PREMIER'S CAMPAIGN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 74, 18 November 1931, Page 5

PREMIER'S CAMPAIGN

(Press Assn.-

COALlTION'S purpose \ WHOLEHEARTED CO-OPERATION FOR GOOD OF COUNTRY PEOPLE'S MANDATE ASKED- FOR

— By Telegraph— Copyright.)

CHRISTCHURCH, last night. At his first meeting in his electorate, Rangiora, to-night, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, stated that at the time the Coalition was brought about his party felt that the time had come when the wholehearted eo-operation of the Reform and United Parties for the good of the country was4 necessary. He felt that the hurden of responsibib'ty as Minister for Finance, was too heavj^ for him, and he knew that the people wanted seeurity. At one time he thought it possible the Coalition .might make possible the postponement of the elections, but it was quickly realised that the authority of the country was necessary to give the Coalition Government effeetive power. Had there been a postponement of the elections, sitting mmbers would have remained in the House and it had been thought wise that they should be candidates for election. That was why he had done his best to persuade Independent candidates to stand down. Now he would ask £hose who had supported the United Party before to support the official candidates at tlrs poll. "We must now set ourselves to regain confldence abroad. To set ourselves to meet the deficiences in revenue in all sincerity and good faith is by far the best way to do it. There was one thing about New Zealand that I was pleased to hear in the Old Country — its reputation for soundness. This reputation this Govern-

ment wants to see cont;nued, We will honour our obligations to the letter." Depression Passing It had been stated in regard to "cuts" in the public service salaries that these were unnecessary, and that the best way to meet the depression

was to raise wages and give increased purchasing power, Mr. Forbes continued. "If that be so, I think we would want depressions all the time. It has been said that thef depression is passing and I believe that is so. I do not think there will he any enorinous improvement, but with the rise in the prices of wool and butter I think things will slowly but surely improve. However, the public finances are the first to suffer and the last to recover from the depression and the Government is asking the country's mandate to take the necessary measures to bring them back to normal."

Dealing with the unemployment situation, Mr. Forbes said the money now being raised for relief purposes is exhausted almost as soon as it is raised. Unless they could put men on productive works the country would soon be more heavily burdened. His colleague, Mr. Coates, was endeavonring to get men into work in the • country so that the Donrnion might get some return for the money spent. "When it was remembered that there had been ._a phenomenal growth of from 5,000 to 5Qf,000 workless, he claimed that the Dominion would

stand cOmparison with any other country. "It had been suggested that we intend to abolish the Arbitration Court," Mr. Forbes continued, "but that I deny emphatically." He stated however, that it was imperative that the Arbitration system should he revised. The time had some when regulations affecting employers and amployees should be overhauled. Industry was a in a straight jacket thanks to the harassing awards of the Arbitration Court and the Government would see that these restrictions were done away with. Labour's Vague Generalities Mr. Forbes criticised severely the Labour promises in regard to unemployment and banking. "They propose," said said "to take over the banking system. I think they would have to if they wanted to carry out their proposals to give the. unemployed full union wages.

"Mr Holland said Labour would re-organise the resources of the Do.minion on modern lines," Mr. Forbes continued. "What did he mean? That ' is what they are doing in Russia. In Parliament every proposal for economy was opposed by Labour. Labour said we must build up and not cut down, but the man who has 20s can't get 30's without taking somebody down. All Labour's vague generalities are a smoke-screen. We know we are up against hard economic facts and that we must cut down expenditure and must all share in carrying the burden. "We must have a strong Government, which is impossible without strong support, in order to face all the facts, in all their importance, of the economic position."