DANGER OF DRIFT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2149, 13 July 1920, Page 1

DANGER OF DRIFT.

IN DOMINION AFFAIRS

A CANDID CRITIC.

The Hon. G. Fowlds, who is visiting Christchurch, has been asked his opinion on public affairs. He said that in his judgment the outlook Avas by no means bright. The country was in the midst of new and critical ivorld conditions created by the war, and instead of frankly facing problems in the light of changing conditions, Avas rapidly drifting toAvards the brink of a precipice, as if nothing unusual had happened to prevent us moving quietly along the old lines. He saw no vision being applied to affairs of State. The Government possessed neither knoAvledge nor courage to face the problem and remove undoubted grievances suffered by the great mass of the people. Apparently it Avas content to go on passing and maintaining most vicious forms of class legislation. Take as an example the proposal submitted to Parliament to exempt the salaries of members, Ministers, and judges from income tax. What more barefaced class legislation could be found anyAvherc? Why. should Ministers or judges be exempt from payment of income tax any more than any other public servant, or avliv should any public servant have any more right to exemption than a person earning a similar salary Avho Avas not a public servant? In the case of a member Avith no other income than his honorarium the proposal would be equivalent to an increase of honorarium of £7 10s a year, but in the case of a member Avhose income Avithout his honorarium Avas at the amount of the maximum rate of income tax, it Avould be equivalent to an increase of: his honorarium of £l5O a year. The proposal was on all fours with free of income tax loans of the war period. The failure of the Government to attempt to check the orgy of land gambling hoav going on throughout the country avus also deplorable. An up-to-date valuation and increase of the land tax would do more than anything else.to bring doAvn the cost of living and make proA’ision of decent housing accommodation for the people. Possibly it appeared that (he country Avould have to drift further into difficulties before any remedy avus applied, and his solemn conviction Avas that such drifting was fraught Avith a serious and menacing danger.