“TOO MUCH SAIL”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 27 July 1929, Page 7

“TOO MUCH SAIL”

THE SHIP OF STATE GOVERNMENT’S BORROWING POLICY (iJy Telegraph.) (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary reporter.) WELLINGTON, 26th July. Tho suggestion that the Government's borrowing policy may yet land the ship of State on the rocks was thrown out by Air R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), speaking in the House of Representatives last night. Air Wright said that the Reform Party had been criticised for borrowing £13,000,000 in two years, and the Minister of Labour had held up his hands in horror at such a thing. Now it appeared that the present Prime Alinisler was going to borrow £15,000,000 in one year. If that was so, the Government would be plunging. “The. Prime Alinister reminds me of the captain of a ship,” said Air Wright; '“the Cabinet Ministers are His officers and crew. The right lion, gentleman is steering his barque along, has got on all sail, and is going full speed ahead. He lias got on his leggings and his son’-wcstcr. If he doesn’t mind, though, he will run the ship on a rock. He has got too much sail on altogether. If lie comes through all right, I shall have been a false prophet, and I will have to take whatever c-iiticism comes to me.”

They had been tnlcl, said the speaker, that 100 much had been spent by the Reform Party on land for soldier'sett lenient. Exactly. Naturally, it had the effect of increasing the price of land and the Government’s present big borrowing policy would have the .same effect. 'Hie Minister of Lands had already discovered it was not easy to a'ld land at a suitable price for .-olllement purposes. "If the United Government is allowed to continue,” said Air Wright, "there will be very serious Double sooner or later for the people of New Zealand.”