THE YEAR OF REDEMPTION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2460, 29 July 1922, Page 4

THE YEAR OF REDEMPTION

BEWARE OF POLITICAL PIETY.

WANTED A NATIONAL PLEDGE. In this, the year of a General Election, it is necessary that the people should wake up to the danger of their being fed wholly upon chaff. Already the too pious politicians are abroad in the land and they will be most ready to profess anything that the electors want.

To-day we find the Red Revolutionists endeavouring to persuade all who listen to them that they are really exceedingly loyal to the King, Empire and Constitution. They plead earnestly that they are “not understood,” they were really always so very loyal that they feared to mention it, etc. This is the year of redemption, when the power of decision is in the hands of the electors —that is if the electors refuse to allow themselves to be but as clay in the hands of the potters. We want to see it made a year of redemption for the Dominion in its unity as a free democracy. The cant of party politics requires to be estimated at its proper value and treated as all canting deserves. Beware of the high sounding political piety that deals in wide generalities to bring us complete change of conditions whilst avoiding, or failing to understand, the detailed problems of the Dominion'finance, requirements and general specific business. Redemption of mere hack politicians and parly madmen will not suffice to meet the wants of the country at a time of great financial stx*ess such as we are faced with. It is time for placing the Dominion’s financial, productive, trading, credit and general conditions before all other considerations and, certainly ahead af all abstract, theoretic postulates, HARD TO FACE. The League has recently pointed cut that the expenditure on our General Public Service has increased thus .—1914-15, £7,874,625; 1918 -1919, £9,454,784; 1921-22 £15,592,677. There is something to think seriously over. Again we find that Interest and Pensions increased during the same period from £3,738,491 to £11,526,277. If we turn to the Railways we find that expenditure per cent, of revenue rose from 66.32 per cent, in 1918-19 to 93.89 per cent, in 1921-22. Again, something very serious to consider. Taking the years 1914-15 and 192122 we find that whilst the Railway Revenue increased by roughly £2,500,000 the expenditure increased by £3,500,000. The Postal Service though the rates were doubled since August Ist, 1920, showed a loss last year of £1,300. It may be admitted that there has been large increases of costs in materials and salaries but that does not help us out of the difficulty that these enormous burdens have still to be carried.

In its campaign for National economy the League seeks the support of the general public, and specially those in productive and commercial businesses which are being crushed by the heavy taxation they have to meet. We urge that every candidate for Parliament should be required to give a pledge to place the country’s business before all else, and, if returned be ready to constructively support whatever Government is in power towards effecting real reform of the State Departments and finances. This if> a National pledge which we suggest the electors should exact from those who come forward as candidates, as the Nation should come before party or sectional interest for the welfare of all.

(Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.)