts,” and other economy rpeaeiires of the. retiring Government, Had Labour been returned to office and attempted .to fulfil the promises, i+ is not difficult to; comprehend the * position of the country. The state* of the Dominion is had,. enough as it is, but with the reckless restoration policy of the Labour party, the country would carried to the limit ,sf. obttttsc&tioo. Finahoiul' chaos woyld).'have reigned as was. wpevleuwt of New South Wnlw, the final panacea of Mr long being a capital tax which would have ruined the country finally, . The people, therefore, must take their share of the general situation, for encouraging with tli;ir votes those bunt on a jeckless policy of spending,, when at a time like the present, general economy must be the national watchword. Daily there are evidence of the emptiness of the. Treasury, but many will rot recognise the palpable fact that go on asking or what the Government is not in a position to grant. The position has to be mended; The. Government late in the day is doing its best to that end, and in this desirable, but task, need the sympathetic support of the people’'more than lever. Only by real co-operation of the people can the slump be overcome with credit to the country as a whole.