A PLEA FOR UNITY OF ACTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2544, 17 February 1923, Page 1

A PLEA FOR UNITY OF ACTION.

TO MEET THE FINANCIAL SITUATION.

Some months ago, in speeches delivered here and in Christchurch, Mr C. P. Skerrett laid special emphasis on the huge increase in the Dominion’s expenditure as compared with previous years.

Mr Skerrett’s criticisms were somewhat unfairly made use of by some politicians during the recent Elections to discredit the Government. Bearing in mind the extraordinary circumstances with which the Government had to contend under war conditions, full allowance must be made. The figures relating to the Dominion’s finance, published in the Press, show that apart altogether from the question of fastening responsibility for the abnormal increase in expenditure during recent years, the Massey Government has deliberately set itself to bring about a most decided improvement in the situation and is consequently entitled to credit. *

One matter that stands out most prominently in the statement presented is the large amount of our National debt—£22o,ooo,ooo. These figures should be constantly before the public eye, not only to remind us as a community, of the absolute necessity for unity of action in the direction of increasing our productive power—the only remedy by way of permanent relief from the enormously heavy burden under which the country is staggering. This is no time for party squabbling resulting in long-drawn-out and futile debates in the legislature at an expense of something like £BO a day, all for the paltry purpose of ventilating the question of whether this or that political leader shall rule.

£220,000,000 to face! Think of it !. Our Legislature about to debate a want of confidence motion largely the outcome of personal ambition when members, irrespective of party considerations, should be seriously working shoulder to shoulder to stabilise the position. £220,000,000 for a small community of a million and a-quarter souls all told! Is it not enough to make sober-minded people pause and think hard? What is to happen if, before anything can -be done to place the Ship of State on an even keel, the country is handed over to the tender mercies of irresponsible revolutionaries? What may be the outcome is too appalling to contemplate: There must be united action on the part of all moder-ately-minded representatives of the people. Lej. it be remembered that however unitedly we liamy pull together as a people that there are always contingent risks to be faced such as seasonal disturbances and market vicissitudes. On top of these we certainly do not want incessant labour troubles and all tile ingenious devices resorted to by extremists t'6 frustrate the great efforts that must be put forth to increase output in every direction, if we are to avoid being completely crushed under the enormous weight indicated by a colossal debt/of £220,000,000. ' Let it not be thought that in urging the need for increased production and extended enterprise that the League is making an attack upon any class or section of our people. There have been movements of a politico-industrial character which savoured too much of irresponsibility. Loose talk about strikes, and “go-slow” have been disturbing factors. Still on the whole our people have shown a commendable spirit hitherto in maintaining the Dominion’s industrial and commercial activity. Our purpose in writing is to emphasise the fact that such activity, and even increased activity in some directions, will be required for some time to come in order to cope with the special trials that we, as well as other peoples, have to meet as an outcome of the four yffars of devastation through which the whole world has passed. Mr Skerrett, and the League did not ci'iticise from the standpoint of any party interest. Full credit is due all who have been striving on constructive lines to re-build the country’s finance and prosperity. In our opinion the Massey Government is entitled to the credit of having endeavoured lo re-construct at a time when reconstruction was clearly called for. It carried out the unpopular work of retrenching in face of inflated expenditure; it might have been easier for it, as a party, to have drifted but instead it faced the troubles for which action the Government merits appreciation, The weight of £220,000,000 debt is not lightly to be thought of and the Dominion’s Revenues, both public and private, require to be further increased.

This can, we submit, only be accomplished by unity of action on the part of all concerned —Government, Oppisitions, local authorities and people in general. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare - League.)